Author: Neil Winton
Date Published: July 26th, 2020
Publisher: Forbes
Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2020/07/26/honda-electric-car-is-range-and-price-challenged-but-technology-quality-are-plusses/?sh=7f54463a621a
Honda’s new little electric city car, the “e,” as it’s named, won’t be a candidate for best value for money or longest range, but it is a technology marvel with plenty of ground-breaking innovations, while being the first in a brand-new category of “small premium”.
When you consult the various data sources on the dashboard, which fills the entire space in front of the driver and front-seat passenger and is boarded by the TV monitors for the wing-mirror cameras, you might find some disturbing information. When I climbed aboard, the battery monitor said 97% full, while the range predictor said only 106 miles. The claimed range for the Honda e from the 35.5 kWh battery is 125 miles. This compares unfavorably with many other all-new electric cars in this price-bracket. Even electric cars at the lower end of the price range have close to 170 miles of range.
As for the design of the vehicle, Honda said what it called the minimalist interior has been designed to feel like a lounge. “The clean surfaces also incorporate flush-fit pop-out door handles, (like Tesla) whilst the charging-point port is integrated in to the bonnet (hood). This helps to reduce drag and increase the overall efficiency of the car,” Honda said.
The technology present in this vehicle is certainly something to note: The “e” includes what Honda calls a “sector-first” camera system for the wing-mirrors, which are replaced by bullet-like cameras on each side, and little screens on the left and right of the dashboard show the rear view. The “e” boasts much high technology, which until recently would only have been seen in high-priced German vehicles. The “e” has systems like collision mitigation, which also detects in-danger pedestrians, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assists and lane departure warning. Perhaps the most significant feature to note is that the “e” has an enhanced voice control facility. If you say “OK Honda” it will in theory fulfil commands like increasing the regenerative braking or tuning the radio.
This article is relevant once again because it helps us understand the future direction of Honda’s products, specifically how they are designing for the transition to electric vehicles. Similarly to the article regarding post-COVID trends in automotive manufacturing, the Honda “e” has some features that are indicative of these future predicted trends, such as a voice control feature. I think being aware of the features in upcoming cars can help us as the designers to create more integrated solutions further down the line.
Winton, N. (2021, July 19). Honda electric car is range and PRICE challenged, but Technology, quality are plusses. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2020/07/26/honda-electric-car-is-range-and-price-challenged-but-technology-quality-are-plusses/?sh=7f54463a621a
