It probably hasn’t escaped your attention, but things are rapidly changing in the automotive world. Internal combustion engines are very much becoming old technology, and in their place, we are getting more and more electric vehicles out on the roads. Car manufacturers have realized they need to be seen to be doing something about climate change, and right now at least it seems like EVs are set to be the way forward. We have all new models coming out, but equally, we have cars with internal combustion engines being adapted for electric drivetrains.
Of all the companies producing EVs, Honda is a bit late to the party. Their first dedicated EV, the Honda e, might have short-range but it become a very likable car thanks to its retro looks, great interior, and brilliant driving qualities. But we can probably think of that as a taster of what’s to come from when Honda really goes at it with electric cars and vehicles. And Honda is now dabbling in expanding their range of EVs, with a new HR-V coming to the Chinese market that is set to be fully electric, giving us a glimpse as to what might be coming soon from the brand.
The Honda HR-Vs New Generation
The electric HR-V comes off the back of Honda recently unveiling their latest generation HR-V, the company first pulling the covers off the car in April this year. This next generation has been designed specifically for the American market and makes good use of hybrid technology, however, what we have seen so far is not actually the American version. What Honda has currently unveiled is the global and European version of the HR-V, with the American version of the car to get a slightly different look and features.
The latest HR-V for America is set to be based upon a bigger platform than the global version, whilst also incorporating some much more rugged styling for the US market. The internal combustion engine in the car is the L15Z 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 117 hp, whilst the European market will exclusively get the HR-V with the e:HEV hybrid system, featuring a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine with two electric motors to produce a combined 235 hp. It remains to be seen where the new electric HR-V will end up on the market, as there will clearly be some appeal to an electric version of the SUV in Europe and America.
The Electric HR-V
The new, electric HR-V was unveiled at a Honda virtual press conference, where they at the same time revealed three concept cars. The new all-electric HR-V does have, as expected, a revised exterior style compared to the regular and hybrid versions of the SUV. The grille has been closed off and the charging port for the car is hidden by the Honda logo, whilst an additional spoiler can be spotted below the rear screen. Clearer photos were revealed of the new car via the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as part of the homologation of the car.
The rest of the exterior of the HR-V does look quite similar to that of the regular HR-V, whilst the interior does seemingly appear to be a little bit more modern. The interior now boasts a 15.2-inch HD center display and a very nice 10.5-inch liquid-crystal digital cluster. It's under the hood where the real interest lies, and it looks like the HR-V electric, dubbed e:NS1 and e:NP1 by Honda in China, will have a front-mounted electric motor. This looks set to give the car around 201 hp, or 150 kW, and hopefully give a top speed of around 93 mph.
An Electric HR-V For Other Markets
Right now, the electric HR-V is not coming to any other markets. The car is, for the moment, staying exclusive to the Chinese market. The company hasn’t explicitly said that the car isn’t going to other territories, but it is unlikely to make the trip across the world anytime soon. It wouldn’t be a surprise though to see other models of the HR-V eventually make their way to Europe and America, particularly given the real need to strive for more eco-friendly ways of getting around.
Entering A Crowded Market
Even without the electric HR-V, the new Honda SUV is entering a particularly crowded market. SUVs, like them or hate them, are exceedingly popular right now and even the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini have been getting in on the SUV action. An electric SUV is not entering such a crowded marketplace but it will take a lot to take on the likes of Tesla and their Model X, and even slightly smaller crossover-style cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Honda e though has shown the potential there is in an electric Honda, and it is only a matter of time before the Japanese company puts that into practice for the long-term future of the company.
Sources: Honda, MIIT