Honda QC1

OVERVIEW & PRICE

PERFORMANCE

The Honda QC1 is engineered to deliver impressive performance tailored for urban commuting. At the heart of this electric scooter lies a powerful Brushless DC (BLDC) motor known for its efficiency and reliability. The motor generates a peak power output of 1.8 kW, ensuring smooth acceleration and ample power for city rides.One of the standout features of the QC1 is its remarkable torque output. With a maximum torque of 77 Nm, the scooter provides instant acceleration, making it ideal for navigating busy city traffic. This high torque also contributes to the scooter’s ability to handle inclines up to 7 degrees, ensuring comfortable rides even in hilly urban areas. The QC1’s acceleration capabilities are noteworthy. It can go from 0 to 40 km/h in 9.4 seconds. This quick pickup is handy for merging into traffic or making swift manoeuvres in congested city streets. While the top speed is capped at 50 km/h, it is more than sufficient for urban commuting. It aligns well with city speed limits, prioritizing safety and efficiency.

BATTERY & RANGE

Range anxiety is a common concern for electric vehicle users. Still, Honda has addressed this with the QC1’s impressive 80 km range on a single charge. This range is adequate for daily urban commutes, allowing riders to navigate their day-to-day activities confidently without frequent charging stops.The QC1 is powered by a fixed 1.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery, which is water—and dust-resistant with an IP67 rating. This robust battery design ensures reliability and longevity, even in challenging weather conditions. The scooter has a 330-watt off-board charger, offering convenient charging options. The QC1’s charging times are reasonably quick, considering its urban-focused design. It takes approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes to charge the battery from 0 to 80%, while a full charge requires about 6 hours and 50 minutes. This charging speed lets users quickly top up their scooter overnight or during work hours, ensuring it’s always ready for the next ride.

FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGY

The Honda QC1 comes packed with an array of features that cater to the needs of modern Indian riders:

1. Seamless Surface: The QC1 boasts a flowing design with curves that blend effortlessly, enhancing its aerodynamic profile and overall efficiency.
2. LED Lighting: The scooter has state-of-the-art LED headlights, tail lamps, and clear winkers, ensuring excellent visibility and safety during night rides while contributing to its modern aesthetic.
3. Elegant Body Colour Mirrors: These mirrors, available as optional accessories, add a touch of sophistication to the scooter’s appearance.
4. Motor: The QC1 is powered by an advanced in-wheel BLDC motor with a peak power output of 1.8 kW, ensuring smooth acceleration and ample power for city rides
5. Battery Specifications: The QC1 is equipped with a fixed 1.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery that utilizes BP Cell Chemistry, known for its high energy density and extended life cycle.
6. Charging System: The scooter has a 330W off-board home charger that can be plugged into a standard 6A household power socket.
7. LCD Display: A 12.70 cm (5″) LCD digital display provides clear and vibrant information about the scooter’s performance, including speed and battery level.
8. USB-C Port: An inner pocket with a 15W USB-C port allows for charging smartphones and other devices on the go.
9. Ride Modes: The QC1 features two ride modes—Standard and Economy—allowing riders to choose based on their preferences and riding conditions.
10. Under-Seat Storage: The scooter offers 26 litres of under-seat storage, spacious enough to accommodate a helmet, charger, and other essentials.
11. Additional Storage: A 1.45L glove box provides extra space for small items.

BUILD QUALITY

The QC1 highlights Honda’s strengths in material selection and construction quality. It features high-quality plastics with precise panel fitment for nearly invisible gaps. The design balances functionality and premium aesthetics, showcasing a sleek LED headlamp and an elegant handlebar cowl. The paint quality is consistent, enhancing its premium look and protecting against environmental factors.The robust underbone chassis design provides excellent structural rigidity and optimal weight distribution. Its suspension system, with telescopic front forks and twin rear shock absorbers, is tuned for Indian road conditions, ensuring durability on challenging surfaces—reflecting Honda’s understanding of local infrastructure. User interface elements include a durable 5-inch LCD display for various weather conditions. Premium features like the LED lighting system and thoughtful ergonomics demonstrate Honda’s commitment to quality. Every touchpoint, from the handlebar grips to the seat material, prioritizes durability and user comfort.

