Despite the fact that Honda teased a number of all-electric motorcycle concepts on several shows, including last year’s EICMA event in Italy, it has not yet committed to electrifying and putting something meaty into production.
That’s all changing as its collaboration with Chinese bicycle manufacturer Wuyang has resulted in Wuyang-Honda Wh8000D or the first production of electric motorcycle from the famous Japanese two-wheel specialist.
Granted, Honda-built electric scooters have come before this, but the WH8000D, which is likely to be called e-VO in its domestic Chinese market, is the first to look like a ‘proper’ motorcycle.
EE-VO picks up with the beautiful RC-E concept bike that showed up at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2011, and boasts retro-futuristic cafésling, with a nice round headlight, sporty fairing, rear foot stocks and slightly dropped control.
It is a little awkward to look at and not as beautiful as the 1960s GP bike influas in the aforementioned concept, but it is arguably more impressive than the overall electric scooters that have so far rolled out of Honda production facilities.
Despite having adopted the air of a larger capacity machine, E-VO is designed to compete with 125cc internal engine motorcycles as the engine uses boasting a point strength of 15.3 kW or about 20BHP, according to Electrek.
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This means that the top speed will be limited to about 68 km / h to 75 km / hi the lightest models, although Wuyang-Honda suggests that it can accelerate from rest to approx. 30 km / h (city traffic speeds) in just 2.8 seconds.
The second sticky problem is the battery capacity and charging speeds, as will be offered in China in either 4.1 or 6.2 kWh cover. The former offers about 74 miles of reach, but weighs a portly 143 kg.
There is also a heavier triple battery pack setting that sees the range climbing to 105 miles, but charging takes about 2.5 hours on a standard domestic marketing market or approx. 90 minutes at a low power level 2 EV-MODING. There is no possibility of quick charging of the motorcycle.
However, the battery’s swap technology is becoming increasingly popular in China (and further afield), with the cycle world that suggests that e-VO could benefit from something like Honda’s existing mobile power pack e swappable tech.
This would allow users to either remove the batteries and charge them away from the bike, but also swap them for fully charged devices at dedicated stations.
But if that kind of convenience is not found, Wuyang-Honda becomes a vehicle that is really only good for the short commuter something that can be easily handled by a more affordable and more practical ice scooter.
Bang for Yuan
Despite looking a little weird, not packing particularly punchy performance offers relatively lean range and slow charging speeds, Honda-Wuyang E-VO is equipped with some impressive technology for the money.
According to Electrek, prices of 29,999 yuan, or approx. $ 4,500 / £ 3,100 / AU $ 6,465 for the 4.1 kWh version and 36,999 Yuan (approx.
However, the bikes come complete with two 7-inch TFT screens that take care of instrumentation as well as some infotainment tasks. There are also built-in front and rear dash-cams for extra security.
Throw the ‘Big Bike’ inverted front gaffles, disc brakes and adjustable handles and it starts to look like an impressive package for the money, but it will probably be much more expensive if it is due to global sales.
This is where EVs as less capacity like this does not really make much financial sense, as their counterparts to the internal combustion engine are more practical, give similar performance and generally costs less. Take Maeving RM-1, Super Socos TC Max and Kawasakis Ninja Z E-1 as good examples of this.
But a wider range of electric motorcycles are on the horizon, with Royal Enfield in the hope of being among the first major manufacturers to offer low-cost electrified two-wheel transport when its flying flea model is eventually sold in early 2026.
