Posted on 01/09/2024 9:22:11 PM PST by Red Badger
Honda is launching a new series of EVs called the "0 Series" with two concepts: a van-like vehicle called the Space-Hub and a sleeker but still funky family car called the Saloon. "Saloon" may be European for sedan but instead of a traditional three-box car, Honda's Saloon is a big, wedge-shaped thing. Debuting at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show, don't think it's just another one of those concepts that'll never see a real street because Honda has confirmed that the Saloon will become a production model in North America in 2026.
Intended as the flagship of the 0 Series, the Saloon sits on a dedicated EV platform. Designed to be spacious, low, and wide, it uses sustainable materials throughout, an interior that continues Honda's tradition of ease of use, and new steer-by-wire and "motion control management" systems. The seats feature posture control that uses learnings from Honda's experience in robotics while aero is said to use learnings from the company's racing expertise, including Formula 1.
The Space-Hub, on the other hand, is more utilitarian, aiming to be a sort of living room on wheels—the "hub" in its name alludes to a social hub, a place for people to gather. Its ethos is, per Honda, to "augment people's daily lives."
As for the 0 Series of EVs as a whole, the "0" refers to Honda's aim to build EVs "based on thin, light, and wise" in contrast to the big and heavy vibe that characterizes most existing EVs. This philosophy is said to use a dedicated "thin" EV platform that allows for a low floor and better aero. Honda is even trotting out a new frameless, minimalist H logo that visually drives this vibe home to be used on electrified Hondas in the future.
EVs in the 0 Series will be created using a new design and engineering approach from both previous Honda products and other, competing EVs. Technical details are scant for now, but Honda says vehicles will use high-density batteries designed to minimize long-term degradation. Specifically, the company is aiming to minimize battery capacity degradation to less than 10% after 10 years of use. At the same time, charging should be quick, with Honda claiming 15 to 80% fast charging on late-2020s production models that'll be 10 to 15 minutes quicker than it typically takes today.
The Honda Saloon, top left, and Space-Hub concepts on the CES show floor. Chris Tsui Naturally, 0 Series EVs will be powered by electric motors on each axle that maximize power and efficiency while being lightweight. As for other details that should make you go "duh," the cars will feature next-gen ADAS functions as well as an onboard operating system that uses AI to learn occupants' habits.
Other details such as pricing, range, and final design (we'll be damned if those touchscreen seatbacks actually become a reality) remain a mystery, but given the Saloon's 2026 release date, it likely won't be long before we start learning more about the future of electric Hondas.
It’s ugly
Is there some rule that EV’s have to be butt ugly?
It’s a law....................
The space hub is the 5,964th iteration of the “vehicle as a box with wheels” concept.
CC
I’ve seen much worse!.................
EVs will be on the way out before this makes the showroom floor.
Anyone looking at buying owes it to themselves to look at the Hyundai SUV line. Only the engine is built in Korea. The rest is all USA labor. The Sorento x-line is awesome. Even better is the Telluride.
Who cares?!
When you're sitting inside, you can't see how "ugly" it might be.
Then park it, and go away.
All I want to do is get from Point A to Point B as efficiently, comfortably, and affordably as possible. The possibility that onlookers might find my conveyance unattractive simply doesn't factor into my decision.
Regards,
Nice. Push the envelope. But we won’t be able to own those cars in the future, yet we still have to share the country with 40 million turd worlders/hominids/mongrels with 78 IQ.
Huh? Star Wars vehicles always looked somewhat clunky, bolted-together and non-streamlined to me. This looks more like something from Tron.
Wonder if the auto industry will develop an EV version of the Pinto? It could catch on fire even if not rear-ended!
Since they refuse to construct more generation of electricity, it reinforces their ultimate goal of control. Controlling travel will be easy when you can’t charge a ‘mandatory’ EV.
Their scam of solar and wind power is failing. Several wind companies have declined to make offshore wind farms, off the shores of New York and New Jersey. One of these companies was promised billions in taxpayer dollars. They still stated it would not be economically viable.
We have only drilled a few miles into the Earth. We have thousands of years of hydrocarbons under our feet. Inexpensive and abundant energy equals more freedom, and democRATS hate free people making free choices.
I agree large scale wind and solar projects are failing due to corruption and a forcing of outcomes that our level of knowledge in those fields is not mature enough to support. We might get there in time but pie in the sky enviro weenies
insisting that we meet very unrealistic performance deadlines for pollution and “carbon control” ect, risk strangling promising new tech in its crib!
Smaller scale wind and solar works well, expecially for standalone stations and off grid living surprisingly well as long as certain expectations are managed. Froget about dishwashers and washing machines...but one might utilize smaller refrigeration boxes for small amounts of periishables and medicines. Solar and reasonable sized battery banks might handle the lighting in many houses given the enormouse efficiencies of led lighting. Charging of phones and other hand held devices could be charged by solar. Small shoe boxed sized wind turbines could be used in automotive uses in hybrids cars to augnebt power for the batteries and they are already used in off grid applications where breezes abound. Batteries and Storage are the big chokepoint where the science isn’t totally there yet. If the politicians keep pushing...it will never get there!
Sorento and Telluride are Kia, not Hyundai. Dizygotic twins. And I just bought a Kia Sorento, non-X-line, pretty maxed out on options, except no HUD. Final assembly, West Point GA.
And to clarify, Kia and Hyundai are the dizygotic twins. To get into details, Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are twins at the top of the model lineup. Too big for me, I didn’t need something quite that big. Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe are twins one down, size wise. That’s what worked for me.
It’s not the dishwasher and fridge that are the weak points. The 3 main improvements I had to make to the house are: AC/heat (now have a variable speed heat pump), water heater (now have a hybrid water heater with custom duct work to optimize the air going to and from the water heater), and how we charge the EV (charge it to 80% if we have free solar power, 60% will do if power has to be pulled from grid). Those are the three main energy hog battles in the home I have to win to achieve almost energy self-reliance to insulate my retirement finances from the Dims’ stupid warmageddon energy policies.
What is it that you use for energy storage?
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