Honda e Electric Hatchback: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The All-Electric Honda e Hatchback

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The all-electric Honda e-prototype car 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 drives up to 50 km a day. Also, do keep in mind that the majority of day-to-day car journeys are short i.e. to the grocery store, school-runs, local high street, work etc.

The pure electric Honda e is built on a dedicated platform. It is available in only one EV battery size (35.5 kWh). The automotive manufacturer has been keen to stress that urban needs do not require a larger EV battery, and by reducing the size of the onboard battery, the weight of the EV is lower i.e. resulting in a more efficient electric car.

Honda claims a zero-emission electric range up to 222 km. Real-world range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, weather, road condition, tyre size, onboard services used and more. An EV range closer to 190 km is more realistic. Of course, the EV also incorporates regenerative braking to improve efficiency and electric range.

The Honda electric car can be fast charged up to 50 kW DC. The EV can be charged up to 80% in 31 minutes and incorporates a 6.6 kW AC onboard charger. The Honda electric car can be fully charged in 4.1 hours via a dedicated single-phase EV charger like myenergi zappi. Though the EV can be charged via a domestic 3-PIN plug, we at e-zoomed do not encourage using a domestic plug for charging an electric car. The EV will take up to 18.8 hours to fully charge via a 3-PIN socket.

In terms of performance, the real-wheel drive Honda e is respectable. The zero-tailpipe emission electric car can achieve 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds. The maximum power available is 154 ps with 315 Nm torque. The top speed is 145 km/h. More than sufficient for urban driving.

The interior of the Honda-e is minimalistic, technology-filled and good quality. The EV incorporates two 12.3″ LCD touchscreens across the dashboard. The dashboard also features a side camera mirror system (6″) at each end (replaces conventional door mirrors) and a centre camera mirror system. Also on offer are a host of safety features, to include: collision mitigation brake system, intelligent speed limiter, traffic sign recognition system, lane keeping assist, smart entry & start and more.

Despite the compact size of the EV, practicality for passengers is reasonable. Though the boot space is limited to 171 L, it is suitable for urban needs. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! 

The Honda e electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Perfect for city driving. Easy to drive and park (impressive turning radius)	Expensive compared to other BEV city cars on the market
Sufficient range for city dwellers	Only available in one EV battery size
Technology-filled EV	Electric range not as impressive as some competitors

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The All-Electric Honda e Hatchback (credit: Honda)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Hatchback
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Trims (1 Option)
Honda e (from ₹ N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 35.5 kWh
Charging:	50 kW DC rapid charging (up to 80%: 31 mins). Onboard charger 6.6 kW AC (0%-100%: 4.1 hrs)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1512
Width (mm):	1752
Length (mm):	3894
Wheelbase (mm):	2538
Turning Radius (m):	4.3
Boot Space (L):	171

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Honda e Advance
EV Battery Capacity:	35.5 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	222 km
EV Operation Efficiency (kWh/100km):	17.2 kWh
Charging:	50 kW DC rapid charging (up to 80%: 31 mins). Onboard charger 6.6 kW AC (0%-100%: 4.1 hrs)
Top Speed:	145 km/h
0-100 km/h:	8.3 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	100
Max Power (PS):	154
Torque (Nm):	315
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	4
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg)	1,520 – 1,543
Colours:	5
NCAP Safety Rating:	Four-Star

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Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Market

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), more commonly referred to simply as, electric vehicles (EVs) or as plug-in electric cars, have come a long way over the past decade and certainly a long way over the past 100 years.

Electric vehicles came into prominence in the early 1900’s, a time when horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transportation.  Archived black and white photographs from that period show famous avenues like Madison Avenue in New York city filled with horse-drawn carriages.  In stark contrast, a similar photograph taken a decade later of Madison Avenue showed not a single horse-drawn carriage.  Instead the avenue was filled with motor vehicles, a new invention at that time. 

We are now witnessing a similar fundamental shift in road transportation, as polluting internal combustion engines (ICE) petrol and diesel vehicles are being replaced by low-emission and zero-emission electric vehicles.

In countries like the United Kingdom, a leader in e-mobility, we can expect a comprehensive replacement of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 (UK will ban the sale of new ICE cars in 2030). The UK is not the only country that has a vision of a mass transition to zero-tailpipe emission electric cars.

Since 2011, the global electric vehicle (EV) market has increased at a year-over-year growth rate of over 50%. In 2020, according to the Global EV Outlook 2021 report, the global stock of electric vehicles (EVs) had surpassed 10 million units.

