- Credit: Honda Press Room

5 reasons why I am actually excited for the Honda Urban EV Concept

As a petrolhead, I am actually excited for once.

3y ago
4.5K

A couple of days ago, we received news that Shell - the oil giant is actually investing in making electric cars accessible for everyone. Being a petrolhead, I never thought this is a good thing. It would mean that even the big oil company is thinking that electric is the way forward.

Credit: Honda Press Room

Credit: Honda Press Room

Then I remembered that this little thing exists. The Honda Urban EV Concept, debuted a couple years back in the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Honda is now admitting that they will be putting this cute little thing into production, and accepting pre-orders from early 2019 - which is not exactly a million miles from now on.

The combination of both of the news got me very excited. Here's why.

1. It's looks!

Credit: Honda Press Room

Credit: Honda Press Room

In the modern days, where cars have to have endlessly complicated designs, numerous lines along the side and many vents and stuff on the face of the car. The Honda Urban EV Concept is a refreshing and retro design, that pleases me a lot.

Looks determine the character of the car, and I think the Urban EV Concept just screams cute for me. And I want a city car to be cute. If you walk out of your house, and see this car, every single of your life problems would be gone. Just look at it! I absolutely love it!

The front end of the Concept reminds me a lot of the Honda Z600 and the equally brilliant second-gen Civic for some reason, just something about that front end, they look extremely similar. With the round headlights and the very simple lines, it reminds me of the old simple days of car design. And the whole design of the Concept just screams happy to me, and I like that a lot.

2. It's an actual city car for once

Credit: Honda Press Room

Credit: Honda Press Room

You know how the world have brought out many cars over the past couple of decades, and claimed to be city cars? Like the Smart car for example. It's dinky, it's easy to park. Yet it only sits two. The new Mini, too, isn't what you call 'Mini' is it? What makes the Smart car utterly stupid, is that it only does 40-odd mpg, which is intolerable for a city car. The Mini too, is not economical at all!

Yes you might argue that EV cars are no greener than normal cars. But you can't argue that they don't emit any emissions from their tailpipes, and their instant torque from 0 rpm makes them absolutely perfect for the cities, like the Honda for example. I find it alright for a city car. Plus it actually seats four! Which is a bonus, unlike the fake ones...

3. It's perfect for it's purpose

Credit: Honda Press Room

Credit: Honda Press Room

The whole purpose of the Honda Urban EV Concept is to bring electric cars to the masses. And I think that it succeeds in that respect. Sure you might think that Tesla is already doing that - but is it really what you call affordable? I don't think so. And it's absolutely cheap quality inside doesn't make you feel dependable. The leather inside really needs improving, and the panel gaps are horrendous. My Dad calls it shenanigans, and I totally agree with him.

Although we don't know what the price for the Honda is going to be, however by the looks of it, it's going to be around the Renault Zoe range. And I'm perfectly fine about it.

4. It represents a whole new era from Honda

Credit: Honda Press Room

Credit: Honda Press Room

Since the nineties, we have always tagged Honda as the company that makes 'fun car'. However since the S2000, I think Honda lost its ways. The new Civic Type R is alright, but could be better, and the lack the VTEC punch doesn't excite me. The new NSX is way too expensive, and way too slow to beat anything like a GT-R or a 911 Turbo. The Honda we know and love is just gone.

However, with the Urban EV Concept, I think Honda is back. In a world that thinks that electric cars is the way forward, I think Honda have proved that EV cars can be fun. Forget Teslas with it's 0-60 times, and the Leaf with it's quirky looks, the Honda just screams funky to me. And I like that. I found the essence that Honda left behind in the nineties, if that makes sense. The Honda that we know and love is back, and it's different, yet the same.

5. Shell is making the whole experience slightly better

Credit: https://hiveminer.com/Tags/hamburg%2Ctanken

Credit: https://hiveminer.com/Tags/hamburg%2Ctanken

The news of Shell investing in battery-swapping technology just makes the whole experience for me in my opinion. For the longest of times, we have always think that electric cars would need a long time to charge. But what Shell is investing into, is very clever.

Think the old-school phones. Your Nokia 3310 for example. You'd always buy a few batteries for that, because chances are you're going to use up the entire battery one day. What would you do next if you ran out? You swap in a fully-charged one.

Shell is investing into swapping car batteries out altogether. It's a biggie I know, and many different companies have found it not financially feasible. But hear me out - the days are going to come, when you run out of juice in your electric cars, and you pop in one of the 'petrol stations' to swap out your dead battery.

Credit: Honda Press Room

Credit: Honda Press Room

And I completely forgot to mention the Sports EV Concept. As much as I hate to say this, but the future for EV-only cars is good.

And for once, I'm actually looking forward to it.

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Comments (17)

  • It looks like the perfect car for teenagers and twenty year olds to buy as their first electric or outright car

      3 years ago
  • For cities the electric car makes the most sense of all. Long distance not too sure yet

      3 years ago
    • It's still not quite there yet electric cars, but I'm sure Shell can make something happen

        3 years ago
    • That sounds interesting

        3 years ago
  • Dude 3310s battery lasts much longer than average art phone today...

      3 years ago
  • Front headlamps/screen look like the classic VW GTI

      3 years ago
  • Interesting read, Sunny.

      3 years ago
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