We were taken aback when Honda unveiled the Super EV concept at the Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this month. Wrapped in colorful camouflage, the electric city car hinted at a potential indirect successor to the Honda e. A production version is likely headed to Europe, but in the meantime, its kei car counterpart has just debuted in Japan. Called the N-One e:, it’s not a carbon copy of the Super EV. It lacks the flared fenders and is presumably smaller to meet kei car regulations.
Honda has yet to reveal technical specifications, but the compact hatch is unlikely to exceed 3.4 meters (11.2 feet) in length, 1.48 meters (4.9 feet) in width, and 2 meters (6.6 feet) in height. Output remains unknown, though kei cars are limited to 64 horsepower. As for range, the tiny EV can cover 167 miles (270 kilometers) on a single charge under the WLTC cycle. That might not sound like much, but given the size constraints, there’s limited space to accommodate a larger battery.
Photo by: Honda
Photo by: Honda
The boxy city car has a simple yet functional interior, featuring an upright dashboard that omits a center display on base trims. Higher-end versions of the N-One e: come with a nine-inch infotainment screen accompanied by a few physical buttons and a volume knob. Since customers in Japan can opt for a version without a touchscreen, Honda had to add dedicated climate controls as well.
The central part of the dashboard incorporates a built-in shelf, and clever storage solutions are scattered throughout the small cabin. While the N-One e: is effectively a passenger-focused version of the N-Van e: introduced last year, it still delivers solid practicality. The rear seats fold nearly flat in a 50:50 split to carry bulkier items, or you can flip up the seat cushions, mimicking Honda’s Magic Seat system.
Additional highlights include a button for activating one-pedal driving and support for vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality. Buyers can order a power supply connector from Honda to turn the N-One e: into a mobile power bank, capable of supplying electricity to a home. While the battery capacity hasn’t been disclosed, the N-Van e:’s 29.6-kWh pack suggests V2L capabilities will be modest, but still useful. The dual charging ports are integrated into a front grille made from recycled car bumpers.
Honda will begin taking orders on August 1, with deliveries in Japan scheduled for this fall.
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Source: Honda
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