Honda e Prototype gets 125-mile range 27 | 02 | 2019
HONDA HAS CONFIRMED the production version of its all-electric city car — the e Prototype — will go on sale in Europe later this year. It will also have a “range of more than 125 miles”, and will be capable of an 80% charge in 30 minutes. (Related: Honda reveals Urban EV sketch)
The four-seater car — which maintains the styling of the Urban EV Concept unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show, albeit with the addition of an extra set of doors — will be shown at next week’s Geneva Motor Show is,. According to Honda, the car is “98% production ready”. (Related: Green light for Honda Urban EV)
The pure electric Honda e Prototype, which will be a rival to the BMW i3, is 3895mm long, 1750mm wide and 1495mm tall. That makes it smaller than the BMW, as well as the Renault Zoe.
Sitting on a new dedicated platform for EVs, it’s likely the car will be fitted with a battery with a capacity of around 30kWh. That’s would be less then half of that offered by the Kia e-Niro. But Honda stresses its new EV is specifically targeted at the city car market.
The cabin is completely new, and includes a bank of digital screens. Sitting side-by-side, the two 12.3in screens access a suite of in-car apps and media functions.
In each corner of the cabin, there are two six-inch monitors which show the rear view from cameras which act as wing mirrors and help improve aerodynamic efficiency. Conventional instruments are replaced by smaller digital readouts.
There are also flush external door handles for further boost aerodynamics, and the charging point is located centrally in the bonnet.
Honda has yet to announce pricing.
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Jim McGill