HANDLING

The Honda QC1 is designed to offer nimble handling and easy manoeuvrability in urban traffic, which is crucial for Indian city riding. Here’s what we know about its handling characteristics:

The QC1 features a telescopic front suspension and a 5-step adjustable hydraulic rear suspension. This setup suggests a comfortable ride quality capable of effectively absorbing road imperfections.The adjustable rear suspension allows riders to fine-tune the ride according to their preferences and load conditions. With an underbone type frame and a kerb weight of 89.5 kg, the QC1 is likely to offer agile handling. The lightweight design contributes to easy manoeuvrability, especially in tight city traffic. The scooter has a wheelbase of 1275 mm and a ground clearance of 169 mm. This combination balances stability and the ability to navigate over speed bumps and potholes, which are common on Indian roads.The QC1 has 90/90-12 front and 90/100-10 rear tyres. These dimensions suit city riding, balancing grip and efficiency well. The scooter is fitted with drum brakes on both wheels (130 mm front and 110 mm rear). While not as powerful as disc brakes, these should provide adequate stopping power for the scooter’s intended use in city environments.

COMFORT

Comfort is crucial for Indian riders, especially considering the often challenging road conditions. The scooter’s dimensions (1826 mm length, 701 mm width, and 1129 mm height) suggest a comfortable riding position for average-sized Indian riders. The seat length of 704 mm provides ample space for the rider.The QC1 offers practical storage solutions, with a 26-litre under-seat storage compartment large enough to accommodate a full-face helmet. This feature adds to the overall comfort and convenience of daily commutes.The combination of telescopic front suspension and adjustable rear suspension is designed to provide a smooth ride over various road surfaces. This setup should effectively absorb shocks from potholes and speed breakers, which are common on Indian roads.The 5-inch LCD display with 450 nits brightness ensures clear visibility of essential information, even in bright sunlight. This feature contributes to a more comfortable and stress-free riding experience. Including a 15W USB-C port for charging devices on the go adds to the practicality and comfort for modern riders.

STYLING

The Honda QC1’s styling has been a significant talking point among Indian automotive enthusiasts. The scooter boasts a simple yet minimalistic design that perfectly aligns with contemporary urban aesthetics. The QC1 features flush-surface headlights with high-intensity LEDs, giving it a modern and sophisticated look.Honda offers the QC1 in five different colours, including the striking Pearl Igneous Black and Pearl Misty White, allowing riders to choose a style that suits their personality. The QC1’s design language is modern and appealing, setting it apart in the competitive electric scooter segment.

COLOR OPTIONS AND VARIANTS

Honda has introduced the QC1 with various attractive colour options to suit different preferences. According to official sources, the Honda QC1 is available in five distinct colours:

1. Pearl Serenity Blue
2. Matt Foggy Silver Metallic
3. Pearl Misty White
4. Pearl Shallow Blue
5. Pearl Igneous Black

These colour options provide a good mix of classic and contemporary choices, allowing buyers to select a shade that best reflects their style. There is only a single variant for the Honda QC1 as of now.

VALUE FOR MONEY AND PRICING

The Honda QC1 is priced at ₹ 90,000(ex-showroom), positioning it in India’s mid-range electric scooter segment. Honda offers an impressive 5-year or 50,000 km battery, vehicle, and charger warranty, which adds significant value and peace of mind for potential buyers.Compared to competitors like the Ola S1 X Gen 2, the QC1’s pricing is slightly higher than the S1 X Gen 2 base variant. However, the QC1’s pricing is competitive when considering the top variant of the S1 X Gen 2. Honda’s reputation for reliability and quality in the Indian market adds intangible value to the QC1, which may justify its pricing for many consumers.While the QC1 offers solid features, competitors in this price range provide additional features like Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control. However, the QC1 focuses on providing essential features with Honda’s renowned build quality.