12 things to know about next-gen Honda EVs arriving in 2026

Final week at CES in Las Vegas, Honda supplied a primary take a look at future EV fashions deliberate for 2026 with the Saloon and House-Hub ideas. Each are envisioned for its 0 Sequence (Zero Sequence) platform. 

Not less than a few of these fashions will likely be U.S.-made, and so they’ll arrive within the U.S. first—earlier than Japan, China, and Europe—the automaker made clear. Honda additionally mentioned they’ll be related but fun-to-drive, supply a not-yet-detailed Movement Administration System for trip and dealing with, emphasize effectivity, and have light-weight, energy-dense battery packs.

These batteries, for use in later variations of the platform, will be capable of cost from 15-80% in simply 10-Quarter-hour and can lose not more than 10% of unique battery capability (and vary) after 10 years of use, Honda mentioned.

Honda government Shinji Aoyama revealing layers of 0 Sequence EV structure – CES 2024

Honda famous that the 0 Sequence will likely be made up of many layers, together with an EV (propulsion) platform, an E&E (electrical and digital) structure, a software program platform, an software layer, a sensing suite, and Honda Join telematics and knowledge/software program supply. 

Primarily based on a Q&A session with Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s world CEO, and Shinki Aoyama, the corporate’s prime government in command of EVs, in addition to a number of interviews with different firm executives, Inexperienced Automotive Reviews has extra context about these upcoming fashions. 

Under are 12 essential factors to bear in mind about what these upcoming EVs will carry, what they gained’t, and whether or not it’s best to hold these fashions in thoughts the following time you’re buying and selling in.

Honda Saloon Idea – 2024 CES

Sized in the midst of Honda’s EV future. Preliminary 0 Sequence manufacturing fashions will begin within the “mid-large” section. Honda declined to cite dimensions for the ideas, however they gave the impression to be within the neighborhood of 190 inches lengthy. After some years Honda will introduce different-sized EV and propulsion platforms enabling the 0 Sequence to span from small to giant. 

Not area of interest fashions. A manufacturing mannequin based mostly on the Saloon will likely be launched in 2026, Mibe said, however he emphasised that Honda hasn’t but selected a manufacturing quantity. That mentioned, there will likely be a number of manufacturing Honda EVs based mostly on the 0 Sequence constructing blocks. Honda has dedicated to 40 gigawatt-hours yearly with LG, as a part of a joint-venture battery-supply settlement—sufficient to supply 350,000 to 400,000 autos, Aoyama underscored. 

Honda House-Hub Idea – 2024 CES

Not Accords, Civics, or CR-Vs. Whereas they gained’t be area of interest efforts, do not anticipate the 0 Sequence lineup to make use of current Honda model names like Accord, Civic, or CR-V. Additionally do not anticipate an inexpensive small EV a lot earlier than 2030. In line with Aoyamai, the corporate has been Honda-brand EV traction for the previous few years and determined it might be tougher for the corporate to merely add EV variations of legacy fashions. Acura is being dealt with in another way. 

Afeela EV will share the platform and add a “wow” issue. Mibe defined that 0 Sequence underpinnings will likely be used as frequent constructing blocks for the Afeela electrical sedan set to be offered by Sony-Honda in 2026. However not all of the parts would be the similar. The Sony-Honda effort will embrace features that can “improve the worth of the car,” and “wow the world,” he famous.

Honda House-Hub Idea – 2024 CES

Skinny, mild, and extensive begins with the battery pack. Honda emphasised that skinny, mild, and extensive is its technical strategy with the 0 Sequence, and it begins by lowering the battery peak on the backside of the car by about 10%, boasted Daisuke Tsutamori, the artistic director and basic supervisor for Honda R&D’s e-Mobility Design Division. Whereas Tsutamori couldn’t but element what permits that, he defined that it’s a technical side that frees up design selections on the way in which to manufacturing. As Honda reveals extra about its pack, search for extra particulars that assist hold the scale small. It’s greater than cooling and packaging itself. GM, as an illustration, mentioned that partly with the assistance of a wi-fi battery administration system it was capable of hold its Ultium battery pack design clear and compact regardless of the massive cell measurement it makes use of. 

300-mile goal vary. “We developed the Zero sequence with a goal of 300 miles or extra because the optimum vary,” mentioned Koji Nakano, the overall supervisor and chief engineer for BEV product planning at Honda. Nakano didn’t say whether or not that vary goal would possibly apply to both or each of the idea varieties proven at CES, however he confirmed {that a} 300-mile goal applies to the manufacturing 0 Sequence within the U.S. market. He added that Honda selected the vary goal, mixed with the skinny battery type issue, to reduce losses and optimize effectivity whereas assembly buyer wants. 

Honda 0 Saloon idea

No carbon fiber. Honda’s not leaping aboard the carbon-fiber practice. BMW, most notably, embraced carbon fiber, with an underlying aluminum construction, for its i3 electrical automobile, with the concept that a considerably increased manufacturing value paid off in the long term in a decrease carbon footprint. Nevertheless it was an expense that the corporate couldn’t reconcile in the long run. Nakano couldn’t reveal whether or not Honda is planning to make these autos from metal, aluminum, or different supplies, however he confirmed they will not utilizing carbon-fiber or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. 

Prepared for bidirectional charging. Nakano additionally confirmed that these autos are being developed with bidirectional charging in thoughts, and the manufacturing fashions will supply the aptitude. At CES, it positive appeared like a cell energy pack was charging between the entrance and rear seats of the idea automobile. That may give Honda’s well-received Motocompacto electrical scooter, one other potential product tie-in for the long run. 

Autonomy sooner or later. With the 0 Sequence, Honda is engaged on SAE Degree 3 city-driving functionality, and it goals to deploy that function over-the-air within the late 2020s. In an accompanying launch, Honda famous wider availability and extra affordability for such a capability set. 

Honda Saloon Idea – 2024 CES

Aero up entrance. Aerodynamics is a giant a part of effectivity and real-world vary. Tsutamori confirmed that Honda plans to carry to manufacturing an EV based mostly fairly intently on the Saloon mannequin. Whereas he admitted Honda targeted on the coefficient of drag in modeling the form for these autos, he emphasised that they’re ideas at this stage and wouldn’t reveal numbers. 

Honda Saloon Idea – 2024 CES

Not retro. Honda went decidedly retro with a few of its earlier EV designs, like that of the Honda E, which was by no means U.S.-bound, and the Sports activities EV coupe idea that was by no means produced. Automotive design has developed, Tsutamori mentioned, and whereas the emphasis for the 0 Sequence is easy, clear design, some parts of earlier Honda design are combined in, together with the first-generation Civic for the entrance finish, which reasonably than a grille homes radar, lidar, and different sensors. 

Honda House-Hub Idea – 2024 CES

There’s no rear window. Neither of the idea autos Honda confirmed have rear home windows. Whereas rear home windows could have been a gray-area omission for years in supercars, the household market is getting a pattern of it with the upcoming Polestar 4. As Tsutamori defined, whether or not Honda goes that route will depend on a market-by-market check-in on laws as these fashions evolve towards manufacturing. However he made clear it’s a design alternative Honda want to make, because it turns into a option to broaden area for the rear passengers.