We had been one of many first to check drive Honda’s 0 Sequence EV platform

Earlier than Honda pulls the sheet off a brand new EV mannequin in its new 0 Sequence lineup in 2025, it invited us out to Japan to take a peak backstage at its world R&D middle, manufacturing services, and another cool spots to share perception on the know-how it’s seeking to implement in future 0 fashions. We additionally had been one of many first on the planet to check drive Honda’s new 0 Sequence EV structure.

Honda’s 0 Sequence is starting to take form

As you’ll be taught under, there’s nonetheless rather a lot we don’t know concerning the know-how we are going to see in Honda’s future all-electric 0 Sequence lineup. Nonetheless, what now we have discovered is encouraging and thrilling from a Japanese automaker that has been a bit late to the BEV get together.

Honda unveiled plans for its new 0 Sequence in Las Vegas throughout CES 2024, the place it unveiled two preliminary idea automobiles it mentioned would function precursors to manufacturing fashions for the worldwide market. That unveiling included the “House Hub” being developed below the concept of “augmenting individuals’s every day lives,” and the “Saloon” (seen above and under” it describes as its flagship idea to its 0 Sequence design language.

At the moment, we discovered Honda’s first passenger EV, the 0 Sequence, can be based mostly on the Saloon idea and is anticipated to hit the North American market in 2026. We’re not sure precisely how the manufacturing mannequin will differ from the radical and sleek-looking Saloon. Nonetheless, after spending per week in Japan with Honda, now we have a greater thought of what kind of know-how and manufacturing strategies the modern OEM is seeking to implement.

A lot of it’s encouraging, and a few of it’s downright spectacular, however many questions stay about which of the applied sciences launched to the media will make their approach into 0 Sequence EVs and when. Nonetheless, there’s lots of cool stuff to unpack right here, so let’s dig in.

Honda launched a slew of latest EV tech within the works

To higher perceive the know-how that went into Honda’s nascent lineup of BEV fashions in growth, the corporate invited a number of media from all over the world, together with Electrek, to a Honda 0 Tech Assembly, held at its International Plaza in Tochigi, Japan, about 140 km north of Tokyo.

In the course of the assembly, we noticed a presentation led by Honda Motor Co. director, president, and CEO Toshihiro Mibe and Toshihiro Akiwa, the vp and head of BEV growth. Right here, the Honda executives broke down a number of new concepts generated for the 0 collection, a reputation that represents a contemporary begin and a brand new era of automobiles for the all-electric period.

Design and growth are centered round three core beliefs – “Skinny, gentle, and smart,” that are on the middle of Honda’s new devoted EV platform that can assist it ship skinny and low-weight styling as we noticed within the Saloon idea.

The brand new (yet-to-be-named) platform has adopted 2.0 GPa grade sizzling stamping metal materials, created utilizing new megacasting machines you possibly can see extra of under. The BEV-specific structure enabled Honda to develop thinner battery packs utilizing some actually fascinating friction welding to permit for max effectivity and thus vary.

Honda isn’t attempting to blow individuals away with its vary, however as an alternative has tried to maximise house and keep light-weight and effectivity to assist hold manufacturing prices down and ship new fashions which are extra reasonably priced. Moreover, the automaker shared it’s concentrating on EPA vary of round 300 miles.

New applied sciences like a warmth pump and Honda’s new “e-Axle” motors and inverters have advanced from its hybrid EV developmen however have been downsized to attain a horizontal structure to maximise cabin house and permit for decrease proper heights.

After our presentation and Q&A with Honda’s executives, we received an opportunity to stroll by and expertise skilled explanations and demonstrations from the Honda BEV workforce. These included a number of new applied sciences that Honda will implement or not less than attempt to implement in future fashions.

This included a have a look at the 0 platform’s new steering stability index that may flex the car physique in actual time to regulate every tire’s load whereas cornering. This physique rigidity design additionally allowed Honda to cut back the car’s general weight by 100kg (220 lbs) in comparison with earlier EV fashions like the Prologue.

We additionally received a have a look at Honda’s ECU placement in addition to a glimpse at the way it intends to implement sensor know-how like LiDAR into 0 Sequence ADAS that it says will goal to supply “experiences that make individuals wish to exit extra spontaneously” and can finally enable for palms off, eyes off Stage 3 automated driving. Per Honda:

Honda 0 Sequence fashions can be outfitted with a system that permits the enlargement of the vary of driving situations the place driver help and Stage 3 automated driving (eyes off) can be accessible. The enlargement will begin with eyes-off know-how accessible in visitors congestion on highways, then proceed by the OTA updates of the capabilities.

Different UX demos we noticed had been issues like AI-integration and facial recognition software program that would allow future Honda 0 automobiles to acknowledge an proprietor strolling up and open the door for them. Higher nonetheless, this know-how can acknowledge if you’re carrying a toddler and can open a rear door, or if they’re in a stroller, additionally open the trunk for stowage.

Contained in the cabin, Honda’s in-house OS can acknowledge the motive force and their passengers, and may even distinguish if a pet is within the automotive and counsel that it might be time for them to cease for a potty break. Lastly, we received to demo an fascinating social function Honda is exploring through which a driver can loop their buddy into the automotive trip whereas they’re at house through VR headset.

