Ola Vs Honda EV Launches In India: Comparing Ola’s Scooters With Honda’s ACTIVA e: And QC1 Models

Auto major Honda has finally entered the electric vehicle segment in India with two new models. While the legacy player steps in, Ola Electric, currently the market leader in the electric vehicle segment, upped its ante with new launches.

Honda launched two premium models of the ACTIVA e: a swappable battery technology model and the QC1, which is a fixed battery model. Ola has extended its portfolio with the launch of its Gig and S1 Z range of scooters, comprising the Ola Gig, Ola Gig+, Ola S1 Z, and Ola S1 Z+, at affordable price ranges.

Ola Gig is designed to address the needs of gig workers involved in shorter trips; Ola Gig+ is built for gig workers having to travel longer distances with heavier payloads; S1 Z is a personal-use electric scooter aimed at urban commuters; and Ola S1 Z+ is a dual-usage electric scooter designed for both personal and light commercial use for urban, semi-urban, and rural commuting.

On the other hand, with ACTIVA e:, Honda is bringing in the design of its famous ICE offering, Activa. The Honda QC1 is a personal mobility solution that combines fluidic design and engineering.

Battery

Ola

Ola Gig comes with a removable 1.5 kWh battery; Ola Gig+ has a removable single/dual battery of 1.5 kWh each; the Ola S1Z has removable dual batteries of 1.5 kWh each, and the Ola S1 Z+ has removable dual batteries of 1.5 kWh each.

Honda 

The ACTIVA e: is introduced with swappable battery technology. It is equipped with Honda Mobile Power Pack e, which are swappable batteries developed and maintained by Honda Power Pack Energy India Pvt. Ltd. The ACTIVA e: gets two such swappable batteries, each of 1.5 kWh capacity. The swappable batteries can be exchanged with the help of designated Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: (BeX swapping stations). 

The Honda QC1 has a 1.5 kWh fixed battery pack. QC1 can be charged at home with a 330-watt off-board home charger that comes with an auto-cut technology. It can be charged from 0 to 80% in 4 hours and 30 minutes, while a full juice-up will take 6 hours and 50 minutes. 

Range And Top Speed

Ola 

Ola Gig offers an IDC-certified range of 112 km and a top speed of 25 km/h; the Ola Gig+ comes with a top speed of 45 km/h and an IDC-certified range of 81 km (157 km x 2); the Ola S1Z has an IDC-certified range of 75 km (146 km x 2) and comes with a top speed of 70 km/h; and the Ola S1Z+ comes with an IDC-certified range of 75 km (146 km x 2) and a top speed of 70 km/h. 

Honda 

Honda ACTIVA e: is tested to offer a range of 102 km on a full charge, can sprint from 0 to 60 km/h in 7.3 seconds, and has a top speed of 80 km/h. The Honda QC1 is tested to provide a range of 80 km on a single charge and has a top speed of 50 km/h.

Price

Ola Gig comes at an introductory price of Rs 39,999 and will be available for B2B purchases and rentals. Ola Gig+ has an introductory price of Rs 49,999 and will be available for B2B purchases and rentals. The Ola S1 Z is priced at Rs 59,999 (introductory price), and the Ola S1 Z+ is priced at Rs 64,999 (introductory price).

Honda, however, has not announced the price range for both its models yet. It will be releasing the prices in January, when the bookings for the vehicle open up.

Other Features

Ola 

The Ola Gig scooter offers design, sufficient range, removable battery, adequate payload capacity, and reliable safety features. The Ola Gig+ is powered by a hub motor with a peak output of 1.5 kW. Ola S1Z has an LCD display, a physical key, is powered by a 2.9 kW hub motor, it can clock 0-20 kmph in 1.8 seconds and 0-40 km in 4.8 seconds. Ola S1Z+ has high payload capacity, and storage options. It also has 14” tyres, an LCD display, a physical key with a 2.9 kW hub motor, it can clock 0-20 kmph in 1.8 seconds and 0-40 km in 4.7 seconds.

Honda 

The Honda ACTIVA e: has all-LED headlight and tail lamp along with smiling DRLs, dual-tone seat, 12-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, flat footboard and a grabrail. It also has a 7.0-inch TFT screen that offers real-time connectivity with Honda RoadSync Duo app. 

The Honda QC1 has LED headlights, tail lamp, clear winkers, 12-inch front alloy wheel, and a sturdy grab rail. It also has a 5.0-inch all-info LCD display that offers all the vehicle information at one glance. For added utility, it gets a USB Type-C outlet to charge personal mobile devices on the go, along with a 26-litre under-seat storage box.