Honda’s new super low-cost electric motorcycle could come at the perfect time
Earlier this week, we covered Honda’s new patent images that revealed what looks to be a production-ready, ultra-low-cost electric motorcycle from the world’s most prolific motorcycle maker. While the company hasn’t officially announced plans to bring the bike to market, the level of detail in the patent suggests one thing loud and clear: Honda’s electric commuter is no longer just a concept – it’s waiting on a green light from the boardroom. And if they’re still debating giving it the thumbs up or down, then now would be the perfect time to make everyone’s day and release this thing to the world.
To be fair, we don’t really know what the bike would look like since we only have the technical drawings in the patent that showcase an electric motorcycle built on the frame of a Honda Shine 100, the company’s smash-hit 99cc commuter bike that has proven incredibly popular in India.
The images above and below show an AI interpretation of how the electric version could look, taking the technical drawings of the bike from the patent and applying styling similar to the Shine 100. But if this is any indication, it could slot nicely into Honda’s lineup.
A perfect storm of demand and opportunity
Right now, the market is crying out for a product like this. Two-wheel electric transport is booming globally, especially in regions where motorcycles are used not for weekend rides or fun, but as core transportation for everyday life. In developing countries like India, Indonesia, and throughout Southeast Asia and Africa, affordable motorcycles are the backbone of personal mobility. And as battery prices continue to fall and gas prices remain unpredictable, electric is becoming the obvious next step.
Even in the US, which has been one of the slowest markets in the world to adopt electric two-wheelers, there are literal roving gangs of teenagers on light electric motorcycles. If that doesn’t underscore how far electric motorcycles have penetrated, nothing will. Even Americans are buying them.
But of course, the US isn’t the main market, and Honda seems to know that. The company’s yet-unnamed electric model from its patent appears to be designed as a direct electric counterpart to the Shine 100, that wildly popular gasoline-powered commuter bike that has dominated the budget end of the market in India. The Shine 100 is known for its simple, reliable design, ultra-low price, and frugal fuel economy. Now imagine replacing the gas tank with a battery pack, swapping out the engine for a hub motor, and cutting fuel and maintenance costs almost to zero. That’s exactly what this new bike looks poised to do.
The specs we don’t know… yet
We don’t have confirmed specs from Honda, but the design and architecture give us some important clues. The motor appears to be a small, centrally mounted unit similar in size to those seen on Sur Ron-style electric motorbikes, likely in the 5-6 kW range, which would likely put top speed somewhere in the ballpark of 50 to 55 mph (80–90 km/h). That’s fast enough for city and suburban riding, especially in developing nations where highway use is less common and speed limits are lower.
The battery appears to be designed as a pair of removable, under-seat packs that look quite similar to the Honda Mobile Power Pack standard. We can’t say for sure yet, but it would make sense for Honda to apply that standard to the new motorcycle, especially since the company has already invested in the early stages of building up a swapping network for these batteries in India.
The battery packs’ removable nature is key for markets where most riders don’t have access to ground-level charging. Removable batteries mean that the bike can be left parked on the street, with only the batteries being carried into a home or apartment for charging.
Sure, removable batteries limit the range by necessitating something light enough to be feasibly carried by the average rider. But let’s be clear: this isn’t going to be a Zero or a LiveWire. It’s a small, simple, commuter-focused machine. And that’s exactly what makes it so exciting.
A massive opportunity in plain sight
While companies like Ola, Ather, and Hero Electric have already entered India’s electric two-wheeler market, Honda still has massive brand recognition and an extensive dealership and service network. If the company moves quickly, it can leverage that footprint to immediately scale electric sales where it matters most.
And this isn’t just about India.
With a few tweaks, like ensuring compliance with region-specific lighting rules and adding a few basic safety features, Honda could easily bring a version of this bike into Europe, where cities are increasingly banning internal combustion vehicles and where small-format urban mobility is booming. Even in North America, there’s a growing appetite for affordable electric motorcycles. Sure, a 50 mph top speed limits highway use, but for many urban commuters and students, that’s more than enough. It may have scooter performance, but it sure looks cooler than a scooter.
We’ve already seen Chinese brands dipping their toes into this space, offering ultra-low-cost commuter bikes and scooters with modest specs. The difference is that those bikes are often plagued by weak support networks, sketchy build quality, and limited availability of parts. Honda could change the game here, bringing name-brand reliability and global support to the affordable electric motorcycle segment.
