In a world slowly switching to electric, Honda seems to be left behind. However, this wasn’t always the case. Interestingly, Honda was one of the first companies to dip its toes into electrification. It first did it in the 1990s with the Honda EV Plus before releasing one of the first hybrid vehicles the world had ever seen - the Insight. A few years ago, the company also released the Honda E. This was mostly a city car, and its timeless looks and impressive interior technology grabbed the attention of the crowd. However, its price tag prevented it from becoming a major success. Since then, the company hasn’t made any real electrification efforts which may lead to trouble in the near future, especially when every other automaker already has a few EVs in its portfolio.
What Does Honda Currently Offer?
The only electric Honda currently on sale is the little Honda E. As mentioned in the beginning, upon release the “E” received a lot of media attention. It was expected to bring on revolutions similar to those of the classic Mini; however, the small city car didn’t deliver as expected. Don’t get us wrong, it was by no means a bad car. Actually, it is a great car. The exterior features one of the coolest looks of recent years as it manages to look modern yet old-school. The “E” is timeless, and this can only be said for very few cars currently on sale. Also, on the inside it offers impressive technologies like huge screens and even rearview mirrors in the form of cameras. Oh, and for those who fancy a crash, a PlayStation can also be plugged into the main dashboard screens.
The ”E” also delivered when it came to driving. Its stubby dimensions, the placement of its wheels at the corners of the body, and its lightweight make up for fun handling and a spritely stint from 0-60 mph in just eight seconds. Sure, range was a bit low at 130 miles. However, this was a vehicle mostly aimed at the cities of Europe where daily commutes are far shorter.
With so many positives, where did the little Honda go wrong? Well, people kind of expected the E to be the EV of the people. A small and affordable electric city car that looked cool, had the necessary space, and all the modern technologies expected from an electric vehicle. Most of these objectives were met, but its expensive price tag of roughly €41,990 steered the vast majority of people away. At this price range, buyers can go out and buy much more premium vehicles. Worth mentioning is that the Honda E was never sold in the U.S. in which Honda currently offers no fully electric vehicles.
Honda Needs To Act Fast
Most manufacturers have now come up with a variety of electric models to sell alongside their internal-combustion counterparts. No one has guaranteed that the future will be electric; however, we believe that Honda should step up its game soon as the company will be left behind in terms of knowledge and engineering. You see, as manufacturers come out with electric vehicles, they slowly get an idea of what works and what doesn’t. Companies learn from their mistakes, but to make mistakes they first need to release vehicles. The fact that Honda hasn’t released any new EVs over the past years might put them behind in terms of innovation and technology.
The Honda Prologue EV Is Coming
Thankfully, Honda is making some movements towards electrification soon. We recently received teasers of the company’s upcoming SUV which will be named the Prologue. From the outside, the upcoming SUV has a slick and elegant look that utilizes clean lines and large wheels. The Prologue will sit on GM’s Ultium platform; therefore, we expect drivetrain options to include front or all-wheel drive. Range and mileage will be nearly identical to upcoming GM models. Inside, buyers will get a big 11.3 infotainment screen as standard and a slightly smaller 11-inch driver’s display. The Prologue will be larger than the CRV; therefore, it will sit above it in the Honda lineup. Size-wise, it will be a similar vehicle to the Passport. It is set to be released in 2024 which means that Honda fans will soon get an all-electric choice in the US.
The Most Exciting Upcoming Electric Honda Is The Afeela
The Prologue is mostly a mainstream EV; however, the Afeela might be one of the quirkiest vehicles to hit the upcoming market. It will be created in a joint effort between Honda and Sony, and it has been widely characterized as a consumer electronics product and not a car. From the outside, the design is extremely minimalistic. If you look closely, you will be able to spot the front and rear media bars (that look like light bars) which are expected to present useful information like battery status and weather updates. The Afeela’s main aim is to provide a safe driving experience which has led to 45 interior and exterior cameras being implemented. These cameras will allow level two plus, or level three autonomous driving depending on conditions. The most exciting part, however, is the Afeela’s affinity for entertainment. Its large interior screens will provide the ability to watch movies and even connect a PlayStation. So, it is safe to say the passengers won’t get on board when riding in the Afeela.
Honda Might Be Late To The EV Game, But It Seems To Have A Plan
The fact that Honda is late to the game doesn’t necessarily mean that is falling behind. Honda might be waiting around to see the market’s reaction to these new vehicles before diving head-first into a new type of vehicle. This seems to be the case as in 2026 another new electric vehicle that will be based solely on Honda’s own platform will be released. Also, the company has stated that a zero-emissions lineup will be in full swing by 2040. So, with that in mind, the automotive giant doesn’t seem to be ignorant of electric cars but is perhaps a bit cautious. We are certainly excited to see what Honda’s electric future holds.