Although Honda mocks a series of totally electric motorcycles concepts in several shows, including last year’s EICMA event in Italy, it has not yet completely committed to electrification and put something fleshy in production.
That is about to change, since his collaboration with the Chinese Bicycle manufacturer Wuyang has resulted in the Wuyang-Honda Wh8000D, or the first production electric motorcycle of the famous Japanese specialist on two wheels.
Okay, electric scooters with Honda spots have arrived before this, but Wh8000D, which will probably be called E-VO in its national Chinese market, is the first to look like an “adequate” motorcycle.
Inspired by the beautiful RC-E conceptual bicycle that appeared in the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, the E-VO has a retro-muturous coffee runner style, with an orderly round lighthouse, sports carlenate, rear feet and slightly fallen handlebars.
It is a bit uncomfortable to see and not as handsome as the GP bicycle influences of the 1960s of the aforementioned concept, but it could be said that it is more impressive than the passage electric scooters that have so far extended from the Honda production facilities.
Despite adopting the air of a greater capacity machine, the E-VO is designed to compete with 125cc combustion motorcycles, since the engine it uses has a maximum power of 15.3 kW, or around 20 hp, according to Electrek.
Attend
This means that the maximum speed will be limited to around 68 mph to 75 mph in the lighter models, although Wuyang-Honda suggests that it can accelerate rest to about 30 mph (city traffic speeds) in just 2.8 seconds.
The second sticky problem is battery capabilities and load speeds, since it will be offered in China with the forms of 4.1 or 6.2 kWh. The first offers around 74 miles of rank, but weighs 143 kg portlucas.
There is also an option for the heaviest triple batteries that sees that the range rises to 105 miles, but the load has been around 2.5 hours at a standard national output or approximately 90 minutes in an EV loader of low power 2 level 2. There is no option to quickly load the motorcycle.
However, battery exchange technology is becoming increasingly popular in China (and further), and Cycle World suggests that E-VO could take advantage of something like Power Power Power and existing Honda’s swappting technology.
This would allow users to eliminate batteries and load them from the bicycle, but also exchange them by units completely loaded in dedicated stations.
But if that type of convenience does not exist, the Wuyang-Honda becomes a vehicle that is really only good for short trips, something that can be easily approached by a more affordable and more convenient ice scooter.
Hit
In spite of seeming a bit strange, not to pack a particularly overwhelming performance, offering a relatively scarce range and slow loading speeds, the Honda-Wuyang e-VO is equipped with an impressive technology for money.
According to Electrek, prices begin at 29,999 yuan, or around $ 4,500 / £ 3,100 / AU $ 6,465 for the 4.1 kWh version, and 36,999 yuan (around $ 5,100 / £ 3,811 / AU $ 7,970) for the triple version of 6.2 kWh.
However, bicycles are completed with two 7 -inch TFT screens that are responsible for instrumentation, as well as some infotainment tasks. There are also front and rear tank cams incorporated for greater safety.
Add the inverted front forks of ‘Big Bike’, disc brakes and adjustable levers and begins to look like an impressive package for money, but it is likely to be much more expensive if it is prepared for global sales.
This is where EVs of less capacity like this do not really make much financial sense, since their combustion motor counterparts are more convenient, they offer similar performance and generally cost less. Take the RM-1 maeving, the Super Soco Max TC and the Kawasaki Ninja Z E-1 as good examples of this.
But a broader range of electric motorcycles is on the horizon, with Royal Enfield with the hope of being among the first important manufacturers in offering electrified two -wheel electrified transport when its flying flea model finally goes on sale in early 2026.
