Can Honda Do An Activa With Its Activa e:?

Honda Activa is not just a scooter.

It stands as a symbol of no-nonsense mobility, deeply embedded in our memories and popular culture, and has even been immortalised in a hit song embraced by Gen Alpha.

Launched in 2001, the petrol Activa revolutionised personal mobility in India, becoming a staple for millions, especially women, with proof of being a trusty ride.

Honda Activa’s ease of use, affordability, and legendary reliability earned it a cult following, inspiring the popular Punjabi song ‘Kali Activa‘ which celebrates its indispensability in everyday life.

Much like what Bajaj did with its Chetak decades ago for geared scooters and then came Honda with its Activa to claim the leadership tag in gearless scooters and ultimately all conventional fuel scooters.

Now, as India furiously adopts electric scooters, Honda is hoping to carry forward its legacy and dominance with the ‘Activa e:’- an electric scooter featuring swappable battery technology.

On paper, Honda’s move looks like a bold call to disrupt the usual, or as some see, an over-ambitious aspiration rather than a plan to replicate its success with the petrol Activa for its electric sibling.

Yes, Honda launching Activa e: is seen by many as a “missed opportunity” but I argue that if done right, it can well serve as a turning point for India’s electric two-wheeler market.

With the launch of the Activa e: and in parallel, the rapid building of the swapping infrastructure to support its move could yet again redefine its story in India since its split from Hero.

Battery-Swapping Technology

Swappable battery technology allows riders to replace a drained battery with a fully charged one in minutes, 24×7 and via multiple locations.

This eliminates the anxiety associated with conventional EV charging like lack of charging stations, expensive public charging rates or battery health, making the Activa e: as convenient as its petrol predecessor—on paper for now.

India has experimented with swappable batteries for two and 3-wheelers but without much success for 2-wheelers, as the segment giants like Honda, Bajaj and TVS kept away from offering the technology.

According to a recent report, India has 12,146 public EV charging stations operational vs. 2500 battery swapping stations so India has to make phenomenal progress in both.

It also needs government support for a standard protocol for battery chemistry, size and voltage.

The swappable battery ecosystem is capital hungry and needs a lot of investment and a robust ecosystem pan-India and Honda as the leader of the sales charts can certainly enthuse the adoption.

Taiwan’s Gogoro is the global leader in battery-swapping technology and its network of 12,500 battery-swapping stations at over 2500 locations supports nearly 650,000 riders.

If Gogoro’s numbers are mind-boggling then imagine this: India is 91 times larger than Taiwan so imagine the scale of deployment and investment Honda will need to make this work.

Ushering a New Era

Priced at ₹117,000 ex-showroom Delhi, the Activa e: is more expensive upfront than its petrol version and comes only with the battery swapping option.

However, the assurance of the Honda badge and the lure of lower operating costs make it an attractive option in the long run.

Additionally, its zero tailpipe emissions align with India’s green mobility and sustainability goals.

What sets Activa e: apart is its swappable battery system, a tech feature designed to address one of the biggest challenges in the EV market—range and charging anxiety.

Honda has also launched a more conventional fixed-battery model in QC1, so many wonder which model is the natural successor to the Activa petrol in its electric lineup.

With the Activa prefix, Activa e: stands out as the natural electric successor to the petrol Activa, but lacks the punch for now with its limited network of battery swapping stations and that lack of under-seat storage, two very important factors when it comes to choosing the best version of the electric Honda scooter.

That said, Honda is actively working to establish battery-swapping stations via its Honda e: Swap initiative, and to ensure the infrastructure support the technology needs to succeed.

Last November, Honda announced its plans to establish 500 battery-swapping stations across Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore by March 2026 to support its electric Activa, led by 250 stations in Bangalore, 150 in Delhi, and 100 in Mumbai.

And if it can translate even some percentage of its petrol Activa’s success to sales numbers for the Activa e:, India may well quicken its EV adoption rate in the next few years.

Will Activa Magic Work for Activa e:?

Honda Activa’s appeal holds across generations, geographies and genders—it is the scooter of choice for college students, working professionals commuting daily, families enjoying leisurely rides, and then a cult status with female riders.

By 2023, Honda had sold over 30 million units, carving a niche in India’s two-wheeler industry and history.

The song Kali Activa pretty well sums up and celebrates this automotive and cultural phenomenon, reflecting the deep emotional bond people share with this scooter.

The success of Activa in India perhaps replicates the aura of Lord Maruti in cars, holding the leader’s position with robust sales numbers in both new and used sales segments.

The petrol Activa’s dominance is fuelled by its reliability, frugal running, and the Honda badge. However, replicating the petrol Activa’s widespread success will not be without challenges.

The petrol scooter thrives on the country’s well-established fuel network, while the Activa e:’s success depends on the timely rollout of battery-swapping infrastructure.

Yet, Honda’s strong brand loyalty, the assurance of building a strong network of swapping stations and Activa’s legacy give it a significant edge in convincing consumers about battery-swapping technology.

A Polarising Start

The launch of the Activa e: has been polarising, to say the least.

Go electric with the Honda Activa e: and harness the strength of Honda e:SWAP.
Electrify your dreams! #Honda #Honda2Wheelers #ThePowerOfDreams #Activae: #EV pic.twitter.com/Wa4IdNKZSY

— Honda 2 Wheelers India (@honda2wheelerin) February 12, 2025

The Honda badge notwithstanding, many are sceptical about the battery swapping feature and zero under-seat storage thanks to the two batteries–that many say is a killjoy.

But let’s say Honda gets it right much like how its petrol Activa democratized two-wheeler ownership, the Activa e: could drive the adoption of EVs by making them accessible, practical, and convenient and all thanks to the ease (or pain as we will know soon) of battery-swapping tech.

By leveraging its legacy and addressing India’s unique challenges through innovation, Honda is uniquely positioned to leverage its leadership status to once again set a benchmark in the industry, much like what Maruti did many moons ago.

And as Activa e: hits the roads, it is well poised to make electric mobility with its battery swapping technology as relatable and loved as Activa made the petrol scooter—a scooter cherished across generations.

Now, if only one could read the charged ions well like a clairvoyant to predict if the countdown has already begun for an updated version of the ‘Kali Activa’ song.

By Arrangement with GoElec