Honda commits to electrification goal: Two-thirds of Honda cars to be electrified by 2030

The automotive foursome that shared center stage with Honda Motor Co. CEO Takahiro Hachigo spoke volumes about the Japanese auto giant’s direction for the near future. They were the all-new Jazz, the Honda e electric hatchback and a pair of electric scooters: Benly e and Gyro e three-wheeler.

As well as having five different “personality” variants, the Jazz will feature an available hybrid system with dual motors. This hybrid system will enable the Jazz, already a fuel-sipping compact, to be even more fuel-efficient. The Honda hybrids will be marketed under the e:HEV sub-brand.

Like many carmakers, the stated goal of Honda is zero emissions driving. That refers to zero emissions at the car itself, with emissions being generated remotely if the electrical power source uses fossil fuels. Or to genuinely zero emissions if the car is hydrogen-powered, as in the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell car.

Generating less emissions has been part of Honda’s history, ever since the Honda CVCC became the first vehicle to meet the US Clean Air Act wihtout the need for a catalytic converter. Its spiritual successor was the Insight, a futuristic-looking two-door with a hybrid powertrain. The Insight was the first hybrid available in North America. The hybrid hatchback featured lightweight aluminum construction and streamlined aerodynamics, giving it then the lowest drag coefficient of any production car. Throughout its production run, Insight has been the most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicle car sold in the USA without plug-in capability.

Honda’s strategy of a using mild hybrids served it well in various vehicles like the Accord and CR-V. These were among the first hybrid midsize sedans and SUVs to be introduced to the ASEAN market. The Tokyo Motor Show also saw the Japanese market launch of the 2019 Accord sedan, available with hybrid drive.

The immediate future of Honda’s electrification strategy is the Jazz, with its two-notor hybrid system. Hybrid electric vehicles, which in the case of the Jazz, deliver the high fuel efficiency of electric drive, particularly during city driving, without having to worry about frequent recharging. In fact, the hybrid drive effectively extends the range of the car, versus the purely gasoline-driven model.

The compact hybrid system also frees up room for passengers and cargo. The all-new Honda Insight is now a roomy four-door sedan with large interior space and trunk volume. Despite that, the Insight maintains a compact footprint.

Seamless transition between the electric drive and gasoline, with the possibility of dual propulsion, was demonstrated during a stint at Honda’s R&D facility near the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Tochigi. The new system is called Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD), and the goal is combining “overwhelming” fuel economy with spirited acceleration when both the electric motors and the gasoline engine drive the wheels. After all, it wouldn’t be a Honda if it wasn’t fun to drive.

Also in the near future is the Honda e with its all electric drivetrain. The Honda e will be available in Japan and perhaps other major electric-car markets by next year. The Honda e is a clean-sheet design that packages the battery and most of the electrical components under the floor. The back seat is a bit tight, but then the Honda e is envisioned as a runabout mainly for city driving. The Honda e has a roomy front area, with a unique wood-paneled dashboard with rear-view cameras and multiple viewing screens. It’s truly a vision of the future, available next year at Honda’s Japan dealerships.