“Honda CUV e: Which Version to Buy in Vietnam? Renting the Battery at Air Blade Prices Offers Two Advantages, but Long-Term Ownership Reveals Hidden Costs”

Lease or Buy CUV e: Batteries: Which is More Advantageous?

On January 10th in Hanoi, Honda announced the official pricing policy for its CUV e: electric scooter in the Vietnamese market, following the initial rental phase. Instead of a single price, the company offers two ownership options.

From March 26th, the Honda CUV e: will be available in two configurations. The first option includes the scooter with 2 batteries and 2 chargers for 65 million VND. The second option offers the scooter without batteries for 45 million VND, including 2 chargers, with a monthly battery rental fee of 250,000 VND for 2 batteries.

At the time of purchase, the battery rental option offers a clear initial advantage with a lower upfront cost, saving 20 million VND compared to buying the batteries. This pricing brings the CUV e: closer to mid-range gasoline scooters like the Air Blade, making it more accessible for those transitioning to electric vehicles without a significant initial investment.

Another benefit of renting batteries is the freedom from battery degradation concerns. Since the batteries are managed by Honda, users can swap them at stations without additional costs, avoiding the risk of reduced battery capacity over time—a common worry with long-term electric vehicle use.

However, renting batteries comes with a trade-off in terms of ownership. With a monthly rental fee of 250,000 VND for 2 batteries, after nearly 7 years, the cumulative rental cost will approach the 20 million VND difference between the two purchase options. At this point, users will have spent an amount equivalent to the battery purchase price but still won’t own the batteries, remaining dependent on Honda’s rental policy in subsequent years.

Conversely, buying the batteries upfront increases the initial cost but grants long-term ownership. Users avoid monthly rental fees, are not tied to battery swapping models, and can better manage overall vehicle lifecycle costs.

What Does the CUV e: Offer?

In terms of design, the CUV e: features a traditional urban scooter style with rounded, neutral lines. This design aims to appeal to general users, especially those accustomed to gasoline scooters, earning it the nickname “electric Lead.”

The scooter is equipped with LED lighting and a 5-inch TFT screen. This screen supports Honda RoadSync connectivity, enabling voice control, navigation, and basic operational information display.

In terms of performance, the CUV e: is powered by an 8-horsepower electric motor with a maximum torque of 22 Nm, comparable to the newly launched UC3. With these specifications, the scooter can reach a top speed of approximately 83 km/h, suitable for urban commuting.

The CUV e: is equipped with 2 removable Honda Mobile Power Pack e: batteries that can be charged independently using an external charger or swapped at stations. Charging from 0 to 100% takes about 6 hours, while charging from 25% to 75% takes around 2.7 hours. The scooter offers a range of approximately 73 km per full charge, according to the manufacturer.

Overall, the choice between renting and buying batteries for the Honda CUV e: depends on long-term usage expectations. With a range of approximately 70-80 km per charge, the CUV e: is ideal for urban commuting. However, at this price point, some other electric scooters offer greater range, posing challenges for the CUV e: in the market.