Honda Finally Brought a Proper Electric Scooter to the Party
Image Credit: Honda.
Today, we have a new little electric two-wheeler from a company that knows a thing or two about making things that go: Honda. No, Honda isn't new to the electric game, but its first electric scooter, the "EM1 e:" (why make the names so weird, Honda?) was… let's just call it a "gentle suggestion." It was cute, like a baby's first step into the world of electric mobility. But their latest offering, the "CUV e:" (again with those names…), feels more like a confident stride. It's as if Honda finally decided to put on its big-kid pants and show us what it can really do in the electric scooter department. And it's about time.
The CUV e: isn't here to win any drag races against a superbike, and that's perfectly fine. It's designed for the real world, the one with traffic lights, potholes, and that person who always seems to be parallel parking. It packs a 6 kW motor that gives it enough oomph to be equivalent to a 125cc scooter. In normal-people-speak, that means it can hit a top speed of 52 mph. No, you won't be taking it on a cross-country tour of the interstate, but it has more than enough get-up-and-go to keep you from becoming a hood ornament in city traffic.
Image Credit: Honda.
One of my favorite party tricks of this little scooter is its battery setup. Since lugging a whole scooter up three flights of stairs to your apartment for a charge is a bit of a workout nobody asked for, Honda, in its infinite wisdom, has blessed the CUV e: with two removable battery packs. They call them the "Mobile Power Pack e:" - sounds very official and important. Each one weighs about 22 pounds - not exactly a feather, but a whole lot easier to carry inside than the entire scooter.
Combined, these two batteries give you a range of over 43 miles. It's not going to get you from New York to Boston, but it's more than enough for a couple of days' worth of commuting, zipping to the grocery store, or meeting a friend for coffee on the other side of town. The idea of swappable batteries isn't new, but seeing a giant like Honda embrace it so wholeheartedly gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. It just makes sense for city living.
Image Credit: Honda.
Charging is as simple as plugging them into a regular wall outlet. A full charge for one pack takes about six hours, which you can just do overnight. Or, if you're impatient like me, you can get it to 75% in just three hours. The beauty of the swappable system is that you could, in theory, have a spare set always charged and ready to go. No waiting required. That's some forward-thinking.
Honda has kitted this new scooter out with some rather nice features. You get three riding modes: Sport, for when you're feeling a bit zesty; Standard, for your everyday pootling about; and Econ, for when you want to squeeze every last electron out of the battery. There's even a Reverse Assist, which is a surprisingly handy feature for wiggling out of tight parking spots. It's the little things, you know?
Image Credit: Honda.
The design is classic Honda: practical, smart, and unlikely to offend anyone. It has a nice, flat floorboard, which is great for stability and maybe even for holding a bag of groceries between your feet. There's some under-seat storage, LED lights all around, a USB-C port to keep your phone happy, and even keyless ignition. It's all very civilized.
You even get a choice of screens! There's a standard five-inch color display, but if you want all the toys, you can upgrade to a seven-inch "RoadSync Duo" screen. This fancier version gives you turn-by-turn navigation, music controls, and all sorts of data about your ride - it's a little mission control right there on your handlebars.
Pricing for the new CUV e: is expected to be around $4,300. It's not pocket change, I know, but for a well-built, practical electric scooter from a brand with a legendary reputation for reliability, it feels pretty reasonable. It's a solid middle-ground option for people who are ready to make the electric leap but aren't quite ready for a big, expensive e-motorcycle.
