Honda N-ONE e Sub-Compact EV Revealed

The new Honda N-ONE e is a tiny electric hatchback which sits within Japan’s “kei car” category, which includes ultra-compact vehicles engineered to meet strict limits on dimensions and engine output. 

In exchange, owners enjoy lower taxes and insurance. Perfectly suited to tight urban streets, kei cars account for about 40% of Japan’s new-car market.

Honda dominates this space with the N-Box, Japan’s best-selling vehicle. Now, with the N-ONE e (its first electric passenger kei), Honda aims to extend that leadership into the EV era.

Battery, Range and Urban Focus

Based on the retro-styled, petrol-powered N-ONE hatchback, the electric version is tailored for city life. It uses a 29.6 kWh battery, shared with the N-VAN e, which is a commercial model. 

Honda claims up to 295 km on a single charge, which is an impressive figure for this class and comfortably enough for daily commuting and errands.

Interestingly, that quoted range eclipses the Nissan Sakura, currently Japan’s most popular EV, which offers around 180 km. By delivering over 100 km more, Honda directly targets range anxiety, a key barrier for potential kei-EV buyers.

Smart Packaging Preserves Space

Honda claims that a core engineering challenge with this car was fitting the electric drivetrain without sacrificing the signature interior room that kei buyers expect. 

Its solution is a specially developed, thinner battery pack mounted flat beneath the floor, maintaining the generous cabin and practical cargo space typical of the N-series.

The N-ONE e: goes on sale in Japan on 12 September, entering an increasingly competitive mini-EV arena. Beyond Nissan, global EV heavyweight BYD and domestic giant Toyota are preparing their own compact, budget-friendly electric offerings. 

For now, though, Honda’s cut-price city EV remains a Japan-exclusive proposition. Although, a car like this could potentially do pretty well in India, given it is priced competitively here. 

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