The Year 2024 in Review
The industry takes slow yet significant strides towards electrification
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Honda CUV e: vs Activa e:
Why did Honda launch two different scooters on the same platform for India and Indonesia/Europe?
Honda Enters Indian E2W Market
India and ASEAN are the two legs that Honda stands on. It has been disappointing that the Japanese giant has let startups lead the way in the Indian scooter market, a market where it has a 50% market share. Honda is now doing catchup with the CUV e: in Indonesia and the Activa e: and QC1 in India
Honda's Solid-State Battery Pilot Starts
In August 2022, Honda announced it would set up a solid-state battery pilot line in Japan. The aim was to study solid-state batteries and ensure the brand was ready with the technology and production in time for the competition. The pilot line has now started production.
Notes from EICMA 2024
We look at the important electric launches from EICMA, an event where Honda finally showed seriousness to electric mobility and came with a mid-size electric sports motorcycle and some scooters. Also, unveilings from Zero, Silence, Can-Am, Kymco and many more.
Do E2Ws have a Technology Edge?
Often what the E2W world calls technology is a smart integration of sensors and rider aids, controlled by software. The ICE world is more mechanical, more metallurgical, more fundamental. What happens when the ICE world figures out software? Can the E2W Technology edge be maintained?
The collapse of Gogoro
Gogoro plunged into a crisis due to the Taiwanese government's enquiry into its claimed local sourcing of motor controllers on the Viva model. The Founder-CEO has resigned...
Air Cooling Systems Revisited
For all its limitations, air cooling the motor/battery is still the most elegant solution. But are we doing it right or are we still scratching the surface in cooling?
Deer in the headlights: Honda's e:2W plans
By going slow, Honda has allowed Chinese and Indian start-ups to leap-frog ahead. As the Japanese giant wakes up, is the market evolving too fast for Honda?
Honda's e: 2W plans
Honda controls 35-percent of the global two-wheeler market. Yet, when it comes to electric two-wheelers, the Japanese brand has been slow. Is it just them being typically Japanese, or have they been deliberately lazy?
Breaking the ICE...
As ICE motorcycles embrace electronics, sensors, and rider-aids, it is becoming easier for new riders to handle speed. The various automatic transmissions entering the market further dumb down motorcycles. The motorcycling world may not realise but they are taking ICE closer to EVs
Electrifying Big Motorcycles
The incumbents are reluctant and everyone else is not getting anywhere with large lifestyle electric motorcycles? What makes the equation so impossible? Is it just technology challenges compounded by half-hearted efforts or are we trying to force fit things before the core technology matures?