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Honda EV Plus, launched almost 30 years ago, had a range of 130 km and was limited to 300 units
A Honda Honda Motor Co. is known for its long-term vision in sustainability and innovation, especially when it comes to alternative fuels. But while many associate these models with Honda’s path towards clean mobility, few know that this journey began much earlier, with the EV Plus, a small electric city car launched in California in the 90s.
The Birth of Honda's EV Plus
It all started when the Air Resource Board of California distributed environmental regulations requiring that at least 2% of cars sold be emission-neutral vehicles zero. In response, Honda developed the EV Plus, one of the first all-electric cars to hit the streets of California.
It was launched in 1997, and at the time, it already had innovative features such as regenerative braking, an efficient heating and air conditioning system and even a thermal windshield.
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For most people, these features are commonplace in today’s electric cars, but more than two decades ago, they represented the future. The EV Plus featured a 66-horsepower electric motor, which was impressive for a compact car from the 90s.
Its reach also caught attention: With a 28,7 kWh battery, it could travel between 100 km and 130 km, something revolutionary for the time. Testing the model on the streets and highways of Southern California further confirmed its efficiency, revealing a range of 170 km in the city.
A car ahead of its time
Imagine the scenario: an all-electric car, at a time when the standard was still the combustion engine. The EV Plus was equipped with a 240 V charger that, amazingly, charged the battery to 80% in just two hours – practically a “modern” feat in the 90s.
Of course, for those who depended on the conventional 120 V socket, the story was different; charging could take up to a whole day.
But despite all this innovation, the EV Plus was a niche product, and few had the opportunity to drive it. Honda offered the model only on a lease basis at a cost of $455 per month, and the estimated total price was around US $ 54.000.
Plus, there was the issue of the battery: it would need to be replaced every three years, at a cost of approximately US $ 20.000, which would make its maintenance economically unfeasible.
The Legacy of EV Plus
The story of the EV Plus didn’t end well for the few who opted for this pioneer. After the leases ended, Honda repossessed all the cars and, unfortunately, destroyed most of them. Still, the EV Plus left an important legacy. It marked the beginning of an era, inspiring technologies and standards that we see in today’s electric cars.
Motor1’s passionate writer Victoria Scott recently had the opportunity to explore one of the last remaining EV Pluss at Honda’s California museum. Her visit reminds us of just how ahead of its time the EV Plus was and the impact it had on Honda’s journey toward electrification.
If you’re an electric vehicle enthusiast or just curious about what it took to get to where we are today, it’s worth checking out Victoria’s in-depth video to learn a little more about this forgotten pioneer.
The EV Plus may not have been a commercial success, but its importance in the development of electric cars is undeniable. It paved the way for the hybrid and electric models that came later and that are now part of our daily lives.
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