The automaker has big plans to build lighter, thinner, smarter electric cars
- Honda has outlined its electric vehicle vision, which includes dedicated platforms and innovative manufacturing technologies.
- The 0 series will adopt a “thin, light and smart” design and use advanced technology to improve efficiency.
- The company plans to launch seven 0 Series models globally by 2030, aiming to achieve significant growth in electric vehicle sales.
During Honda’s 2024 0 technology conference, the automaker laid out its roadmap for the future. Its new 0 series electric vehicles are designed around the concept of “thin, light and smart”. Here are the details on what that means, how Honda plans to play out, and what we can expect next.
Taking a closer look at Honda’s EV lineup, it’s clear that these products aren’t exactly powerful. The Prologue is based on General Motors, and while it offers decent range and a roomy interior, it can’t sustain the brand on its own amid fierce EV competition. Honda’s solution? The 0 Series, first and foremost, is a flagship car based on the wedge-shaped sedan concept shown at CES 2024.
More: Honda’s Wedge-Tastic Saloon concept hints at production electric car in 2026
However, Honda’s ambitions go far beyond a single model. By 2030, the brand plans to launch seven 0 Series models globally, five of which will be crossovers. The show will go into production in Ohio in 2025, using cutting-edge technology such as large-scale broadcasting to reduce production costs by 35%. By the end of the decade, the company aims to sell 750,000 electric vehicles in North America alone, becoming a major player in the electrification race.
A lighter, sportier driving experience
Today, we know a little more about what will be incorporated into the design of the production version. For example, Honda wants the 0 Series to have a “slim” design. It says this means the vehicle has short overhangs and a low overall height. Additionally, it hopes to include more cabin space at the same time.
These are features that most modern electric vehicles don’t have, as the battery pack not only takes up cabin space but also tends to add to the overall height. A prime example is the new electric BMW 5 Series, which uses visual tricks like dark side skirts to make the car appear lower than it actually is.
Honda also wants this new range to be lightweight. This means it’s both sporty and very efficient. These features complement each other, as lighter cars often feel more agile to drive. Honda credits its new EV-specific platform with making this possible. Part of the magic lies in the newly developed electronic axis, whose inverter is 40% smaller than previous versions.
The new battery casing is also 6% thinner and integrated into the body structure for safety. Steer-by-wire technology is another key element that improves packaging and furthers the brand’s efficiency goals. On top of that, Honda is integrating active aerodynamics to reduce drag and extend range.
In addition to these innovations, Honda is also increasing its efforts in the field of autonomous driving. It plans to introduce “eyes-free” Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities to the 0 Series lineup. The technology allows drivers to take their attention off the road under certain conditions, competing with Tesla’s Autopilot feature. This leads to Honda’s third pillar – “wisdom.”
The wisdom here is not just to learn from the past, but to ensure that the vehicle becomes “smarter” over time. Honda will develop its own in-vehicle OS (operating system), and then strive to provide customers with a new mobile experience by applying smart technologies optimized for each customer based on the advancement of Internet technology.
More: 2026 Honda Prelude could combine manual transmission with hybrid power
Even after purchase, Honda plans to continuously enhance vehicle functionality through over-the-air (OTA) updates. This means that each 0 Series vehicle will continue to evolve, become more refined and optimized over time, making the vehicle even more of a dynamic, living product.
New concept unveiled at CES 2025
By 2030, all these features will be integrated into a total of seven Honda 0 Series models globally. What’s next? We expect to see the debut of one of these new models at CES 2025. While the company has yet to reveal specific details, it said “the new model will embody the technology and electrification concepts launched in 2025 in product form”. Honda 0 Technical Conference”.
Can Honda really pull this off and become a significant player in the EV market? Only time will tell, but let’s wait and see all of this as real breakthroughs until we can push a real product.
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