Honda unveils N-ONE e: electric kei car for Japan

Just two weeks after showcasing the Super EV Concept at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Honda has unveiled its production version as an electric kei car – the N-ONE e:. The company will start accepting pre-orders for the new EV in Japan on 1 August.

Honda says the N-ONE e: is its second electric kei car following the N-VAN e: and indicates it is technically related to the commercial model. The company has yet to disclose the details of the N-ONE e:’s powertrain and battery pack, but it has confirmed a WLTC range of over 270 km, 25 km more than the N-VAN e:. For reference, it offers the latter with 39 kW/162 Nm and 47 kW/162 Nm motors and a 29.6 kWh battery pack.

The N-ONE e: has two charging ports, both located in the front for ease in head-in parking at charging stations. The right-side charging port supports normal chargers, and the left-side port allows fast charging. The N-ONE e: supports vehicle-to-home (V2H) bi-directional charging as well, which will allow customers to use it as an emergency power source during outages.

As evident in the exterior design, Honda derived the N-ONE e: from the petrol-powered N-ONE. However, aside from the similar boxy shape, the electric model does possess a more futuristic and charming character. The clamshell bonnet, the flattened top of the round headlights, and the wide and upright front fascia lend it a more assertive look, while the 14-inch six-spoke alloy wheels and clear LED tail lamps give it a more funky styling.

Inside, too, the N-ONE e: has a visibly more upscale design over its donor model. The electric kei car features a sleek new dashboard with a more cohesive look, a two-spoke steering wheel, a cleaner centre console with a push-button gear selector, and a digital instrument cluster. Honda will offer it in G and L grades and equip the latter with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring satellite navigation.

Honda plans to launch the N-ONE e: in Japan in the fall and says the new EV will qualify for a subsidy of 574,000 yen (approx. 3,300 euros). While the company did showcase the Super EV Concept in the UK, it has yet to reveal if it plans to sell the production version in overseas markets.

global.honda, global.honda (both in Japanese), car.watch.impress.co.jp (more images)