Try the video we captured under. We had been related dwell to another Honda staff in one other a part of Japan and rode together with them. We had been in a position to talk and request songs, and even arise and get a view from outdoors the automotive because it moved.

Plenty of these applied sciences had been cool to see, however except for the powertrain and battery know-how, Honda wouldn’t give any kind of affirmation or timeline as to when they’ll really be applied in a manufacturing mannequin. Clearly they’re nonetheless working lots of know-how out, and that’s high quality, as we gained’t see the primary Honda 0 EV (based mostly on the Saloon) till 2026, however six extra BEV fashions are anticipated to reach by 2030.

Since now we have but to see a bonafide Honda 0 Sequence manufacturing mannequin emerge, we couldn’t drive one. Nonetheless, the automaker did supply a chance to check out the brand new 0 structure put in beneath a few of its present fashions.

Check driving Honda’s new 0 Sequence structure

It wasn’t a Saloon, nevertheless it was one thing. From Tochigi, Honda organized a chance for Electrek to be one of many first to truly drive its new 0 platform, offering media with two all-electric prototypes to check out.

They could appear like a standard CR-V and Accord from the pictures under, however these distinctive builds are 100% electrical, and have the e-Axle and thinner battery know-how talked about above. On account of time contraints, we had been solely in a position to drive one to the opposite prototype, and solely had a couple of minutes with it. I selected the sedan considering it was decrease and extra related in design to the Saloon idea, and received to do three leaps round Honda’s native take a look at observe.

My first impression is that it drives like an EV. The response is fast, acceleration is clean however not mind-boggling, and the dealing with was fairly comfy, even at excessive speeds. Forgive me for my lack of actual element, nevertheless it’s onerous to critique structure alone, particularly when driving in a car physique that was not particularly designed for the 0 structure.

Due to this, the prototypes nonetheless had mechanical steering versus steer-by-wire deliberate for the manufacturing mannequin 0 BEVs, so I wasn’t in a position to get the total expertise of Hond’s subsequent era of automobiles, nevertheless it nonetheless was a pleasure to check out.

Honda additionally had a static Honda e BEV it was utilizing as a UX idea. This was cool as a result of clients might sometime be capable to select completely different engine noises from famend fashions just like the RSX or Civic Sort-R to flood their BEV cabin with revving sounds. There’s additionally an possibility to decide on Honda Jet noises. Have a pay attention:

Like a lot of the tech we noticed in Tochigi, Honda couldn’t verify or deny if and when this UX function can be accessible to clients. Nonetheless, it’s a superb thought for individuals who wish to go electrical however nonetheless love the roar of a Honda engine, particularly for the reason that sound isn’t projected outdoors the car for the remainder of us to listen to.

From what I might collect, Honda’s structure is heading in the right direction. Nonetheless, I left the 2024 Tech Assembly with extra questions than solutions about what applied sciences can be applied sooner or later. Nonetheless, the journey had loads of different highlights, together with a have a look at Honda’s new manufacturing strategies, which admittedly blew me away.

Different highlights from the Honda Tech Assembly 2024

For my part, probably the most fascinating points of our tour round Honda’s services was a have a look at its pilot manufacturing strains the place future 0 BEVs can be inbuilt Japan. This included an illustration of Honda’s new 6,000-ton megacasting machine – six of which can go into operation at Honda’s US manufacturing facility in Ohio.

Honda shared that it was in a position to cut back the variety of components in its Clever Energy Unit (IPU) from 60 to five utilizing megacasting, and has taken an method to make the most of a devoted case piece to a standard half utilizing actually superb friction welding that can allow Honda to extra effectively construct modular EV IPUs to suite a variety of physique sizes.

One other demonstration I discovered fairly fascinating was the world’s first software of Honda’s proprietary Fixed DC Chopping (CDC) welding know-how. The approach maximizes warmth distribution to a weld, decreasing car weight whereas rising passive security efficiency. Right here’s it in motion. Discover how there are not any sparks?

Electrek’s take

All in all, Honda is unquestionably making a acutely aware effort to compete within the BEV market with its upcoming 0 Sequence. I noticed lots of innovation, significantly inside its pilot manufacturing strains, however there was a sense of secrecy as Honda continues to be preserving a lot of its hand near its chest.

We media have heard lots of phrases like “sometime” and “sooner or later,” however there are not any clear timelines for when and if a few of the launched know-how will make its approach into manufacturing fashions. Maybe it was a tad too early for a Tech Day, nevertheless it was an informative and thrilling expertise nonetheless.

A lot of the tech Honda launched has already been applied into BEVs at present available on the market, nevertheless it’s fairly clear that the Japanese automaker is seeking to optimize and grasp these components to face out. I see a real alternative right here for Honda to really embrace BEVs and turn out to be the chief within the house throughout all Japanese automakers.

The Saloon idea is way bigger and roomier up shut, and its general design is not like anything on the highway proper now. It will likely be thrilling to see how shut a manufacturing 0 Sequence model involves that preliminary design, however at this level, we nonetheless don’t know.

One factor we did be taught, is that Honda is planning to unveil a second 0 collection manufacturing mannequin this January at CES 2025. Based on the automaker, this new BEV mannequin “would be the embodiment in product type of the applied sciences and electrification idea launched throughout the 0 Tech Assembly 2024.”

I used to be occupied with skipping CES this yr, however now I wish to see what Honda unveils subsequent. We are going to remember to report again at the moment.