Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has officially announced its entry into the Indian electric vehicle market with the launch of two new models: the Activa E and the QC1. These new scooters cater to the needs of personal commuters and price-sensitive buyers with features such as swappable batteries and compact in-wheel motors. The company plans to start bookings for the Activa E in January and expand its presence in major metro cities with battery swapping facilities in collaboration with OMC Power Pvt Ltd.
Honda's Electric Scooter Revolution: Activa E and QC1 Launch in India
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has made a significant foray into the Indian electric vehicle (EV) market with the introduction of two new models: the Activa E and the QC1. These scooters cater to the growing demand for affordable and sustainable transportation solutions in the country.
Background
The Indian automotive industry has been witnessing a surge in the adoption of EVs in recent years, driven by government incentives and increasing environmental concerns. HMSI, a leading player in the two-wheeler segment, recognized the opportunity to tap into this market and expand its offerings beyond conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
Activa E and QC1: Key Features
The Honda Activa E is based on the highly popular Activa scooter, known for its reliability and fuel efficiency. It features a compact in-wheel motor coupled with a swappable lithium-ion battery pack. The battery can be easily removed and replaced at designated swapping stations, eliminating the need for extended charging times.
The QC1, on the other hand, is designed as a more premium electric scooter. It boasts a larger battery capacity, providing an extended range and improved performance. It also comes equipped with advanced features such as a color TFT display, navigation, and LED lighting.
Expansion Plans and Battery Swapping Infrastructure
HMSI plans to initially launch the Activa E in major metro cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The company has partnered with OMC Power Pvt Ltd. to establish a network of battery swapping facilities at convenient locations. This partnership will ensure the availability of fully charged batteries for riders, reducing range anxiety and enhancing the overall user experience.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. When will the Activa E and QC1 be available for purchase? Answer: Bookings for the Activa E are expected to commence in January 2023, while the QC1's launch timeline is yet to be announced.
2. What is the expected range and speed of the scooters? Answer: The Activa E is claimed to offer a range of up to 100km on a single charge, while the QC1 is expected to deliver a range of over 150km. The top speed for both scooters is limited to 50km/h.
3. How much will the scooters cost? Answer: The official pricing for the Activa E and QC1 has not been revealed, but it is anticipated to be competitive within the electric scooter segment.
4. Where will the battery swapping stations be located? Answer: HMSI will collaborate with OMC Power to set up battery swapping stations at strategic locations across major cities. The exact locations will be announced closer to the scooter's launch date.
5. What are the charging options for the scooters? Answer: While the scooters primarily rely on battery swapping, they also come equipped with built-in chargers for home or office charging. The charging time using a regular wall socket is expected to be around 5-6 hours.
In a major shift, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads will no longer use fact-checkers to moderate content, instead relying on community notes similar to X. The move is intended to promote free speech and reduce mistakes in content moderation. Additionally, the company will be moving its trust and safety teams responsible for content policies and moderation from California to Texas and scrapping restrictions on topics like immigration and gender identity. However, there is a trade-off as the company admits it will catch less bad content but also reduce the number of innocent posts and accounts that are accidentally removed.
According to Sky Sports journalist Manuele Baiocchini, AC Milan is considering a potential loan deal for Manchester United star Marcus Rashford. Milan sees him as a potential reserve for Rafael Leão and a backup option for Álvaro Morata and Tammy Abraham. However, Rashford's high salary of €14 million per year is a major obstacle for Italian clubs. Talks have yet to take place, but Milan is open to discussing the deal if United helps cover the salary.
Standard Glass Lining Technology Ltd. is set to raise Rs 410.05 crore through its initial public offering, which has been subscribed 16.13 times so far on Tuesday. The grey market premium for the IPO currently stands at Rs 93, suggesting a potential 66.43% premium at listing. With an issue price range of Rs 133–140 and a combination of fresh issue and offer for sale, the company has already raised Rs 123 crore from anchor investors and is set to finalise allotment on Jan. 9 with a tentative listing date of Jan. 13.
The stock market saw a sharp decline in the morning hours of trading on Monday, with the Sensex plunging close to 800 points and the Nifty tanking over 250 points. This was attributed to fresh foreign fund outflows and the cautious stance of investors ahead of the upcoming earnings season. The broader markets also traded in the red, with the Nifty Microcap 250 leading the losses and the Nifty Metal and Realty indices dominating in the red. Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude saw a slight dip, while the US markets ended on a positive note on Friday.
Microsoft recently faced a bug that led to the suspension of many Microsoft Rewards accounts. The company has acknowledged the issue and provided a fix, but affected users may have to wait a few hours before regaining access. This bug has caused not just inconvenience, but also the loss of reward points for many loyal Microsoft Rewards users. The error message reads "Your Microsoft Rewards account has been suspended" and may seem like a violation of terms and conditions, but Microsoft has clarified that it was only a technical issue. Despite the fix, affected users are rightfully questioning the false suspension and loss of their reward points.
Today, the much-awaited demerger of ITC Hotels from its parent company ITC was finally executed, with ITC shares starting to trade without its hotels business included. Analysts predict a fair price of Rs 264 per share for ITC Hotels, with shareholder eligibility for its shares being decided based on holdings of ITC shares as of today. The newly demerged ITC Hotels will soon be listed on the bourses, with Nomura expecting a listing price in the range of Rs 200-300 per share. In the meantime, ITC Hotels will remain a part of stock indices where ITC is a constituent, and its listing may be postponed in case of trading circuit limits being hit. This corporate action is expected to significantly impact shareholders of ITC, a prominent blue-chip stock in the Indian market.
The initial public offering (IPO) of Quadrant Future Tek Limited will open on January 7, 2025, and close on January 9, aiming to raise Rs 290 crore. The book-built issue is entirely fresh, with a price band of Rs 275-290 per share. The proceeds from the IPO will be directed towards the company's working capital requirements, capital expenditure, loan repayment, and general corporate purposes. With the estimated listing price at Rs 470, investors could see a potential gain of 62.07% from the IPO.
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has released the answer key for the Technician Grade 3 exam held in 2024. Candidates can raise objections by visiting the official websites of their respective zones and entering their application number and date of birth. The last date to raise objections is January 11, 2025, and a fee of Rs. 50 per question must be paid. If the objection is found to be valid, the fee will be refunded to the candidate. Multiple payment options are available for candidates.
Jagdeep Singh, a self-made Indian-origin entrepreneur, has broken records as the highest-paid CEO in the world with a daily income of Rs 48 crore. With a background in tech giants HP and Sun Microsystems, Singh now leads his own company, Quantumscape, which is revolutionizing electric vehicle batteries with cutting-edge solid-state technology. This achievement not only showcases Singh's passion for innovation but also sets a new standard for corporate leadership.
Jagdeep Singh, former CEO and founder of the American company Quantumscape, has surpassed all compensation records with an annual salary of Rs 17,500 crore. With a remarkable daily earning of Rs 48 crore, Singh has set a new benchmark in the EV industry. Despite stepping down as CEO, he continues to excel in the tech and business worlds with his new venture.