What’s stopping them?
And yet, despite all of its promise, the bike in these drawings remains just a patent on paper, at least for now.
It’s pretty clear from the drawings that this is a production-ready design, especially compared to much more basic designs patented by Honda in years past. The detailed component layout, integrated electronics, and finalized styling suggest that Honda could start prepping an assembly line for this thing tomorrow. All it needs is a go-ahead from Honda’s executive team.
Of course, large companies move slowly. There are internal projections to review, factories to retool, and business cases to make. But given Honda’s prior commitments to electrify its motorcycle lineup and its stated goals to phase out ICE motorcycles by the 2040s, the company needs to start moving products like this from blueprint to showroom floor yesterday.
Honda has the global reputation, the dealer network, and the engineering muscle to absolutely dominate the entry-level electric motorcycle segment. But it has to want to.
This new low-cost e-moto is exactly the kind of product that could move the needle, not just in emissions reductions or electrification goals, but in making EVs more accessible to millions of riders who need practical, affordable transportation today.
The demand is real. The market is ready. The design is done.
Now all we need is for Honda to say: “Let’s build it.”
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It’s official. BYD is launching its first kei car. The new electric car is BYD’s smallest EV yet, and it’s expected to arrive next year with a starting price under $18,000. After it was spotted testing again, we are learning a little more about what to expect.
BYD’s smallest EV is coming in 2026
Kei cars, or K-Cars, as they are often called, are one of the most popular types of vehicles in Japan. They are the smallest street-legal passenger vehicles you can buy in the country.
To be classified as a kei car, the vehicle must be less than 3.4 m (134″) long, 1.48 m (58″) wide, and 2 m (79″) tall.
BYD’s smallest EV, and top-selling, is currently the Seagull (sold as the Dolphin Surf and Mini overseas), measuring 3,780 mm in length (148.8″).
We caught a glimpse of the new electric Kei car for the first time in May after it was spotted testing on public roads. Like many kei cars, including the Honda N-Box, Japan’s top-selling vehicle, BYD’s tiny EV has that quirky, upright, boxy design.
After being recently spotted parked at a test facility, new spy photos provide a closer look, including a sneak peek of the interior.
The new images, posted by ThinkerCar, show essentially the same kei car we saw in May. It’s a right-hand-drive vehicle, suggesting it will launch in Japan, the UK, parts of Southeast Asia, and possibly other regions.
#BYD K-Car spy shots reveal a four-door layout with sliding rear doors. The vehicle is expected to launch in #Japan in H2 2026, with a starting price of RMB 130,000.
It will feature a 20 kWh battery offering 180km range (WLTC), heat pump AC system, and 100 kW fast charging… https://t.co/B2P05I5RAp pic.twitter.com/wYGtoC3yJk— ThinkerCar (@thinkercar) July 16, 2025
For the first time, the interior is shown. Like BYD’s other vehicles, there’s a large floating infotainment screen at the center.
The electric car is expected to feature a 20 kWh battery, providing a WLTP range of 180 km (112 miles). It will also support DC charging speeds of up to 100 kW.
BYD’s Dolphin Surf (Seagull EV) is available with two battery packs: 30 kWh and 43.2 kWh, offering WLTP ranges of 137 miles and 189 miles, respectively.
By using LFP batteries from its battery unit, FinDreams, BYD could have the upper hand with costs. The Kei car is expected to launch in Japan in the second half of 2026 with a starting price of 2.5 million yen, or under $18,000. In comparison, the Nissan Sakura, Japan’s top-selling electric vehicle, starts at 2.59 million yen.
Earlier this year, Nikkei reported that Japanese automakers are already preparing for its arrival. A Suzuki dealer explained that “Young people do not have a negative view of BYD. It would be a huge threat if the company launches cheap models in Japan.”
Can BYD’s smallest EV find a foothold in Japan? Domestic brands like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan have long dominated the market. Check back soon for the latest updates.
Source: TheDriven, ThinkerCar
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Tesla has launched a long list of new discounts and incentives for its electric vehicles in the US as it seeks to capitalize on what will likely be its last strong quarter in its best market.
Since the beginning of the year, we have been reporting on how Tesla’s sales are declining in its largest markets, including Europe and China, with the US being the notable exception.
With the federal tax credit for electric vehicles set to expire by the end of the quarter, the US is also expected to become a challenging market for Tesla and electric vehicles in general.
