Honda is launching the Honda e-MTB Concept, its first electric bicycle, by drawing a cue from almost all other major automotive manufacturers.
The bike was recently shown at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, where it was displayed among a number of other cutting-edge and/or brand-expanding debuts from top Japanese automakers and motorcycle companies.
According to Electrek, the Honda e-MTB Concept retains a reasonably realistic design while having a more downhill-oriented appearance. Honda’s e-bike design appears rather feasible, in contrast to some other models that are really fantastical. There’s been a positive trend lately in e-bike concepts, suggesting that some of these ideas may eventually find their way into reality.
Reportedly, the e-bike makes use of an existing Brose mid-drive motor. Honda may concentrate more on the overall look and structural design of the bike by utilising current e-bike components and leaving the bike parts to manufacturers that have been making them for decades. In addition, the full-suspension e-bike has DT Swiss XM 1700 wheels, Maxxis Minion DHF tyres, Fox suspension up front and back, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, a RockShox Reverb dropper seat post, and an SRAM Eagle AXS gearbox.
The objective for Honda is to integrate the knowledge and skills of riding motorcycles and bicycles into a single product that could be used in steep terrain, reports added.
“The Honda e-MTB Concept expands the field of mobility in nature. Easily going uphill with electric assistance, this bike offers a new riding experience that combines the fun of motorcycles and the fun of a mountain bike. It is being developed to enable anyone to enjoy riding mountainous trails more freely,” Electrek quoted the company as saying.
Electric bikes are a potential market for brand expansion, and Honda is by no means the only automotive or motorcycle manufacturer to investigate this possibility. Some of the more well-known examples are Harley-Davidson’s e-bike venture with Serial 1, Porsche’s significant growth into e-bikes with the acquisition of firms such as Greyp and Fazua, as well as its own Porsche e-bikes, and Peugeot’s extensive range of electric motorcycles.
General Motors Company (GM) also created an electric bike in-house, but it was killed before it could be commercialised, as per The Verge. Recently, both Hummer and Jeep have attempted to spread their brands into e-bikes. As the e-bike market expands, more manufacturers view it as a viable opportunity to expand their market and attract more people into their mobility network.
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