The second-largest Japanese automaker, Honda, recently announced it is re-committing to its long-standing goal of 100% Honda EV production. So far, in the dawning of the age of the electric vehicle (EV), Honda has fallen short of this goal, lagging behind global rivals in Europe and the United States. The car manufacturer also faces fierce competition from new, budget-friendly Chinese manufacturers.

Now, it’s time for them to catch up. Honda executives announced that we can expect to see an aggressive approach as they pursue their goal of 100% of new Honda sales being EV or fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) by 2040. That’s a far cry from their current Honda EV sales, which accounted for less than 0.5% of Honda’s worldwide sales during the first nine months of 2023.

Strategic Roadmap: Honda’s Path to Electrification

Since the 1980s, Honda has been researching and developing Honda EVs. Their human-centric approach to vehicle development and design illuminated the growing need for alternative energy and low-pollution vehicles long before the idea gained popularity. However, Honda is known for pushing the boundaries of car manufacturing.

1997: Honda EV Plus

The Honda EV Plus was Honda’s first fully electric vehicle, demonstrating Honda’s commitment to emissions-free driving and a cleaner environment. It was a hatchback vehicle that seats four people. It had advanced (for the time) features, like an advanced nickel-metal hydride battery pack that gave the car notable range, and even featured regenerative braking technology to help maximize the range.

2012: Honda Fit EV

In 2012, Honda introduced the next phase of sustainable mobility for eco-conscious drivers with the Honda Fit EV. By this point, there were significant EV advancements in the automotive industry, which Honda leaned into with this fun-to-drive, smart-to-use mini hatchback EV. Its 20 kWh lithium-ion battery offered an average range of 82 miles on a single charger, making it suitable for city driving and short distances. Unfortunately, this was a limited production, with only 1,100 units produced and available for only three years, primarily as a rental option.

2017: Honda Clarity Fuel Cell & Honda Electric

Just five years later, Honda introduced another environmentally friendly driving option, the Honda Clarity. This five-passenger sedan was available in two options: the Clarity Fuel Cell and the Clarity Electric. The Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is an electric vehicle powered by pure hydrogen. Just like a gas-powered vehicle, hydrogen gas is stored in a fuel tank, which is then used to power the car, but it produces zero emissions: only water vapor and warm air. It takes about 5 minutes to fuel up and has a range of 366 miles.

Alternatively, the Clarity Electric didn’t need the hydrogen infrastructure but featured a shorter range of only 89 miles per charge. Both versions were spacious, sleek, and quiet and said to drive like the Honda Accord. A hybrid option was also available to round out the trio.

2020: Honda e

Honda introduced the Honda “e” in 2020. Again, it was a limited production, only available for a few years. Honda stopped producing them altogether in January 2024. However, this futuristic electric vehicle is fun to drive. It features fun-to-touch amenities, like the world’s first wide-vision dashboard with five screens and a voice-enabled AI-powered personal assistant. It also has cutting-edge technology like vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology, so you can use your vehicle to send power to your home, building, or appliances.

This commuter-style vehicle was designed for urban driving and featured a slightly longer 137-mile range. Unfortunately, it never made it to the United States, where drivers were enamored with the Tesla EV and weren’t initially interested in other EVs- especially with high price tags.

Honda Electric Vehicles: Reviving the Joy of Driving

Honda has re-committed to its long-term goal of producing zero-emission vehicles that are also fun to drive. Since its inception, Honda has pushed the envelope of design and technology. It has championed its belief in “the power of dreams” since day one when it started the company with an engine-powered bicycle. Since then, Honda has produced Formula 1 race cars, jets, humanoid robots, lawnmowers, and, of course, cars.

For Honda, they don’t just manufacture vehicles – they evoke emotions. Even their production company is Honda Monozukuri, which stands for “the art of making things.” When Honda first began creating vehicles, it was focused on creating designs that were artistic but also focused on the joy and freedom of mobility and driving.

For the Honda design team, it isn’t enough for their products to be useful or important. In the art of making things, they hope their creations evoke love and ignite the joy of driving. Their newest designs will likely be out-of-the-ox concepts that can only come from the creative minds at Honda.

“Non-conformity is essential to an artist or inventor.” – Soichiro Honda, Founder.

What Are Their Goals?

Honda is a forward-thinking company. Its dreams aren’t just ten years ahead; it thinks about the impact it can make in 50 years. Honda’s initiative, “Blue Skies for Our Children,” is focused on limiting the negative impact its vehicles have on future generations. It has committed to a 60 billion dollar budget until 2030 to achieve its lofty goals.

