Honda’s First BEV. Insanely Cute And Developed For Urban Driving!
The all-electric Honda e-prototype car from the Japanese automotive manufacturer, is based on the Honda Urban EV concept. The Urban EV concept made its debut at the 2017 International Motor Show, in Germany. It is Honda’s first mass-market all-electric car. Honda is ramping up its commitment to electrification with all new Honda’s in Europe to be electrified by 2025.
- An adorable, cute, clean and simple design. The premium compact battery electric vehicle (BEV), minimalist design has been inspired by the first-generation Honda Civic.
- Positioned primarily for driving in urban environments, with a range that is appropriate for shorter commutes. Honda is targeting urban commuter that drive up to 30 miles a day.
- Built on a dedicated platform, with rear-wheel drive. A smaller lithium-ion EV battery pack (35.5 kWh) to keep weight down. The battery is liquid-cooled to maximise performance in all weather conditions.
- The Honda e has two driving modes: Normal and Sport. The Sport mode is for a more responsiveness drive.
- A unique full-width digital dashboard with five displays. Two central 12.3″ touchscreens with information access for both driver and passenger.
- The BEV can be charged up to 100% at home in 4.1 hours (Type 2, 6.6 kW). Public DC charging can achieve 80% charge in 31 minutes.
- The battery has a 8 year warranty or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). The company guarantees a minimum state of charge of 70% during the warranty period.
- The production Honda e is expected to be very similar to the prototype Honda e. Full production version will be unveiled in late 2019 and deliveries will commence 2020. The pure electric car is being built in Japan and will only be available as a five-door.
- The Honda e can be reserved online with a refundable deposit of £800 (five colours to include, steel metallic, charge yellow, white pearl, blue metallic, black pearl).
- The BEV comes in two variations, the Honda e and the Honda e Advance. Prices start from £26,660 for the Honda e, and £29,160 for the Honda e Advance. The green car qualifies for the UK government plug-in car grant.
- Won the WhatCar? 2019 Reader Award.
Battery And Range
- Battery capacity: 35.5 kWh
- Battery type: lithium-ion
- Range (WLTP): 137 miles
- Capable of rapid charging (can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes)
Power & Performance
- 0-62 mph: 9 sec
- Top speed: 90 mph
- Brake horsepower: up to 152 bhp
- Torque: 315 Nm
Pros
- ‘Retro’ design and styling well positioned to ‘win hearts’.
- Appealing characteristics for city driving: easy to drive and park (impressive turning radius).
- Packed with technology: side view mirrors replaced with cameras (similar to the Audi e-tron all-electric SUV) and extensive 12.3-inch dual touchscreens.
Cons
- Though more affordable than a Tesla Model 3, not as competitive as the all-electric Mini (£24,400).
- Supply of the production Honda e will be limited in 2020.
e-zoomed View
Honda is correct in their assertion, that not every EV has to have a long range. The research by Honda suggests that urban drivers travel up to 30 miles a day. This is not the first time a major automotive company has made this claim. In fact, the average trip in the UK is a mere 12 miles. We at e-zoomed, have all along been vocal about the myth of ‘range anxiety’. EV’s with sub 150 miles range are very suitable for city or urban driving.
However, despite the strong interest and the very positive initial reviews, our concern remains the price. Electric driving needs to become affordable for mass-market adoption.
We at e-zoomed are more than happy to assist you buying your Next Green Car and with all your EV needs, to include:
- Compare and buy your next green car
- Compare and buy best electric car insurance deals in the UK
- Compare and buy best electric car breakdown cover in the UK
- Compare and buy green electricity for your home and electric vehicle
- Compare and buy best priced electric car charging cables and EV accessories
- Compare and buy best e-scooters!
- Compare and buy electric kick scooters
- Compare and buy e-bikes