Alongside the Activa e:, Honda has also revealed a second electric scooter called the QC1. While these two may appear similar at first glance, the QC1 is a rather simple and basic electric scooter compared to the Activa e:.
- Powered by a 1.5kWh battery, 80km claimed range
- Top speed of 50kph, 0-40kph in 9.7s
- Weighs just 89.5kg, has a 26-litre underseat storage
Honda QC1 electric scooter range, colours, features
While the Activa e: is powered by two swappable 1.5kWh batteries, the Honda QC1 is powered by a sole 1.5kWh fixed battery. It has a claimed IDC range of 80km with a full charge taking a long 6 hours and 50 minutes, courtesy of the 330-watt charger supplied with the QC1. That number drops to 4 hours and 30 minutes when you charge it from 0 to 80 percent SOC.
The small 1.5kWh battery powers a hub-mounted BLDC motor which makes 1.8kW (2.4hp) of peak power and 77Nm of torque. With a 50kph top speed and a 0-40kph time of 9.7 seconds, the Honda QC1’s performance claims are rather modest. But with a kerb weight of just 89.5kg, the QC1 should prove to be extremely friendly for most riders. The underpinnings are quite basic on the QC1, with a 12/10-inch alloy wheel setup and a 130mm/110mm drum brake combination akin to the petrol Activa.
While the QC1 and the Activa e: do share some design elements, a closer look reveals that the former is utilitarian. Overall fit and finish appears to be on the more cost-conscious side of things and that is only reinforced by the basic features set.
A 5-inch negative LCD display is on offer here and the QC1 foregoes the Sport riding mode seen on the Activa e:, making do with just Eco and Standard. Another difference, which is actually a leg up over the Activa e:, is the 26-litre underseat storage on the QC1. It also gets a small cubby on the front apron to store your phone, complemented by a USB charger. The QC1 is available in the same five colours as the Activa e:.
Honda QC1: where will it fit into the market?
With the QC1 having one of the smallest battery packs on sale today combined with its basic underpinnings and features set, we expect that the QC1 will be positioned in the mass-market scooter segment. However, don't expect Honda to go down the same aggressive route as Ola did with its new S1 Z, which starts at just Rs 59,999.
Pre-bookings for the Honda QC1 will open on January 1, 2025 with deliveries slated to begin next February. The QC1 will be available on a much wider scale than the Activa e: (which will only be available in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru) and will be sold through existing Honda Red Wing dealers.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
