Honda Motor Co. is accelerating efforts to promote electric motorcycles by rolling out an affordable model that can be ridden with a moped license.
The leading motorbike maker announced on Feb. 19 that it will release the ICON e: model on March 23 at a price lower than its gasoline-engine counterpart.
Honda aims to expand the electric small bike market to holders of moped licenses. These licenses can be obtained by those aged 16 and older, compared with 18 for larger motorcycles, by attending lectures and passing a test.
Honda also ensures a sufficient driving range on a single charge to dispel concerns about electric motorcycles.
The ICON e: is a scooter-type vehicle with a footrest and priced at 220,000 yen ($1,418), including tax, about 20,000 yen cheaper than the gasoline-powered mopeds the company launched last November.
This cost reduction is achieved by reducing parts costs and leveraging economies of scale through mass production, including sales in Indonesia and elsewhere.
The ICON e: boasts a range of 81 kilometers per full charge. Since moped riders typically travel less than 10 km per day, Honda anticipates weekly charging will be sufficient.
The bike features a removable battery for home charging.
