The Honda EM1 e, which uses a swappable battery, is the first of Honda’s planned 10 or more electric two-wheelers by 2025.
13 May 2023 | 19027 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
Honda has revealed its first electric vehicle on two wheels for European riders. The EM1 e follows the Japanese automaker’s September 2022 announcement of plans to introduce 10 or more electric two- wheelers globally by 2025. It is also a notable first step towards meeting Honda’s stated ...
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Honda has revealed its first electric vehicle on two wheels for European riders. The EM1 e follows the Japanese automaker’s September 2022 announcement of plans to introduce 10 or more electric two- wheelers globally by 2025. It is also a notable first step towards meeting Honda’s stated aim of carbon neutrality for all its motorcycle line-ups during the 2040s.
The ‘EM’ stands for Electric Moped, and the model is aimed squarely at a young demographic looking for easy, fun, emission-free urban transport.
The EM1 e, which is equipped with a swappable Honda Mobile Power Pack, has a usable range of 41.3km and a top speed of 45kph. It is aimed at “delivering real convenience, and fun, emission-free urban transport”. Key product highlights include digital instrument display, underseat storage space, USB socket, pillion footpegs and rear carrier.
The in-wheel motor is rated at 0.58kW output and produces 1.7kW at peak. In ECON mode, output is set at 0.86kW. The EM1 e can climb a 10deg angle with a weight of 75kg on board. ECON mode softens throttle operation and reduces top speed, extending usable range to approximately 48.0km.
Dimension-wise, the Honda e-scooter is 1,860mm long and has a 740mm seat height. Ground clearance is 135mm and maintenance weight is just 95kg including battery. The frame is a durable steel underbone design; 31mm telescopic forks are matched to twin rear shock absorbers equipped with double tube dampers. Rake and trail are set at 27deg/77mm against wheelbase of 1,300mm.
Tyres are sized 90/90-12 front and 100/90-10 rear. The front wheel is cast aluminium, the rear an aluminium/steel composite design. The brakes – 190mm/single-piston caliper disc front and 110mm drum rear – are linked by Combined Brake System (CBS) for smooth stopping control. When the rear brake is activated, CBS distributes braking power to the front caliper.
What’s really new are the electric in-wheel motor and Honda’s own Honda Mobile Power Pack e, which can be removed for easy recharging at home using the bespoke charging unit.
The EM1 e comes equipped with digital dash, high quality switchgear, long floor area, underseat storage space and USB charging socket. It also features pillion footpegs, rear carrier and side stand for speedy parking.
Swappable lithium-ion battery pack
The EM1 e: is powered by the 50V Honda Mobile Power Pack e:, developed in-house by Honda and designed to withstand different temperatures, humidity levels, impacts and vibrations.
As its name suggests, the Honda Mobile Power Pack e is a swappable battery that can be easily removed from the EM1 e for charging in the comfort of home. Operation is simple: the charger, complete with air-cooling fan, draws from a single phase AC100-240V domestic source and produces 270W maximum. Weight of the charger is 5.3kg and LED indicators show charging status in 4 segments. The Honda Mobile Power Pack e: itself weighs approximately 10kg and can be easily carried and replaced thanks to an easy-to-hold handle.
From zero to maximum, charging time is approximately 6 hours; from 25% to 75%, only 2.7 hours (160 minutes) are needed. Honda claims the Honda Mobile Power Pack e can be charged over 2,500 times.
Styling and equipment
Deliberately shaped to stand apart from its ICE siblings, the EM1 e is slim and compact, blending a mixture of smooth, organic curves up front with a more angular, purposeful rear section.
A 12V battery powers the scooter’s systems and all lighting is LED. A simple digital dash displays all the information that matters concisely, including remaining battery charge percentage.
There’s 3.3 litres of storage space under the seat, and an inner pocket large enough to store a 500ml PET water bottle can be found on the left side of the fairing front; on the right a USB socket for smartphone charging is a useful feature. There’s also a handy hook to hang a bag from, and grab rails for the pillion passenger.
A rear carrier is also fitted as standard while the pillion footpegs fold neatly into the bodywork when not in use. A useful 35L top box and rear carrier will be available as an optional accessory.
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