- Honda’s personal mass-market EVs are taking kind, previewed in an Accord
- Collection 0 EVs can be in-built Ohio beginning late 2025
- Collection 0 has been designed from the beginning for lighter weight and decrease rooflines
The Honda Accord sedan I’m piloting round a small course on the automaker’s Tochigi, Japan, R&D facility accelerates faster and corners flatter than any Accord I’ve ever been in. It’s additionally the quietest.
Whereas this can be Honda’s midsize mainstay in look, it’s one thing very completely different from the bottom up. It’s considered one of just some prototypes performing as a improvement proof level for the 0 Collection platform, Honda’s devoted EV platform—with no GM enter—set to underpin seven completely different 0 Collection EVs by 2030 globally. An Acura and Honda based mostly on the platform are each due for U.S. deliveries throughout the subsequent couple years.
Honda has confirmed {that a} yet-unnamed manufacturing mannequin based mostly on the Saloon idea, which itself is sized within the neighborhood of the Accord, will arrive in 2026. It’s additionally confirmed that an Acura EV based mostly on the Efficiency EV Idea proven at Monterey Automotive Week in August is headed to manufacturing in late 2025 and should technically be the primary of the brand new collection produced.
Honda Saloon EV idea
Whereas that Acura idea follows a rakish “crossover coupe” look that impresses as an evolution of what that luxurious model has proven earlier than, the Honda Saloon idea itself is seen because the poster automobile of the 0 Collection. It’s additionally the talisman of a brand new Honda, refocused for the age of EVs.
Inside, the interface of this harbinger in hiding is generally customary Accord. Aside from a skinny instrument display fitted above the steering wheel, there’s no signal of the unique Saloon idea automobile’s yoke-like steering wheel or huge display area.
Simply seconds earlier than, a brief distance into the preliminary straight of a brief street course, I’d famous that the accelerator is tuned linearly. A deeper prod faucets into propulsion Honda would possibly beforehand have reserved for the NSX hybrid sports activities automobile. As I roll again on with my proper foot on the similar straight a second time, I’m pinned again with Gs that felt proper on par with the quickest mainstream AWD EVs—all besides these with the likes of Plaid, Efficiency, or N badging.
Honda Collection 0 prototype (Accord)
After getting a way of the flat cornering across the again, my development-engineer passenger provides me the nod to peg it somewhat longer, and earlier than I get to a quiet “four-one-thousand” rely, I hit someplace round 75 mph, earlier than braking rapidly for the tight left-hander on the finish of it.
The sounds and sensations coming from beneath don’t really feel like these from a cobbled-together prototype. I hear no considerable motor or gear whine, and torque supply from the motors (every at 241 hp, mounted entrance and rear right here) is vibration-free. Physique management feels in sync with the instantaneous torque supply from the electrical motors, and whilst I intention to impress the physique out of line, the motor controls, stability system, and suspension all really feel like they’re working collectively as a unified piece.
0 Collection provides as much as greater than a 480-hp Accord EV
That’s proper; the suspension is a key side right here. To place it bluntly, it is a near-500-hp electrical Accord with an air suspension—and a few further weight, which I’ll get to later. However the way in which every thing performs collectively, you wouldn’t realize it.
The 0 Collection makes use of air-spring struts in entrance, with a multi-link setup for the rear, with these springs on a separate pressure path than the air suspension. The e-axle items, air suspension, and a stability system incorporating 3D gyro sensors from the corporate’s ASIMO robotic household—a world first—are all related in order to react collectively.
Honda 0 Collection platform
It comes right down to easier physics as effectively, and holding weight low and close to the middle of the automobile as a lot as attainable. For instance, newly developed compact e-axles have an inverter that’s about 40% smaller than these presently supplied by OEM suppliers, serving to obtain a decrease profile. The profile of the battery pack—the product of 6,000-ton “megacasting” machines that can be put in in Ohio—has been lowered by the smaller pouch cells to be provided by associate LG.
By reconceiving the physique construction across the priorities of offset collision forces and occupant safety, and making the most of the higher-strength steels and lack of an engine below the hood, Honda has been capable of omit the crossbeams on the prime of the cowl.
This frees up Honda to deliver the hoodline decrease, making one thing near that very low, aerodynamic profile of the 0 Collection Saloon idea a manufacturing actuality.
The super-low battery pack, slimmed-down e-axles, and lower-profile physique construction all assist 0 Collection EVs—probably the manufacturing model of the Saloon—to be lower than 55 inches tall general.
Honda 0 Collection EV platform
Questions like weight await the 0 Collection
My takeaway, based mostly on the way in which this particular Accord delivers its energy, corners, and maintains its pose, is that it feels each decrease and extra assured and “glued to the street” than an Accord. My improvement engineer passenger informs me that my seating level is definitely a slight bit greater than that of the Accord, and vaguely confirms the apparent—that it’s certainly heavier than an Accord.
Regardless of my greatest efforts to reframe and rephrase questions in numerous methods to get a ballpark reply, Honda wouldn’t but reveal some primary weight-related questions: what are the battery sizes of the primary 0 Collection merchandise (two pack sizes are initially deliberate); what measurement pack is put in on this prototype; or about how a lot heavier it’s versus an Accord.
On condition that, it’s a stretch to leap to another true takeaways fairly but, particularly when not every thing on this Accord prototype is from the Collection 0 platform. These upcoming EVs can have a totally new steer-by-wire system, together with all of the redundancy wanted for future greater ranges of driver-assistance methods. They’ll additionally get a reengineered regenerative braking system, which Honda stated wasn’t production-representative on this prototype.
Honda 0 Collection EV platform
Honda 0 Collection EV platform
Honda 0 Collection EV platform
0 Collection summons AI, bidirectional charging
Among the many options Honda goals to incorporate within the 0 Collection fashions are a Summon characteristic, in addition to one that may, with prolonged actuality (XR) tech—and a great deal of accessible bandwidth, must you be fortunate—enable buddies or household to nearly journey alongside. It additionally guarantees common over-the-air software program updates, and is contemplating plans to supply purchases and options over-the-air.
The automaker plans to include studying functionality for its assisted-driving system from U.S.-based Helm.AI, and it says that it “will try to be the primary firm on the earth to develop the appliance of eyes-off features to all driving conditions.” Honda will even characteristic a voice assistant customized to every person.
Honda didn’t particularly tout the 0 Collection’ bidirectional charging capabilities, but it surely’s planning a wise residence charging system to go along with these merchandise, enabling future V2H and V2G capabilities—so infer what you’ll concerning the rollout of such tech.
Honda Collection 0 prototype (Accord)
0 Collection EVs will begin in America
Though I traveled to Japan to get this early take a look at the 0 Collection platform, Honda’s Ohio EV hub can be on the core of its manufacturing—and so will manufacturing flexibility of those fashions with gasoline autos, all on the identical line.
Honda has a battery three way partnership with LG there, ultimately probably reaching 40 gigawatt-hours yearly. That’s sufficient for a whole bunch of hundreds of long-range EVs yearly. Sony’s Afeela model EVs will share the platform however not all the similar parts, Honda says.
Preliminary 0 Collection fashions received’t be low-cost, and inexpensive Honda EVs are farther off, Honda says. However based mostly on this primary style of what’s in retailer in these upcoming fashions—particularly a smooth flagship—they could show to be the total reset Honda wants, simply in time.
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Motor Authority accepted journey bills, lodging, and meals from Honda with a purpose to facilitate this report.
