- Honda’s personal mass-market EVs are taking kind, previewed in an Accord
- Sequence 0 EVs will likely be in-built Ohio beginning late 2025
- Sequence 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 totally different from the bottom up. It’s one in every of just some prototypes appearing as a growth proof level for the 0 Sequence platform, Honda’s devoted EV platform—with no GM enter—set to underpin seven totally different 0 Sequence EVs by 2030 globally. An Acura and Honda primarily based on the platform are each due for U.S. deliveries throughout the subsequent couple years.
Honda has confirmed {that a} yet-unnamed manufacturing mannequin primarily based 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 primarily based on the Efficiency EV Idea proven at Monterey Automobile 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 Sequence. 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 usually commonplace Accord. Apart 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 may 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 Sequence 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” depend, 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 at the same time as I purpose 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 Sequence 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 Sequence makes use of air-spring struts in entrance, with a multi-link setup for the rear, with these springs on a separate power path than the air suspension. The e-axle models, air suspension, and a stability system incorporating 3D gyro sensors from the corporate’s ASIMO robotic household—a world first—are all linked in order to react collectively.
Honda 0 Sequence platform
It comes all the way down to less complicated physics as nicely, and retaining 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 at the moment provided by OEM suppliers, serving to obtain a decrease profile. The profile of the battery pack—the product of 6,000-ton “megacasting” machines that will likely be put in in Ohio—has been decreased by the smaller pouch cells to be equipped by accomplice LG.
By reconceiving the physique construction across the priorities of offset collision forces and occupant safety, and benefiting from the higher-strength steels and lack of an engine below the hood, Honda has been capable of omit the crossbeams on the high of the cowl.
This frees up Honda to carry the hoodline decrease, making one thing near that very low, aerodynamic profile of the 0 Sequence Saloon idea a manufacturing actuality.
The super-low battery pack, slimmed-down e-axles, and lower-profile physique construction all assist 0 Sequence EVs—doubtless the manufacturing model of the Saloon—to be lower than 55 inches tall total.
Honda 0 Sequence EV platform
Questions like weight await the 0 Sequence
My takeaway, primarily based 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 growth engineer passenger informs me that my seating level is definitely a slight bit increased than that of the Accord, and vaguely confirms the plain—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 fundamental weight-related questions: what are the battery sizes of the primary 0 Sequence merchandise (two pack sizes are initially deliberate); what dimension pack is put in on this prototype; or about how a lot heavier it’s versus an Accord.
Provided that, it’s a stretch to leap to every other true takeaways fairly but, particularly when not every thing on this Accord prototype is from the Sequence 0 platform. These upcoming EVs may have a totally new steer-by-wire system, together with all of the redundancy wanted for future increased ranges of driver-assistance techniques. They’ll additionally get a reengineered regenerative braking system, which Honda stated wasn’t production-representative on this prototype.
Honda 0 Sequence EV platform
Honda 0 Sequence EV platform
Honda 0 Sequence EV platform
0 Sequence summons AI, bidirectional charging
Among the many options Honda goals to incorporate within the 0 Sequence fashions are a Summon function, in addition to one that may, with prolonged actuality (XR) tech—and a great deal of obtainable bandwidth, do you have to be fortunate—permit associates 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 planet to develop the applying of eyes-off features to all driving conditions.” Honda may also function a voice assistant customized to every person.
Honda didn’t particularly tout the 0 Sequence’ bidirectional charging capabilities, however it’s planning a sensible residence charging system to go together with these merchandise, enabling future V2H and V2G capabilities—so infer what you’ll concerning the rollout of such tech.
Honda Sequence 0 prototype (Accord)
0 Sequence EVs will begin in America
Though I traveled to Japan to get this early have a look at the 0 Sequence platform, Honda’s Ohio EV hub will likely 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, finally doubtlessly 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 the entire similar parts, Honda says.
Preliminary 0 Sequence fashions received’t be low-cost, and reasonably priced Honda EVs are farther off, Honda says. However primarily based on this primary style of what’s in retailer in these upcoming fashions—particularly a modern flagship—they could show to be the complete reset Honda wants, simply in time.
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Motor Authority accepted journey bills, lodging, and meals from Honda to be able to facilitate this report.
