Here’s why Honda’s electric motorcycles won’t appeal to most Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — In Malaysia, the electric motorcycle is still in its infancy and is being dominated by models from China. Meanwhile, the Japanese brands are in no rush to bring their electric motorcycles into our market but that does not mean that they are sitting on their laurels though.

Some of the Japanese motorcycle giants have already begun testing electric motorcycles right here in Malaysia. Take Honda as an example, who is currently testing three Honda e: Business Bike models at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) campus in Penang since last year.

All three models were present at the Boon Siew Honda’s booth during the inaugural edition of the Kuala Lumpur Bike Show last week. It was a rather rare outing for them as these Honda electric motorcycles were not available for sale to the public.

Honda Benly e: quick specs

First introduced to the Japanese market in early 2020, the Honda Benly e: Series is essentially the electric version of the Benly small displacement scooters. It can be obtained in two main variants which include the Benly e: I and Benly e: II.

The difference between these two models mainly revolves around their performance. Specifically, the Benly e: I come with a 2.8kW (3.7hp) electric motor that also produces 13Nm of torque and has been classified as equivalent to motorcycle class of 50cc and lower.

As for the Benly e: II, the bike has a slightly more powerful 4.2kW (5.7hp) electric motor with 15Nm of torque. Hence, it has been categorised as equivalent to a motorcycle with a 50cc to 125cc internal combustion engine.

When it comes to range, Honda did not provide the figures based on well-known standards such as WLTP or NEDC. Instead, the figure was said to come directly from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan which somehow has different circumstances for each model.

For one, the Benly e: I range is rated at 100km when tested with a maximum speed of 30km/h on a flat road. As for the Benly e: II, the rated range is much shorter at just 55km but was tested at a much higher speed of 60km/h.

Meanwhile, both of these Benly e: Series variants can be obtained in the Pro version which comes with extra features such as a foot brake pedal, a front-mounted basket, and a larger rear mount. Honda also provides rear brake lock hold and knuckle guard for them as well.

All Benly e: Series models do come standard with a reverse assistance function as well as two batteries and chargers. Regardless of whether Benly e: I or Benly e: II, the non-Pro model is priced at ¥649,000 (~RM20,616) while the Pro option costs ¥660,000 (~RM20,963).

Honda Gyro e: and Gyro Canopy e: quick specs

Just like the Benly, the Honda Gyro e: Series is also based on the existing petrol-based Gyro Up tilting three-wheeler scooter. In case you wondering, the bike has been fitted with a gyroscopic linkage which allows the rider to manoeuvre it just like a traditional two-wheel motorcycle without risking tumbling over.

In other words, the rear tires will continue to be on the ground when the rider leans left or right to steer the Gyro through corners. For safety purposes, the Gyro e: Series has been fitted with a parking lock that would lock the swing mechanism and prevent anyone from accidentally tilting the front part of the bike.

In general, the series consisted of two options including the standard Gyro e: and the Gyro Canopy e:. You can easily differentiate them apart as the latter comes with its windscreen and roof.

Both variants are equipped with an electric motor that produces 3.2kW (4.3hp) and 13Nm of torque. When it comes to range, the standard Gyro e: can travel slightly further at 85km per single charge while the heavier Gyro Canopy e: maxes out at 77km.

Similar to the Benly e:, the rated range was not based on any well-known industry standard. Instead, it followed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan’s own rating which tested both Gyro e: bikes at a maximum speed of 30km/h on a flat road.

In Japan, the standard Gyro e: is priced at ¥836,000 (~RM26,556) and the Gyro Canopy e: can be obtained for ¥1,001,000 (~RM31,796). Customers who purchased the Gyro e: Series motorcycles are being provided with two battery packs and chargers.

Say hello to the Honda Mobile Power Pack

While there are noticeable differences between their design, form factor, and performances, there is one factor that unites these electric motorcycles: the Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) which is the name that Honda has given to its swappable battery architecture.

First introduced in 2018 alongside the PCX Electric, the MPP features lithium-ion cells and has a capacity of 1314Wh. The IP65-rated battery is rather hefty though at 10.2kg and takes around 4 to 5 hours to be fully charged from empty.

While customers are being provided with a pair of MPP and chargers alongside their Honda Benny e: and Gyro e: electric motorcycles by default, the battery pack can be purchased separately for ¥88,000 (~RM2,796) each. As for the charger, it has a price tag of ¥55,000 (~RM1,748) per unit.

Honda electric motorcycle’s role in Malaysia

As noted earlier, these Honda electric motorcycles were brought to Malaysia for research purposes. In USM, the Benly e: is being used by the university’s security department while the Gyro e: Series bikes are utilised for food deliveries by several in-campus eateries.

Based on our conversation with Boon Siew Honda’s representative at KLBW, the company has no plan to release them into the market. Frankly speaking, it is probably going to be a tough sell if they do bring these bikes to the Malaysian market.

For one, their price tag is way higher than ICE-based motorcycles when you consider their performance. Not only that, they are also not fast enough for our roads and are more suitable to be used within a closed compound or a housing area.

Not to forget, these electric motorcycles have such a short range which made swapping stations rather essential. Since Honda did not even deploy any battery swapping station in USM, we reckoned it is a signal that the company is not yet ready to make these electric motorcycles widely available in Malaysia.

Nevertheless, Honda has previously said that it will launch at least 10 new electric motorcycles globally by 2025. Let’s not forget that Honda helped establish the Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium with Yamaha, Piaggio, and KTM two years ago.

So, it is quite clear that the company is already committed to an electrified future. Perhaps, it is really a matter of time before we see Honda officially release an electric motorcycle into our market. — SoyaCincau