Honda’s mysterious EV concept for the Los Angeles Motorshow turned out to be this, the Fit EV. The Fit is a five-seater hatchback suitable for daily urban commuting, and by introducing this concept Honda turns it into an even more suitable urban commuter by giving it a full electric powertrain.
When the Honda Fit EV production model is introduced, it will be powered by a lithium-ion battery and coaxial electric motor.
The high-density motor, derived from the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle, delivers excellent efficiency and power while remaining quiet at high speeds. The Honda Fit EV will have a top speed of 90 mph. Again, these are the qualities you need for the city driving.
And as for the range, it delivers an estimated 100-mile driving range per charge using the US EPA LA4 city cycle (70 miles when applying EPA’s adjustment factor).
The car has the same innovative 3-mode electric drive system as the Honda CR-Z. The system allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal, and Sport to instantly and seamlessly change the driving experience to maximize efficiency or improve acceleration. While in Econ mode, practical driving range can increase by as much as 17 percent, compared to driving in Normal mode, and up to 25 percent compared to driving in Sport mode.
The Fit Hybrid also has a system that will tell the driver when to shut off air conditioning and other accessories to conserve battery power. That’s the problem with electric cars, they limit your freedom!
The Honda Fit EV will have a standard connectivity system that allows the driver to stay connected through a smartphone and personal computer, or the Honda-exclusive interactive remote. Through the connectivity system, drivers will be able to remotely view the vehicle’s state of charge, initiate charging and activate the air conditioning, even while connected to the grid, to reduce the drain on the battery at start-up.
One more useful feature is the standard Honda Satellite Linked Navigation System that includes a public charging-station locator capability.
But the main problem of the EVs which is the battery recharging exist in the Fit as well. This time consuming procedure takes 12 hours when using a conventional 120-volt outlet, and less than six hours when using a 240-volt outlet.
The picture below shows a prototype Honda charging stand. To begin charging, the driver swipes a card in front of the screen and then connects the charger to the vehicle. The Honda charging stand provides a glimpse at the future of an electric-charging infrastructure that is easy to use and intuitive for consumers.
