Honda N-Van e: the new electric Kei Car from the Japanese manufacturer

The transition to electric mobility is driving a notable boom in Japan for the so-called Kei Cars: vehicles of such small dimensions that they would be impossible to see anywhere else in the world. The country’s main manufacturers already offer some of these vehicles with an electric propulsion system and, obviously, Honda was not going to be the exception.

The Japanese manufacturer has just presented the electric version of its popular N-Van, keeping the main features of the combustion-engine model but now being able to display the “Zero Emissions” label. The new electric Kei Car from Honda will be on display at the end of this October during the Japan Mobility Show 2023 and will go on sale in the Japanese market next spring.

Regarding its technical specifications, Honda states that it will offer a range of more than 210 km. A figure more than sufficient to make the vast majority of urban journeys, and even the occasional trip outside the city. The Japanese manufacturer has not revealed, however, the capacity of the battery pack it integrates.

Charging can be done with alternating current at a maximum power of 6 kW, which will take around five hours. It is also possible to use fast DC charging points; in that case the maximum supported power will be 50 kW and half an hour will be needed to raise the battery charge from 10 to 80 percent. Honda also highlights that its new electric Kei Car also offers bidirectional V2L charging, making it possible to connect any electrical device requiring a maximum power of 1.5 kW.

Tailored to the needs of each Japanese customer

Honda will offer three different versions of its N-Van e, one of them equipped with only two seats to maximise the loading area. The other two will have seats for four passengers, which can also be folded to increase the space available for luggage. The Japanese manufacturer states that the cargo version can carry up to 350 kg, while in the other two versions this figure drops to 300 kg, while also carrying a couple of adults.

Despite its small dimensions, the N-Van e will feature an extensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The Honda Connect system will allow access to some vehicle functions remotely via smartphone, and safety equipment is also not lacking, such as curtain airbags in addition to the front ones.

Although the price of the Honda N-Van e is still unknown, the Japanese manufacturer announced last year that its intention was for it not to exceed the one-million-yen barrier, about 6,350 euros.