Electric Honda BENLY e Scooters Are Coming to Japan

Honda have been pivoting towards e-mobility products as of late and one new vehicle to look out for is this: the BENLY e. It’s an electric scooter that’s aimed at delivery services and not personal use.

The BENLY e: models use a 96V EV system which serially-connects two 48V Honda Mobile Power Packs high-energy density lithium-ion batteries. The scooters have several design features that makes them perfect for delivery services. There’s a large, flat rear deck which makes loading and unloading items easy. It also has a reverse assist function that will probably use the electric motor to help move the bike in the opposite direction to take pressure off the rider.

BENLY e: Series consists of four models: namely BENLY e: I which is classified in the Class-1 Category, BENLY e: II which is classified in the Class-2 Category and BENLY e: I Pro and BENLY e: II Pro, which are based on their respective models and feature a large-sized front basket, large-sized rear carrier, knuckle visors and a foot brake system as standard equipment.

Four variants will be made available:

• BENLY e: I (87km range, 3.8kW, 13Nm EF07M AC synchronous motor, underbone frame)
• BENLY e: II (43km range, 4.2kW, 15Nm EF10M AC synchronous motor, mechanical leading/trailing frame)
• BENLY e: I Pro
• BENLY e: II Pro

The Pro derivatives add a large-sized front basket, large-sized rear carrier, knuckle visors and a foot brake system as standard equipment.

Honda are only making 200 of these a year and all of them are being sold in the Japanese domestic market.

Here’s the press release and specifications.

PRESS RELEASE

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced plans to begin sales of BENLY e: Series business-use electric scooter models to corporate customers in Japan, in April 2020. Developed with the concept of a “Business e: scooter perfect for everyday delivery services,” BENLY e: Series is equipped with a compact EV system that fits inside an easy-to-handle body size required for scooters used for various types of delivery services in Japan.

Honda will continue to contribute to the realization of a quieter and cleaner environment for people’s daily lives by further popularizing environmentally-responsible electric motorcycles and scooters as everyday mobility products in the daily lives of more people.

BENLY e: models were developed as business-use electric scooters while giving consideration to user-friendliness in use for various pick-up/delivery services such as newspaper and package delivery services. For instance, BENLY e: models feature a large and flat rear deck which makes it easier for users to load items they will deliver, and a reverse assist function was adopted to increase user convenience in case the scooter needs to be turned around to face in the opposite direction in a narrow space or on an inclined surface.

BENLY e: Series consists of four models: namely BENLY e: I which is classified in the Class-1 Category, BENLY e: II which is classified in the Class-2 Category and BENLY e: I Pro and BENLY e: II Pro, which are based on their respective models and feature a large-sized front basket, large-sized rear carrier, knuckle visors and a foot brake system as standard equipment.

BENLY e: models are powered by two units of the Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) detachable and easily-swappable battery. In addition to outstanding environmental performance, which can be achieved only by clean and quiet electric mobility products which emit no CO² in use, BENLY e: models demonstrate powerful and smooth starting and hill climbing performance even when carrying cargo by leveraging the unique characteristics of their motor which generates ample torque even from a low rev range.

Moreover, including the effect of drive current control technologies developed in pursuit of high efficiency, range per charge reached 87 km (at 30 km/h on a flat road) for BENLY e: I and BENLY e: I Pro and 43 km (at 60 km/h on a flat road) for BENLY e: II and BENLY e: II Pro.

●Sales plan (in Japan, annual):

Series total: 200 units

●Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (in Japan, including 10% consumption tax):

Standard configuration <BENLY e:, two Honda Mobile Power Packs (MPP), two dedicated MPP chargers>

◎For other configurations, please inquire during purchase negotiations.

Key features of BENLY e: models

●EV System

– BENLY e: models are equipped with a 96V EV system which serially-connects two 48V MMPs, high-energy density lithium-ion batteries.
– Two MPPs are positioned side to side when viewed from the front of the scooter (in parallel with the direction the scooter moves). The user can attached/detached two MPPs in tandem by using one handle. This structure of the MPP attaching/detaching mechanism made it possible to position two MPPs next to each other, which contributed to the realization of an easy-to-handle compact body size for the BENLY e: Series.
– To charge MPPs, the user will detach MPPs from the scooter, and connect MPPs individually to the charger connected to an external power outlet. From a completely discharged state, the MPP can be fully charged in approximately 4 hours.
– The motor is unitized by fixing the stator and rotor inside the aluminum case and cover. The motor can be attached/detached as a unit, enhancing ease of maintenance.
– The adoption of control technology which enables efficient supply of drive current to the motor resulted in the realization of finely tuned torque control and an increase in energy efficiency of the motor. In consideration of how they will be used as business-use scooters, BENLY e: models were designed to feature smooth riding even at low speed, reverse assist, excellent range per charge and the ability to climb hills with up to a 12-degree incline even when carrying cargo with the maximum loading capacity weight.
– The reverse assist function, which contributes to the ease-of-handling, kicks in when the rider pushes both the reverse switch and starter switch while the scooter is at a stop.

●Brake Systems

– As for the brake system, BENLY e: models feature Honda’s original combined braking system (CBS) ^*7 which combines front and rear braking forces to achieve more efficient braking. The newly-developed CBS designed for a foot brake system was adopted for BENLY e: I Pro and BENLY e: II Pro, which feature a foot brake system.
– BENLY e: models also feature a brake lock mechanism which is handy while parking and stopping the scooter. BENLY e: I and BENLY e: II will keep applying the front and rear brakes when the rider operates the front/rear brake lock lever located at the front of the right and left brake levers. For BENLY e: I Pro and BENLY e: II Pro, the rider engages the brake lock function using the front brake lock lever located at the front of the right brake lever and rear brake lock knob located underneath the inner pocket.

• Combined Braking System (CBS) is designed only to support the rider’s braking operations. The basics of braking continue to be operating the right/left brake levers or right brake lever and foot pedal (front and rear brakes) at the same time.

●Body color

– All BENLY e: models come in one color, Ross White, which conjures the clean image of EVs.

●Other features

– A hexagonally-shaped and energy-saving LED headlight achieved a simple and stylish design and also successfully lowered the ground height of the mounting position of the front basket.
– All BENLY e: models feature a meter panel which displays various information about the EV system in an easy-to-understand manner. In addition to the speedometer and a clock, the meter panel has settings to display the remaining battery level of MPPs, the reverse indicator which comes on when the scooter is put into reverse and the side stand indicator which comes on when the side stand is in use.
– BENLY e: models also feature an accessory socket for charging of mobile devices.

●Accessories

– All BENLY e: models come with two Honda Mobile Power Packs (MPP) and two dedicated MPP chargers.

Key specifications

●Vehicle specifications (vehicle performance while being powered by two MPPs)