Five commuter EMs and EBs
Lower-powered electric motorbikes currently account for more than 90 per cent of worldwide electric motorbike market – largely driven by their huge popularity in China.
But Honda believes that demand for such machines, which are generally used for short urban commutes, is set to rise locally, and as a result is planning five new “compact and affordable” machines that will launch in Europe, Asia and Japan by 2024.
Three ‘fun’ EVs (and a fourth for kids)
Honda says that it is “actively developing” full-size electric motorbikes that will use its new FUN EV platform that is currently in development. Honda hasn’t actually said what FUN stands for in the new platform – but we presume it’s a reverse-engineered acronym designed to suggest the intended use for the three machines.
The firm did say that it “will actively develop electrified mid- and large-size sports bikes in the FUN category”.
And don’t think you’ll miss out if you’re too young to start riding: Honda has also promised a Kids Fun EV model for young riders.
The challenge of batteries and charging
While Honda is committed to electric motorbikes, it says that the issues of batteries and charging infrastructure need to be addressed to realise widespread adoption. In response the firm says it will “make active use of all of its resources” to ensure stable battery procurement.
The firm added that solid-state batteries, currently under development for cars, will be a “valid option” for e-motorbikes, and says it will aim to equip future models with all-solid state batteries.
To tackle charging infrastructure, Honda is investing in developing its mobile power pack and battery sharing businesses, including partnering up with other firms in both Indonesia and Japan to launch battery swap services.
Honda is working with battery consortiums in Europe and Japan with the goal of standardising battery swap systems – which could make it dramatically easier to scale up the concept.
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