Honda finally entered the Indian electric two-wheeler market with the launch of the Activa e and the QC 1. While the Activa e is the current flagship offering from the Japanese two-wheeler maker, the QC1 is the entry ticket. Here is what we think of it.
Like its sibling, the Honda QC1 also has a very simple and minimalistic design. The body panels sport bare minimum cuts and creases, while the overall aesthetic of the QC1 is that of a city-oriented offering.
The QC1 comes with LED illumination, two ride modes (Econ and Standard), a USB-C charger, and a 5-inch LCD. Strangely, its display doesn't accommodate a DTE reading but has a battery SOC or State of Charge for you to guesstimate the distance.
In terms of the quality, the QC1 gets nice and flush-fit panels, tactile switchcubes, and good quality plastic panels. However, the tail light seems to be an afterthought and could have been designed better.
Powering the Honda QC1 is a 1.8kW motor linked to a 1.5kWh battery. The setup is said to offer the scooter a top speed of 50 kmph and a maximum range of 80km. However, the top speed is reduced to 30 kmph in the Econ mode.
We found the QC1 to be comfortable and decently spacious. It feels familiar to petrol-powered Activa and that makes the ICE to EV transition smoother. However, the same can't be said about the QC1's Econ mode. You will be better off riding the scooter in the Standard mode for the most part.
However, we managed to hit a stop speed of 52 kmph and realised it isn't fast enough for today's time. Other vehicles around are mostly faster and it would have been nice if the QC1 could keep the pace.
That said, if you want to know more about the Honda QC1 and whether you should purchase it, we recommend you read our first ride review.
