New details keep trickling out about the Honda e, the compact electric vehicle that’s coming to market in spring 2020, from pop-out door handles and internal side view mirrors to the touchscreen display.
The latest, revealed Thursday, includes a battery capacity of 35.5 kilowatt-hours. An important nugget that is sure to get some folks excited is that the vehicle will have a 50/50 weight distribution, thanks to the position of the battery at a low level under the floor and centrally within the wheelbase.
The upshot: This electric car will have lots of stability and handle curves like a champ; in short, all things being equal, the car will steer neutrally, not oversteer or understeer. Combine that with a rear-wheel drive and a high-torque electric motor and the Honda e promises to deliver lots of thrills in its diminutive package.
Want to dig deeper into why a 50/50 weight distribution is considered ideal? Check out this handy Engineering Explained video.
Honda also revealed the 35.5 kWh lithium-ion high-capacity battery can be charged using either a Type 2 AC connection or a CCS2 DC rapid charger. The battery pack is water-cooled to help maximize its efficiency and charge state, the company said.
Honda is still sticking with its previously stated estimated range of about 125 miles on a single charge.
The charging port includes an LED light that can be seen through a glass panel to illuminate the port for the driver and highlight the battery charging status.
The production version of the Honda e will be unveiled later this year.
Customers can make a reservation for priority ordering online in the U.K., Germany, France and Norway or register their interest in other European markets on the Honda national websites. No, the Honda e isn’t coming to the United States.
Honda plans to bring electrification, which can mean hybrid, plug-in or all-electric, to every new car model launched in Europe. The automaker is aiming for two-thirds of European sales to feature electrified technology by 2025.