Commitment to Sustainability: Honda’s Environmental Goals

As part of the Blue Skies for Children program, Honda wants to cut its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in half by 2050. This includes emissions from its products and business operations, including production plants.

Reducing Costs

Currently, the dream of cutting the dependency on gasoline is unachievable due to the high cost of most electric vehicles. While more makes and models are entering the EV market, there is still a long way to go before an EV is affordable for everyone. Therefore, Honda is looking at all the ways it can cut costs, including reducing overall production costs by 35% and battery costs by 20%.

Commitment to Alternative Fuel Sources

Out of the $60 billion budget, 60% will be dedicated to the research, development, and production of new vehicles and motorcycles. By 2030, Honda wants hybrids, electric cars, and fuel cells (FCEVs) to make up 40% of their sales. To achieve this, the company plans to have 30 new EV models in its lineup by 2030 and produce 2 million EVs every year.

The automaker also announced that 20% of the budget will go toward capital expenditures in the United States, Canada, and Japan. The remaining 20% is set aside for the research and development of software-defined mobility.

Upcoming Electric Models: What to Expect from Honda

In January 2024, at the annual Consumer Electronic Show (CES), a trade show in Las Vegas, NV, Honda gave a sneak peek at their high-tech production plans, including a new series and two concept vehicles. These will join the latest release, the brand-new Honda Prologue, in achieving 100% electrification.

2024 Honda Prologue

The new Honda electric vehicle, the 2024 Honda Prologue, became available in the United States in March 2024. The sleek and modern all-electric SUV marks Honda’s largest leap into the EV market. The Prologue embodies Honda’s commitment to innovation, eco-friendly sustainability, and the joy of driving. Honda did a great job minimizing the space necessary for the mechanical necessities and maximizing the interior space of this electric crossover. It is loaded with high-tech gadgets and safety features like advanced collision mitigation and Honda Sensing driver assistance.

For this vehicle, though, Honda and General Motors worked together, and some of the GM traits are shown, including the Ultium battery pack, which is also the heartbeat behind the Chevrolet Blazer EV. It is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive (FWD) option boasts a 296-mile range with 212 horsepower, while the all-wheel drive (AWD) option features an impressive 288 HP, which drops the range to 273 miles.

The Honda 0-Series Coming in 2026

With the Honda 0-Series, Honda has committed to going back to the drawing board, back to the start, starting at “Zero.” Everything will be new, including a sleek new Honda EV logo. With this brand-new series, Honda is continuing to maximize space for humans and minimize mechanical space.

According to Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s global CEO, the newest platform features a brand new design language known as “The Art of Resonance.” Its designs are “thin, light, and wise.” The new platform is built for mid-to-large EVs and will feature intentionally designed models and features based on regional demands.

They’re also dedicated to pursuing their goal of zero traffic collision fatalities and zero environmental impact. It’s rumored that every vehicle in the Honda 0-Series will be equipped with the Honda Sensing Elite package, a step above the current state-of-the-art safety tech. So, we can expect to see the latest safety technology with these EVs, which will be useful in most driving scenarios.

Finally, the Honda 0-Series will also use artificial intelligence (AI). The operating system developed in-house will gather data and learn driving habits and behaviors, using it to offer suggestions and information about the current surroundings.

Although Honda hasn’t released any pricing or specific details so far, it did unveil a sneak peek of what will likely be the first two vehicles in the 0-Series: the Saloon and the Space Hub.

Concept: The Honda Saloon

The Honda Saloon is an ultra-aerodynamic sedan based on Honda’s experience with motorcycles and Formula 1 racing. This futuristic sedan is unlike any other vehicle on the road. It will likely seat 4-5 passengers and may have previews on the road as soon as 2026. Rumored new features may include “posture control” and a “steer-by-wire” system.

Concept: The Honda Space Hub

The Honda Saloon concept is a blocky, modern, van-like vehicle that could seat 6-7. Although it isn’t currently slated for production, the unveiling at CES featured a clean and futuristic interior reminiscent of a spaceship from a sci-fi movie. The passengers seemingly face each other and are surrounded by a glass roof.

Battery Technology Advancements: Powering Honda’s Future

Steadfast in its commitment to carbon neutrality, Honda has been refining the development of motor, control, and battery tech for its electric cars. It believes that the slow adaptation of electrification is due, at least in part, to high prices and low battery ranges. Their solution is to advance battery technology significantly.