Many electric automakers are trying to take advantage of the demand being pulled forward into Q3 due to the imminent end of the tax credit.
Tesla has introduced several new incentives that can be combined with one another. Here’s the full list:
All New Tesla Vehicles
- $7,500 Lease Incentive (delivery by Sept 30)
- $1,000 Off for American Heroes (military, first responders, teachers, students)
- Free 1-Month Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Trial
- Free Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Transfer from your current Tesla
- Premium Connectivity Trial
- 30 days for Model 3 and Y
- 1 year for Model S, X, and Cybertruck
Model Y
- $7,500 Lease Incentive
- One Free Upgrade on select inventory (pre-discounted)
- $7,500 Federal Tax Credit at Point of Sale (cash/finance only)
- Lease from $349/mo (24-month) or $399/mo (36-month) with $3,000 down
- APR Financing: 3.49% up to 60 months
- 18 Months Free Supercharging (cash purchases only)
Model 3
- $7,500 Lease Incentive
- One Free Upgrade on select inventory (pre-discounted)
- $7,500 Federal Tax Credit at Point of Sale (cash/finance only)
- Lease from $299/mo (24-month) or $349/mo (36-month) with $3,000 down
- 0% APR Financing with FSD (Supervised), 2.49% without
Model X
- $7,500 Federal Tax Credit at Point of Sale
- One Free Upgrade with FSD (Supervised)
- Premium Connectivity Trial (1 year)
Model S
- One Free Upgrade with FSD (Supervised)
- Premium Connectivity Trial (1 year)
Cybertruck
- $7,500 Federal Tax Credit at Point of Sale
- 0% APR Financing with FSD (Supervised)
- Free 20″ Cyber Wheel Upgrade ($3,500 value) on lease orders
- Premium Connectivity Trial (1 year)
Electrek’s Take
It looks like Tesla is now relying less on 0% APR, likely due to the fact that now interest on car payments is deductible up to $10,000.
Though Tesla is still offering 0% financing on the Cybertruck for obvious reasons: it can’t sell them.
That said, it is still offering financing discounts for the Model 3 and Model Y, albeit at a lower rate than before the change.
18 months of free Supercharging on Model Y is also a significant discount, but that’s if you don’t take the financing deal.
It looks like Tesla is going all-out to try to secure as many buyers in Q3 as possible.
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Environment
Volvo is ‘definitely not’ leaving the US, but it’s dropping these vehicles from its lineup
Volvo confirmed it will continue selling vehicles in the US, but its lineup will look a little different. With plans to cut several models, Volvo will offer only about half of the cars it currently sells globally.
Volvo adjusts US lineup, cutting several vehicles
Days after Volvo announced it would begin production of the XC60 in the US, its best-selling vehicle, we are learning the move is part of a major shakeup.
Volvo has already begun cutting sedans and station wagons from its US lineup. The Swedish luxury brand confirmed plans with Reuters on Thursday, citing slowing demand amid the Trump administration’s new auto tariffs.
Outside of the V60, Volvo will only offer SUVs in the US, or about half of the 13 vehicles in sells globally. Production of the S60 ended at its South Carolina facility last year.
Volvo also told Reuters that the European-spec EX40 was also temporarily paused, but it would be available “shortly.” The company didn’t comment on why.
Meanwhile, its new electric vehicles, including the EX30 and three-row EX90, are failing to live up to the hype. Both were expected to see strong US demand, but Volvo is one of the most exposed to Trump’s tariffs.
Although the EX90 is built in South Carolina, many parts still come from Europe, which is now subject to a 25% tariff.
The EX30, which was expected to arrive at around $35,000, is only available in the dual-motor variant, priced from $46,195.
During an interview on CNBC’s Europe Early Edition, Volvo’s CEO Håkan Samuelsson said the company would “definitely not” leave the US market altogether.
“What we are doing is first of all, we want to fill our factory we have in South Carolina. It should be the strategic asset it was intended to be. So, we have to utilize it more,” Samuelsson explained.
By bringing XC60 production to the facility, Volvo said it would “soon now produce something for everyone in its US plant.”
The EX60 has been Volvo’s best-selling model globally for years and is the most popular in the US. So far this year, the XC60 accounts for over a third of Volvo’s total sales. It’s also the fourth-best-selling luxury plug-in hybrid in America.
Volvo is set to begin building XC60 models in South Carolina in late 2026. It will also continue building the EX90 “for customers who want more space or are looking to go fully electric.”
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