Patent has been filed by Honda for its latest UC3 electric scooter in India. The patenting does indicate that Honda does value their intellectual property but it does not automatically mean that Honda will bring the electric scooter to India in the near future. However, with the specs and features revealed in Thailand and Vietnam, the UC3 becomes one of the most interesting electric scooters to have come from Honda.
Global launch and India angle
Currently, the UC3 is available in Thailand and Vietnam where it is offered as a premium electric maxi-scooter with a distinctive design. The pre-subsidy price in Thailand is around THB 142,600 (approximately Rs 4.1 lakh). Post subsidy, the price falls to THB 132,600 (approx. Rs 3.82 lakh). The Honda UC3 in Vietnam is currently being imported as CBU but Honda is planning on bringing it as CKD in the coming time.
As for India, the patent filing is very much in line with what Honda typically does – patents multiple models in India even if they are never offered locally. This, however, does not rule out that the UC3 may eventually come to India since it does have quite a few attractive factors as mentioned ahead.
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Design and usability
On the design front, the Honda UC3 certainly does stand out. The front gives off the vibe of a compact maxi-scooter with a tall windscreen and an aggressive look. As for the sides, the panel and seat designs have a neo-retro look to them with the rear giving off a similarly old-school vibe. Notably, Honda UC3 comes with an all-new front lighting design. There is a three-piece LED DRL that also acts as turn indicators with LED headlamps positioned below it. The charging flap on the Honda UC3 has also been done away with and it is integrated into the windshield area. On the rear, there is LED tail light and turn indicators with a complex-shaped seat. Two colors have been showcased by Honda thus far – Pearl Sapphire White and Graphite Black.
Battery, range and performance
Unlike the Activa e, the UC3 comes with a non-removable battery pack, meaning you cannot swap batteries easily. Even more important is that it becomes the first Honda electric scooter to utilize LFP battery technology, which is famous for better thermal stability and longevity. In Honda’s estimates, this battery should last through more than 1,500 charge cycles.
According to the specs provided, the electric scooter has a claimed range of 122 km on a single charge, making it one of the most long-ranged electric scooters in the class should it be released in India. The scooter has a claimed 8 bhp output of the motor with a top speed of 80 km/h. According to Honda, this makes the UC3 have a “160cc scooter-like” performance, thus being more powerful than average 125cc petrol scooters, although its top speed is electronically limited.
The electric scooter runs on 12-inch wheels and comes with the Combined Braking System (CBS), not the full ABS like the current Honda Activa does, which might be a controversial point for those expecting ABS in India where it becomes common even for midrange scooters. Support for fast charging reaches 1,200W.
Features and technology
In terms of features, the Honda UC3 seems to be quite good as a premium electric scooter. It gets a 5-inch TFT display along with the Honda RoadSync connectivity feature providing smartphone connectivity and such features as navigation prompts and call/alarm notifications. The scooter has traction control and three different riding modes: Econ, Standard, and Sport. With all this, the user can balance the range and the performance depending on the conditions.
Practicality is provided by the storage capacity of 26 litres under the seat, which is quite decent for a maxi electric scooter. There is a reverse assist feature for easier manoeuvring in narrow places, adaptive regeneration for adjusting the amount of regenerative braking depending on the state of charge, and other convenience features such as smart key with keyless go function, Type-C USB charger port, and bicolor LED headlamps.
Potential of an India launch
Should Honda go ahead and bring the UC3 scooter to India, then this model will be a class-above version of the Activa e, one which is more powerful, well-equipped, and unique in terms of its styling. With its LFP battery pack and claimed range of 122km per charge cycle, the UC3 directly tackles the problems of range anxiety and longevity of battery life that have often been raised by Indian customers in respect to EVs. But the cost factor cannot be ignored either, since the UC3 in Thailand is clearly a premium model, which means an India-specific competitive price will matter.
At least for now, the patented design of the UC3 shows that Honda still intends to retain this scooter’s option in India, while developing its EV line-up further in the country.
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