Honda Plans to Go Electric by 2040

Honda currently sells the most fuel-efficient lineup of vehicles in the U.S., and the company says its vehicles collectively emit the fewest carbon dioxide emissions of any automaker. Honda was also the first to sell an electrified car in the U.S. market, the delightful original Insight in all of its 2-seat, teardrop-shaped beauty.

Lately, however, the automaker's electrification efforts seem comparatively tame in relation to other car companies' announcements. But this is not to say Honda hasn't done anything on this front: 

• Using its Clarity model series, Honda has been experimenting with battery electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) drive systems for years. 
• Several Acura models had an available 3-motor sport hybrid powertrain until this year. (For now, the company restricts it to the NSX sports car.)
• Incremental improvements to its 2-motor hybrid technology make models like the Accord Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid both lively to drive and fuel-efficient.
• In the short term, Honda is partnering with General Motors to develop BEVs using GM's new Ultium Drive technology.
• And who could forget the 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid or the Honda Fit EV?

Now, Honda is fully committing to electrification. The automaker officially announced the following plans to go electric:

• Its first volume BEVs, based on GM technology, arrive for the 2024 model year. Both are large vehicles. One will be a Honda, the other an Acura.
• Late this decade, Honda will debut a new E:Architecture electric vehicle platform. It will use solid-state battery technology. It will arrive in North America first, and then other global markets.
• By 2030, Honda expects 40% of its sales to be BEV and FCEV.
• By 2035, 80% of sales will be BEV and FCEV.
• By 2040, every car, truck, SUV, and minivan Honda and Acura sells will be a zero-emission electrified vehicle using BEV or FCEV technology.
• Honda will be a carbon-neutral company by 2050.

Honda also announced new safety initiatives that strive to eliminate fatalities for occupants of its automobiles and riders of its motorcycles by 2050. The automaker plans what it calls "omnidirectional" advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), expanding beyond its current Honda Sensing capabilities.

Recently, Honda became the first automaker to offer Level 3 ADAS approved for use on public roads. It is available only in the company's home market of Japan.

Honda is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on April 23, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.