(Credit: Honda)
Though it's taken Honda a few more years to launch an EV than competitors like Ford, Toyota, and GM, the time has finally come.
In 2024, the automaker will debut three zero-emission vehicles. The first two are battery powered, the Honda Prologue SUV and Acura ZDX SUV. The third is a fuel cell version of the popular CR-V. Honda will also launch a hybrid version of the Civic, which it expects to be 40% of all Civic sales when it debuts this summer.
The Prologue EV has a 300-mile range and runs on an Ultium battery pack, built by General Motors. It will go on sale in the "coming months," Honda says, starting with California and other "battery electric vehicle (BEV)-friendly markets like Texas and Florida."
That's the first time Honda has communicated a plan to limit the launch to just a few areas. It's no surprise they're all warm weather states, especially after what EV drivers in cold states experienced this winter. A nationwide rollout will follow, Honda says, perhaps after it's gained confidence from sales in the initial markets.
Honda has yet to confirm the Prologue's final price, though it expects it will be in the "upper $40,000s." It will also come with a few charging incentives for drivers to choose from, including hundreds of dollars in free charging credits, as well as free home charger installation.
Acura, owned by Honda, will also begin sales of its first EV this year, the all-electric ZDX SUV. It's expected to be more expensive than the Honda Prologue, starting around $60,000 with a maximum 325-mile range, according to the Acura website, where interested buyers can currently reserve one for a $1,000 refundable deposit.
For the first time, Acura will use a 100% online sales model for the vehicle, which opens in February. Newer EV companies like Tesla and Rivian also take 100% of orders online, and legacy automakers like Ford have also started to do the same for newer EVs while they gauge demand and ramp up production.
In addition to these two battery-powered vehicles, Honda is distinguishing itself from other brands with the launch of a new fuel cell vehicle (FCEV), a hydrogen-powered CR-V. It co-developed the fuel cell system with GM, which it says costs a third of the system that powered the now-discontinued Honda Clarity FCEV. Honda has not released photos of the CR-V FCEV.
Fuel cell refueling infrastructure is currently concentrated in California, which is why Toyota only sells its Mirai FCEV there. But Honda has an interesting new way to broaden the CR-V FCEV's appeal. It's adding a plug-in feature, which drivers can use to charge the battery if a hydrogen station isn't nearby.
"Based on Honda's most popular model, the new CR-V FCEV also will mark North America's first production vehicle to combine a plug-in feature with FCEV technology in one model," Honda says.
Not ready to experiment with fuel cell, or even a full EV? Honda is also adding a hybrid version of the Civic, which will come in a sedan and hatchback version. We don't know the price yet, but if it keeps the relatively low cost of today's Civics, it should be a compelling option for budget buyers who can now save even more on gas.
Honda's EV plans extend past 2024 as well, with a brand new lineup coming in 2026. Dubbed the "0 Series," the vehicles will ditch the GM-built battery found in the Prologue, and instead use new packs assembled in Ohio through a joint venture with LG. The 0 Series vehicles will also sport a new logo ("H" mark), and the models that launch in the late-2020s or early 2030s will charge in 10-15 minutes.