Honda Unveils 10 Made-in-India Products; QC3 Expands EV Lineup

Almost twice the capacity of the QC1
Expected to get SOC/DTE indications

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has unveiled a 10-product portfolio, all of which are made in India. This comprehensive lineup comprises cruisers, ADVs, family scooters, and FFVs (Flex-Fuel Vehicles). Most notably, the QC1 EV, which had limitations like 80km IDC range, 6.5 hours for a full charge, and 26 litres of under-seat storage, will now get a successor – the QC3, which packs in substantial upgrades.

Honda has stated that the upcoming QC3 will be powered by a 3kWh battery (as compared to the QC1’s 1.8kWh unit). This amps up the IDC range to 145km. Secondly, the under-seat storage has been increased by six litres, making the capacity 32 litres. A smart key and a five-inch TFT screen with connectivity features and turn-by-turn navigation are also part of the package. 0-80 per cent charge comes in 2h 40m, while completely juicing up the battery takes four hours. No powertrain details have been furnished yet. The existing QC1 costs Rs. 90,708 (ex-showroom).

Our Expectations

We expect the QC3 to command a premium of Rs. 7,000-10,000 over the QC1. This places the QC3 against formidable rivals like the TVS Orbiter, TVS iQUBE 2.2, upcoming Ather EL platform-based scooters, and the Chetak C25. The QC1 does not have a DTE meter or an SOC indicator, and we expect the succeeding QC3 to have an indication of some sort.