Upcoming Suzuki e-Access Electric Scooter: How Does It Fare Against Honda QC1, Activa-e:?
Honda set new waves in the electric scooter segment with the launch of Activa-e. The manufacturer launched the Activa-e: and QC 1 in March. The former premiered a revolutionary technology in the Indian context- battery swapping. The latter, on the other hand, comes with more modest specs, a lower price point and the conventional way of charging the battery pack. Suzuki is now preparing to enter the electric scooter battle with the EV version of its popular scooter- the Access. Called the e-Access, the vehicle was first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025. With the launch imminent, let's pit the e-Access against the Activa-e: and QC1 to find out how it fares.
Suzuki e-Access vs Honda Activa-e:- Specs Comparison
The Activa-e: could be seen as the Suzuki EV's prime rival. The two manufacturers have long been holding a strong fight against each other with their ICE (Internal Combustion Engined) scooters. Both are legacy two-wheeler manufacturers who have just forayed into making mass-market electric scooters.
Let's now pit the e-Access against the Activa-e:. The Activa EV is built on the same platform as the ICE Activa. Instead of a single battery pack, this electric scooter uses a pair of 1.5 kWh batteries which can be removed. Each time when these run out of charge, they are removed and swapped with fresh, fully charged ones at the nearest Honda Swapping station. The range of this battery duo (with a combined capacity of 3.0 kWh) is claimed to be 102 km.
The e-Access, would come with a 3.072 kWh fixed battery pack. It uses Lithium Iron Phosphate(LFP) cells. This battery pack is claimed to offer a range of 95 km per charge. This range figure is significantly lower than what the Activa-e: claims to deliver.
The Activa-e: takes the lead with its motor output as well. The e-Access offers an electric motor output of 5.5 hp (4.1 kW) and 15 Nm while the Activa-e: is superior with its 8.05 hp (6 kW) and 22 Nm!
Talking about the top speed, the Access EV claims 71 km/h while the Activa-e: can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h. The Honda wins here as well!
Despite these on-paper speculations, the Activa-e: could disappoint you in real life, with its practicality and usability. The battery swapping technology is to be blamed for this. Though it could seem fancy, swapping could pose usability challenges till when swapping stations get popular and fool-proof.
Conventional home charging on the e-Access, on the other hand, is clearly more practical. Plus, the scooter also offers fast charging support, which can get it recharged in just 2 hours and 12 minutes.
How Would The e-Access Compare To The QC1?
Now let's see how the e-Access compares to the QC1 with its specifications. Unlike the Activa-e:, the QC1 has a modest powertrain setup. The battery pack here is a smaller, 1.5 kWh unit. The motor output is just 2.4 hp. The top speed is limited to 50 kph.
The e-Access can thus easily outperform the QC1 with its specifications. It has a superior powertrain, going by the spec-sheet. The regular AC (0-80%) charging time of both scooters is the same- 4.5 hours. It is just the e-Access that offers a fast charging option.
The Bottomline
Speaking of the powertrain, specifications and mechanicals alone, the Activa-e stands superior to the e-Access, which again, pulls a rank over the QC1. The QC1, in fact, cannot be treated as a rival mighty enough for the e-Access. Its fight will be with the Activa-e: We'll get to see how it unfolds in the upcoming months...