Honda: Civic e:HEV arrives electrified, more models announced

Honda took a very cautious approach with the new Civic: it breaks with the wild design of its immediate predecessors and is not electric, but only electrified. Nevertheless, Honda also feels the pressure to step up in the field of genuine electric cars.

The electrified model range is to be further expanded in 2023, aiming to create the "most comprehensive European product program in many years." Recently, this range had been significantly slimmed down. According to Honda, the new additions include a fully electric SUV in the B-segment, the e:Ny1 Prototype, a full-hybrid SUV in the C-segment, and the new CR-V, which will be available in Europe for the first time with both full-hybrid and plug-in hybrid drives. 

The electric vehicle e:Ny1, which will be launched in 2023, will be at the center of Honda's future model range. "Achieving our electrification goal is a significant milestone for Honda in Europe," says Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President, Honda Motor Europe, and acknowledges:

"But we will go even further. We want to continuously expand the range of battery-electric vehicles and hybrid models and enlarge our offerings in the rapidly growing B- and C-SUV segments. These plans are already well advanced. The new models that we will introduce in 2023 set the course for the next generation of electrified Honda vehicles, all of which will offer the exciting driving dynamics, comfort, and exceptional user-friendliness that our customers are used to and expect."

First of all, there is the new Civic, which continues to outgrow itself – from the former small car, through the compact car, now to the mid-size class. It completes the electrified Honda model range for Europe. It also comes standard with e:HEV technology (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and complements Honda's other electrified models. The new Civic will feature the most advanced version of Honda's unique e:HEV hybrid technology to date. Components include a powerful lithium-ion battery and two compact, high-output electric motors combined with a newly developed 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle petrol direct-injection engine. The electric drive motor develops a maximum output of 135 kW and a maximum torque of 315 Nm. Market launch is planned for autumn 2022. 

Holistically thought: Innovations in energy management along with new projects
 

In addition to expanding its electrified vehicle lineup for Europe in 2023, Honda continues to focus on the field of energy management. Honda aims to increase the use of home chargers for electric vehicles, urban charging solutions, and commercial energy services, thereby contributing to the goal of a sustainable society with no environmental impact by connecting electrified mobility products and energy services. 

In Switzerland, as part of the "V2X Suisse" consortium, Honda has supplied 50 fully electric Honda e cars and 35 Honda Power Managers to the car-sharing provider Mobility. As part of a car-sharing fleet in a pilot project, the Honda e leverages its bi-directional charging capability: when the vehicles are not in use, the energy stored in the battery can be fed back into the grid. 

Another project is the new intelligent Honda charging service e:PROGRESS, which has already been successfully introduced in the UK market. e:PROGRESS allows EV owners to reduce their vehicle's operating costs while maximizing the proportion of energy derived from renewable sources. 

In Germany, Honda and the energy company Vattenfall have commenced the introduction of the Honda Power Charger S+ (4G): their first joint intelligent, connected charging station for electric vehicles. Together with e:PROGRESS, this service helps increase the use of renewable energy by connecting electrified mobility products and energy services.

Honda is also advancing the solid-state battery

For the next stage of electrification, Honda is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to fulfill its commitment to the CO2 neutrality of all Honda products and corporate activities worldwide by 2050. The company will make significant investments in zero-emission technologies, including solid-state batteries, swappable battery systems, CO2-neutral fuels, and fuel cells.

 

From 2040, no more combustion engines will be sold: Worldwide!

A central part of this strategy envisions all major markets, including Europe, increasing the share of sold electric and fuel cell vehicles to 40 percent by 2030 and to 80 percent by 2035. Honda plans to cease the sale of combustion engine cars globally by 2040. 

Bots and aircraft will also be further developed

In the aviation sector, Honda is developing a vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) with electric drive for city-to-city traffic, utilizing technologies and expertise from HondaJet, Formula 1, and electrification. In the field of robotics, an AI-controlled, multi-fingered Honda Avatar robot will follow in the footsteps of ASIMO by the end of 2024. Practical application is planned for the 2030s. Honda's ambitions even extend beyond Earth: Together with the Japanese space agency JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), the company is researching the use of its fuel cell technology for future lunar outposts.

What does that mean?

The fact that Honda is so innovative in so many areas is only limitedly felt in the car segment. Especially with the Civic, the most important model in the portfolio, one would have expected a bit more courage: Neither in terms of drive technology nor visually does Honda cause a revolution here.