Honda commits to full electrification by 2025

Honda has announced its intention to move 100 per cent of its European sales to electrified powertrains by 2025, building on the brand’s 2017 aim of two-thirds of its sales to be electrified by 2025.

Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President, Honda Motor Europe, said, “Since we made that first pledge in March 2017, the shift towards electrification has gathered pace considerably. Environmental challenges continue to drive demand for cleaner mobility. Technology marches on unrelenting and people are starting to shift their view of the car itself.”

Unveiled at Geneva, Honda's e Prototype is its first production battery electric vehicle for the European market. According to the manufacturer, it has a range of over 200km and a ‘fast charge’ functionality providing 80% range in just 30 minutes. The production version will be unveiled later this year. Customers will be able to place a reservation for the car in selected European markets in early summer.

Honda also shared the first details of its developing energy management solutions business for Europe, which builds on the Power Manager bi-directional charging concept first shown at Frankfurt motor show in 2017.

Honda intends to build a range of energy management products and services for both EV customers and service operators in Europe.

Tom Gardner said: "This is a significant move for Honda, our intention is to deliver industry-leading innovation by launching energy services…to create additional value for power system operators and EV customers alike.”

Honda has been working with EVTEC to further develop its bi-directional Honda Power Manager technology (compatible with battery-electric vehicles, such as the Honda e Prototype) and will plan to offer a commercial version in the coming years.

The company has also announced an agreement with two external partners - Moixa, a company which specialises in ‘resource aggregator‘ technology, allowing customers to share the control and capacity of their EV battery, and; Ubitricity, a supplier of charging solutions.

Honda now plans to undertake feasibility studies for its technologies in London, UK and Offenbach, Germany.