In 2015, the Global stock was just over 1 million units. In 2020, Europe accounted for the largest share of new car registrations of EVs (1.4 million registered electric vehicles), followed by China (1.2 million electric vehicles). In Europe, countries like Norway, Iceland and Sweden continue to show strong leadership in the transition to electric driving. In Norway more than 75% of new cars are electric, followed by 50% in Iceland and 30% in Sweden.

However, this is not just a western phenomenon. A number of countries across the world have announced their support for electric cars, to include India. Pure electric cars are now common sightings in a number of global markets, and EV automotive manufacturers, like California based Tesla Motors are now household brands.

Traditional automotive manufactures have also shown significant commitment to the migration to electric engines, to include Volvo Cars, the Volkswagen Group, Renault, Nissan, Peugeot, Hyundai, Mercedes, Land Rover and many more. Forecast for the sale of EVs suggest up to 30 million electric vehicles to be sold before the end of the current decade.

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Types Of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

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“Electric vehicle” is an umbrella term, and a broad one at that. There are a number of different types of electric vehicles (EVs), each with its distinct characteristics and advantages. These include:

• BEVs: Battery-electric vehicles (pure electric)
• PHEVs: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) combined)
• MHEVs: Mild hybrid electric vehicles (internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel) along with regenerative braking)
• FCEVs: Fuel cell electric vehicle (electric with hydrogen as fuel)

The above “types” are powered either entirely or partially by electric energy and have different environmental impacts.

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Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), also known as pure electric vehicles, are powered entirely by electricity (i.e. the vehicle does not have a conventional internal combustion engine). BEVs have zero-tailpipe emissions and help improve local air quality.

BEVs are also very economical to drive. A BEV can cost as little as Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive. Examples of best-selling EVs include, the all-electric Tesla Model 3 and the all-electric Renault Zoe. A BEV is charged by plugging in the electric vehicle to a dedicated electric car charging station (home or public charging stations). BEVs are well suited for those living in towns, cities and urban centres. Of course, battery-electric vehicles are also suitable for those living in rural settings.

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Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) differ from battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), in that, PHEVs use both a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric engine for propulsion. Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine the advantages of electric driving and internal combustion engine driving.

On shorter distances, the PHEV uses the electric mode to drive emission-free, using the on-board EV battery and regenerative braking. For longer distances, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles switches to using the internal combustion engine.

With a PHEV, the vehicle can cost as little Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive on e-mode, without any tailpipe pollution, and also be driven long-distances, without the fear of range anxiety! Most PHEVs have an EV battery of up to 15 kWh and can achieve a zero-emission electric range of up to 50 kilometres.

No wonder PHEVs are fast becoming popular globally, with much potential or India. Like a BEV, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is charged by using an external power source (EV charging point) for charging.

PHEVs are suitable for those that drive long-distances on a regular basis but want to lower the negative environmental impact from tailpipe pollution. PHEVs are also suitable for those individuals and families that are seeking to save money by taking advantage of electric driving. The Volvo XC40 PHEV and the Volkswagen Golf 8 are good examples of PHEVs.

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Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs)

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Mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) are a limited form of electric driving. These vehicles also use hybrid technologies (electric driving and internal combustion engine), but the EV battery is much smaller than a BEV or PHEV. Moreover, in a mild hybrid, the EV battery cannot be charged via an external source (i.e. EV charging station).

In a MHEV, the battery is charged by capturing the energy released during braking, a process known as regenerative braking. MHEVs have lower tailpipe emissions, and are more economical to own, run and maintain than petrol and diesel cars. MHEVs are a better option than a petrol or diesel car, but not as good an option as a BEV or PHEV.

Mild hybrids are well suited for those living in regions with limited charging infrastructure. Again, MHEVs have great potential in India, given the limited public EV charging infrastructure.

The Toyota Prius is a good example of a mild hybrid electric vehicle.

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) also called hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, have a fuel cell stack that uses hydrogen to generate the electricity needed to power the electric vehicle. The fuel cell generates electricity and pure water vapour that can escape via the tailpipe. It is capable of generating electricity as long as there is a steady supply of hydrogen. Fuel cell electric vehicles can be refuelled with hydrogen at purpose built filling stations. Filling an FEC takes no more than five minutes.

FCEVs have a range of about 500 kilometers or more between refueling. Today, the only and major limitation is the very limited hydrogen refuelling station network globally. The Toyota Mirai FCEV is a good example of this type of EV.

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While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.

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