A promising new electric motorbike that was created with affordability and usefulness in mind was made public by Honda’s patent filings. The Honda Shine 100, a well-known commuter motorcycle in India, serves as the foundation for this bike. Honda is able to produce an affordable electric version of the Shine without inventing the wheel by reusing the vehicle’s robust frame and chassis. This straightforward but efficient design has the potential to upend the expanding electric motorcycle market, especially in cost-conscious areas like India.
Similar to the original Shine 100, the patent sketches depict a bike with a mid-motor where the gasoline engine used to be, driving the rear wheel through a single-speed reduction gear and chain. Two lithium-ion battery packs are positioned on either side of the bike’s spine in place of a fuel tank, preserving the bike’s original geometry. This ingenious packaging offers a dependable, affordable urban mobility solution while lowering complexity and development costs.
Honda’s strategy is noteworthy because it has the potential to drastically reduce the time needed for development and manufacturing. The company can expedite production and bring the electric motorcycle to market more quickly and affordably by utilising the Shine chassis that is already in place. Because of the design’s simplicity, Honda is able to serve markets like India, where small displacement motorcycles are popular, where dependability and affordability are crucial.
According to Honda’s patent photos, the electric motorcycle will resemble the Shine 100 in appearance, possibly featuring a concealed charging port and a fake petrol tank. Although the bike’s power output is still unknown, it should have a top speed of 80–85 km/h (50–53 mph), which is comparable to the Shine 100’s 99cc engine.
Honda has incorporated a passive cooling system through a channel created by the two battery packs, ensuring heat is dissipated without requiring additional power, even though the design does not include active cooling. Although Honda has not yet disclosed the bike’s release date or price, its low cost may establish a new benchmark for the electric motorcycle industry and provide commuters in underdeveloped areas with a much-needed alternative.