The announcement exceeds a global promise to electrify two-thirds of its cars by 2030 and will require a rapid flow of new product over the next six years as Honda phases out sole internal combustion engine vehicles.
“We have a four- to four-and-a-half-year product cycle and all our models will now have a hybridised version as we go through,” said Dave Hodgetts, Honda UK managing director.
“Legislation, CAFE , customer understand and demand are all coming together at the right time for this move.”
He recognised that there will need to be some education to boost a move towards full electric, however.
“The market is ready for hybrids and it is also anti-diesel,” Hodgetts said. “But it is still some way off for full EV. We have to drive through the message with our new cars so they understand the type of mileage that they are suitable for.
“We also have to educate our dealers to have those conversations.”
The Honda e prototype, unveiled at the Geneva motor show, is a rear-wheel drive electric city car offering 125 miles and more than 100PS and 300Nm of torque. The battery, created in partnership with Panasonic, weighs 200kg and can be charged to 80% in 30 minutes on a 50kW fast-charger.
Although a prototype, Honda UK head of car Phil Webb said the car is “90% of production”. It is due to go on sale this year – reservations start in summer - with first deliveries in February 2020.
Hodgetts added: “The car sits in the premium element within our range; it’s a brand halo.”
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Bauer B2B group editor Stephen Briers has been an automotive business journalist since 1995. He has been editor of Fleet News since 2009 and before that was editor of Automotive Management for almost seven years. He now oversees both brands, as well as RAIL magazine.
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