Updates for the 0-Series

After parting ways with General Motors after the co-creation of the Prologue and the usage of GM’s Ultium battery, the new Honda 0-Series will feature a high-density battery that can take the battery life from 15% all the way to 80% in just 10 to 15 minutes. The platform will also utilize battery management controls, allowing it to retain 90% of its battery capacity for more than ten years of usage.

Honda’s Solid State Battery

Currently, the traditional lithium-ion battery uses liquid electrolytes. Since 2011, Honda has been working independently to create a solid-state battery for its electric vehicles, offering high-performance EVs at affordable prices. Although the battery is still filled with electrolytes, they will be in a solid form, reducing space and enhancing functionality.

It is unclear if the Honda solid-state battery will be production-ready to be introduced in the 0-Series. However, when it’s ready for mass production, these batteries will offer:

• Higher density energy
• Faster charging times
• Improved safety
• Extended driving range
• Longer lifespan
• Enhanced performance
• Reduced cost

Challenges and Opportunities in the Transition

The road to electrification for Honda has been a bumpy road so far, with limited productions of Clarity and Fit, which were perceived by many as failures. However, its re-commitment roadmap has them on the right path to success in the future. However, in addition to developing new battery technology, Honda will face adversity with:

• Slow infrastructure growth
• Existing and emerging market competition
• Supply chain concerns
• Consumer acceptance and adoption

However, Honda’s slow entrance into the EV spotlight not only gives reluctant consumers the opportunity to adjust to the idea of an electric future. However, it also allows the Honda research and development team to collect data and assess what the public ultimately would love to have in their vehicles.

Ultimately, Honda’s reputation for safety and reliability, combined with its innovative technology and designs, offers the company an opportunity to see impressive growth in the electric market.

The Role of Extended Warranties in the EV Era

Honda extended warranties, also called vehicle service contracts, are critical during the transition into the EV era. Electric vehicles from Honda or any other manufacturer feature sophisticated components, like high-capacity battery packs, charging ports, advanced safety features, electric drivetrains, and inverter units. Unfortunately, complex parts often mean expensive car repairs.

Depending on the terms and conditions of the vehicle service contract (VSC), comprehensive extended warranties for EVs can provide coverage for these expensive car parts. Even though vehicles like Honda are notoriously reliable, mechanical failure is an unavoidable part of car ownership, and an extended warranty keeps you from paying for pricey repair bills out-of-pocket.

Endurance Warranty auto protection plans are customizable based on your budget and needs. Vehicle protection plans are available for hybrid vehicles (including everything except the battery) and full-coverage EV service contracts (including the EV battery) for Teslas.

All Endurance coverage options come with a benefits package that includes 24/7 roadside assistance and towing, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage. Plus, service isn’t limited to a network of providers. Endurance works with any ASE Certified mechanic, repair shop, or car dealership you trust. All plans are also backed by a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee. We want you to be sure that you’ve got the right coverage for your needs.

Honda EV FAQs

Is Honda planning to go all-electric?

Yes, Honda’s goal is to have 100% EV and FCEV sales by 2040.

What is Honda’s global EV strategy?

Honda plans to tailor EV offerings to be regionally specific. Taking special consideration to consumer preference, regulations, and EV infrastructure availability, Honda will position itself to meet local demands and advance its global EV goals.

Which EVs Qualify for the New Electric Vehicle Tax Credit?

New EVs or FCEVs purchased in 2023 or after may qualify for a $7,500 clean vehicle tax credit. However, it is important to read the limitations and regulations or consult a tax professional for details.

When did Honda release its first fully electric vehicle?

Honda’s first fully electric vehicle was the Honda EV Plus, which was released in California in 1997.

What EVs does Honda currently offer?

Currently, Honda’s only fully-electric EV is the 2024 Honda Prologue, but there are plans for more to be released within the next few years.

What warranty coverage does Honda include?

New Honda EVs typically come with a factory or manufacturer’s warranty; however, they are only available for a limited time and a limited mileage. After the factory warranty expires, customers are responsible for EV repairs unless they buy an extended car warranty for EVs.

Get the Best Extended Car Warranty for Your Needs

Although new EVs often come with a manufacturer’s warranty, some automakers have specific exclusions and limitations put in place, including the covered parts and mileage. Third-party warranty providers like Endurance offer coverage where other vehicle protection options fail.

Call an Endurance plan advisor at (800) 253-8203 to request a FREE quote based on your budget and coverage needs. Our friendly and knowledgeable team can help you explore your options and customize the best plan for your lifestyle with no obligation to purchase.

If you’re unsure and still comparing providers, you can skip the phone call and shop online to see your recommended plans and pricing now!