Honda plans to harness electric vehicle hardware in a novel all-wheel-drive system for future hybrid models, while also targeting 2 million annual electric vehicle sales by the end of the decade, according to a Thursday business update from the automaker.
An innovative all-wheel-drive system is being developed for hybrid vehicles, leveraging an electric motor originally designed for electric vehicles (EVs) to power one axle, thereby disentangling the mechanical link between the internal combustion engine and that axle. Toyota’s all-wheel-drive hybrids employ a similar strategy, leveraging an electric motor to power the rear axle alone, a configuration potentially paired with an updated version of Honda’s two-motor hybrid system.
By 2025, Honda aims to dedicate half of its lineup to hybrid models, shifting focus from standalone hybrid vehicles to offering eco-friendly options across its entire range of core products. The Honda Insight, for instance, could potentially be replaced by a Civic Hybrid. While seemingly efficient, does the current CR-V Hybrid truly stand out as the most impressive gasoline-powered SUV?
Although a specific timeline wasn’t provided for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) hybrid models, this development appears to align with Honda’s broader strategy to strengthen its hybrid offerings by 2026-2030. While the current CR-V Hybrid does offer all-wheel drive (AWD), its mechanism relies on the front-mounted electric motor to deliver power to the rear wheels.
Honda is setting up an electric vehicle (EV) production facility in Ohio, a move that underscores the automaker’s commitment to electrification.
Honda is committing a substantial investment of approximately ¥10 trillion ($93 billion) over a decade to accelerate its electric vehicle (EV) production capabilities. The company asserts it has already secured a “bullish perspective” on sourcing enough batteries to meet the production demands of two million electric vehicles annually by 2030, with plans to reduce the cost of domestically sourced batteries by 20% within that timeframe. The company is focusing intensely on achieving a 35% reduction in overall production costs.
Honda’s strategic expansion into two new plants in Ohio, with additional capacity on the way, combined with recent delays and slowdowns among other automakers, suggests that on its surface, it will likely surpass all but Tesla. By 2025, Honda anticipates significant growth in its U.S. The company will start production at its joint-venture battery plant with LG, initially featuring an annual capacity of 40 gigawatt-hours.
The new infrastructure will significantly support the production of Honda’s cutting-edge electric vehicles, specifically the innovative 0 Sequence models. By 2030, Honda intends to unveil a total of seven models in this series, boasting advancements such as streamlined body shells and upgraded powertrains – innovations born out of collaboration with Formula One racing teams and the company’s own hybrid vehicles. The company asserts that this design can reduce its overall weight by approximately 220 kilograms compared to previous Honda EV models.
Honda 0 Saloon idea
Honda has shared details on its future electric vehicle advancements with inexperienced automotive studies, as discussed during the platform’s unveiling at the two-zero sequence idea reveals in January. Honda has also discussed “posture management expertise” stemming from its robotics research in its most recent statement.
What this presentation lacks is a compelling case for a competitively priced Honda electric vehicle tailored to meet the needs of the American market. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe recently emphasized to inexperienced automotive researchers that achieving this goal may require significant advancements in battery technology, specifically highlighting the importance of such developments for making it a reality.
