In the passenger car market, there are many brands that consumers can choose from and Honda Malaysia is the brand that holds the first place for the passenger car market, in the non-local brand category. At their media event today, they announced their electrification plans in offering hybrid cars and also electric cars.
Currently, Honda has already offered hybrid / e:HEV cars through several models such as the CRV e:HEV, City e:HEV, Civic e:HEV and also HRV e:HEV. These models have already been on the road and have proven their performance in fuel economy, in addition to providing the performance that can be achieved through the use of electric motors. However, last year at the KLIMS 2024 event, Honda Malaysia began showcasing their electric car, the e:N1, for public viewing.
The Honda e:N1 is a fully electric car created based on the Honda HRV with the same design that can be seen from the rear door handle, all the way to the interior. If we refer to the model that has been sold in Indonesia, it has specifications such as an electric motor that can provide a maximum power of 150kW and a maximum torque of 310 Nm, allowing acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds with a maximum speed of 160 km/h.
In terms of charging, the Honda e:N1 sold in Indonesia has a range of around 410km WLTP resulting from a 68.8 kWh battery. However, it only supports DC charging of 78 kW, making the charging time 10%-80% in 45 minutes. However, it is different for AC, where 11kW charging requires around 6 hours for a full charge.
Sharing further, Honda Malaysia also stated that they will introduce up to 3 electric car models within 3 years, and the Honda e:N1 will most likely be launched this year. This is because they are confident in the local acceptance of their brand, and bringing in electric cars is a feasible move, especially with the government's plans to increase fuel prices and Honda's e:HEV hybrid car sales increasing. This growth pattern should encourage their electrification plan to introduce electric cars in Malaysia.