Thin, Light. Wise?

Honda was late to the electric car party.  It didn’t immediately try and compete with everything Tesla were doing back in 2017.

They took their time, studied what others were doing, and brought the might of Honda to the problem – engineering prowess combined with financial clout too.

Back in 2024 they applied their new EV mantra of thin, light, wise to every design.

Their battery cases were six percent lighter and thinner than rivals, but stronger.  To keep manufacturing costs down they were made from five parts rather than the 60 others used.

The improvements were everywhere.  Rather like the ‘marginal gains’ made popular by Sir David Brailsford in British cycling.

Inverters (needed for charging and controlling the motors) were 40% smaller.  Their motors had 17% less internal friction meaning 12 miles more range – meaning a smaller lighter battery, with a smaller case.

You get the idea.  They learned from everyone else and did it better.  Japanese engineering.

The Honda 0 series was a platform that could include many different cars.  Coupes, SUVs, 7 seaters, etc etc.  There was a huge factory to build all of these components and assemble this range.  The aim was to have 40 models based on this one platform.

Note the past tense.

Like Porsche with a 92% fall in profits, or VW closing factories and laying off workers, Honda has pulled on the handbrake on their electric dream.

Apparently they are writing off an £11.5bn investment in all of this.  As we know, people don’t seem to want more than 20% electric cars.  The other 80% is going to still be powered by petrol.  They have decided that is a better bet than trying to sell their new products.

They are not alone in this, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis are all slowing or cancelling their electric projects.  Porsche are retrofitting petrol engines in their new EV platforms.

What a mess.

The Chinese have taken over and nobody can compete.

How about a new mantra?  ‘Build what people want’ or perhaps ‘enjoy a peak car’

Thanks,
Neil @ Carrosserie
Tel: 01833 630 011

PS. Please get in touch to chat about your classic.