The electric vehicle revolution is making its ways to motorcycles. While there are some prominent motorcycles that have gone EV, the major manufacturers are still some way behind. Until now. Honda, the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, has announced that it will introduce “10 or more” electric motorcycles by 2025.
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The manufacturer will focus on Asian and European markets at first, and it isn’t yet clear how many (if any) will make its way to Africa. Honda shared a slide showing the silhouettes of 11 potential electric models, and all but four look like scooters.
Honda has said it is developing a “FUN” platform and plans to introduce three “large-size” EV models in Japan, the US and Europe between 2024 and 2025. The company is also working on a kids-sized bike based on the same powertrain and solid-state battery technology to power all of the models it plans to introduce before the second half of the decade.
That doesn’t mean that internal combustion engine motorcycles are going away. Honda has pledged it would continue to produce internal combustion engine models, but it will become more environmentally friendly. It will start running on sustainable fuels, much like F1 plans to do, that can use E20 and E100 ethanol-based fuels in 2023 and 2025.
The Japanese motoring giant plans to make its motorcycle business carbon neutral by 2040 and for electric models to account for about 15 percent of its motorcycle sales by 2030.
“To increase the added value of its electric motorcycles, Honda is aiming to transform its business from a focus on non-recurring hardware (product) sales business to a recurring business model combining hardware and software.”
“In the area of software development, Honda is working with its software subsidiary, Drivemode, to enhance new value creation for its electric motorcycle products in the connected realm. Starting with the commuter EV model scheduled to go on sale in 2024, Honda will offer user experience (UX) features that continuously enrich the quality of riding through connectivity, such as offering optimal route options that take into consideration remaining range, charging spot notification, safe riding coaching and after-sales service support.”
“Looking ahead, Honda will work toward the establishment of a connected platform where greater value will be generated not only by connecting its motorcycles, but by linking a wide range of Honda products and realizing connectivity beyond their product domains.”
