Honda Malaysia has gone all in on hybrid know-how, having offered locally-assembled petrol-electric fashions on our shores since 2012. The firm continues to supply these vehicles within the type of the City e:HEV RS, which can achieve a hatchback variant early subsequent 12 months.
What it hasn’t finished is introduce any fully-electric fashions, and it appears to remain that method a minimum of within the subsequent few years. During a press convention after the launch of the City Hatchback right now, Honda Malaysia mentioned that it’s sticking to hybrid vehicles in the meanwhile as a part of its electrification technique. “At the moment we feel that hybrids [are the way to go for] electrification and we are focusing on hybrid models in the near future,” mentioned govt coordinator Yujiro Sugino.
President and COO Sarly Adle Sarkum appeared to hedge these feedback, saying that the latest timing of the federal government’s proposal to eliminate all taxes and duties on electric vehicles hasn’t given the corporate sufficient time to formulate an electrical automobile technique for the market.
“The government policy has just been released [and] it’s still in [its infancy],” mentioned president and COO Sarly Adle Sarkum. “It’s not that we’re not taking the plunge, but we’re looking closely [at everything], including official details. Now, we’re following up with the government to see if there are any opportunities that we can take action on moving forward.”
At the second, Honda sells only one electrical automobile globally, the Honda e. The five-door hatchback is only available in Japan and Europe and is positioned as a modern city runabout, providing a variety of solely 222 km on the WLTP cycle. Buyers get a selection of both 100 kW (136 PS) or 113 kW (154 PS) from the one electrical motor, which produces 315 Nm of torque and is juiced by a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Although the e isn’t being introduced in by official means by Honda Malaysia, you may buy one via grey importer Weststar Motors. Mind you, it isn’t low-cost – a UK-spec top-of-the-range Advance mannequin just lately offered for RM210,000. Although the worth will certainly come down with zero taxes and duties, the e would nonetheless have a tough time competing with the recently-launched Hyundai Kona Electric and the forthcoming Ora Good Cat – each of which have vastly superior vary figures at enticing costs.
More spectacular from a variety standpoint are the e:NS1 and e:NP1. Based on the brand new third-generation HR-V, these B-segment crossovers are claimed to have the ability to journey a large 500 km between costs. These automobiles, nevertheless, will solely be provided in China and are unlikely to be offered outdoors of the Middle Kingdom.
At the very least, Honda’s e:HEV hybrid know-how is as shut as you may get to an electrical automobile with out ditching the inner combustion engine fully. The electrical motor powers the automobile more often than not, drawing power from a petrol-powered generator. The latter solely drives the wheels straight at increased speeds (the place it’s most effective) or when helping the motor below arduous acceleration.
The tech permits customers to expertise the texture of driving a full electrical automobile with out vary anxiousness. Expect it to make its method to extra fashions in Malaysia, together with the forthcoming new Civic and HR-V (actually, the latter can solely be had as a hybrid in Thailand).
