Before Honda pulls the sheet off a new EV model in its new 0 Series lineup in 2025, it invited us out to Japan to take a peak behind the curtain at its global R&D center, production facilities, and some other cool spots to share insight on the technology it’s looking to implement in future 0 models. We also were one of the first in the world to test drive Honda’s new 0 Series EV architecture.

Honda’s 0 Series is beginning to take shape

As you’ll learn below, there is still a lot we don’t know about the technology we will see in Honda’s future all-electric 0 Series lineup. However, what we have learned is encouraging and exciting from a Japanese automaker that has been a bit late to the BEV party.

Honda unveiled plans for its new 0 Series in Las Vegas during CES 2024, where it unveiled two initial concept cars it said would serve as precursors to production models for the global market. That unveiling included the “Space Hub” being developed under the idea of “augmenting people’s daily lives,” and the “Saloon” (seen above and below” it describes as its flagship concept to its 0 Series design language.

At that time, we learned Honda’s first passenger EV, the 0 Series, will be based on the Saloon concept and is expected to hit the North American market in 2026. We are unsure exactly how the production model will differ from the radical and sleek-looking Saloon. Still, after spending a week in Japan with Honda, we have a better idea of what sort of technology and production techniques the innovative OEM is looking to implement.

Much of it is encouraging, and some of it is downright impressive, but many questions remain about which of the technologies introduced to the media will make their way into 0 Series EVs and when. Still, there’s a lot of cool stuff to unpack here, so let’s dig in.

Honda introduced a slew of new EV tech in the works

To better understand the technology that went into Honda’s nascent lineup of BEV models in development, the company invited several media from around the world, including Electrek, to a Honda 0 Tech Meeting, held at its Global Plaza in Tochigi, Japan, about 140 km north of Tokyo.

During the meeting, we saw a presentation led by Honda Motor Co. director, president, and CEO Toshihiro Mibe and Toshihiro Akiwa, the vice president and head of BEV development. Here, the Honda executives broke down several new ideas generated for the 0 series, a name that represents a fresh start and a new generation of vehicles for the all-electric era.

Design and development are centered around three core beliefs – “Thin, light, and wise,” which are at the center of Honda’s new dedicated EV platform that will help it deliver thin and low-weight styling as we saw in the Saloon concept.

The new (yet-to-be-named) platform has adopted 2.0 GPa grade hot stamping steel material, created using new megacasting machines you can see more of below. The BEV-specific architecture enabled Honda to develop thinner battery packs using some really interesting friction welding to allow for maximum efficiency and thus range.

Honda is not trying to blow people away with its range, but instead has tried to maximize space and maintain lightweight and efficiency to help keep production costs down and deliver new models that are more affordable. Furthermore, the automaker shared it is targeting EPA range of around 300 miles.

New technologies like a heat pump and Honda’s new “e-Axle” motors and inverters have evolved from its hybrid EV developmen but have been downsized to achieve a horizontal layout to maximize cabin space and allow for lower right heights.

After our presentation and Q&A with Honda’s executives, we got a chance to walk through and experience expert explanations and demonstrations from the Honda BEV team. These included several new technologies that Honda will implement or at least try to implement in future models.

This included a look at the 0 platform’s new steering stability index that can flex the vehicle body in real time to control each tire’s load while cornering. This body rigidity design also allowed Honda to reduce the vehicle’s overall weight by 100kg (220 lbs) compared to previous EV models like the Prologue.

We also got a look at Honda’s ECU placement as well as a glimpse at how it intends to implement sensor technology like LiDAR into 0 Series ADAS that it says will aim to offer “experiences that make people want to go out more spontaneously” and will eventually allow for hands off, eyes off Level 3 automated driving. Per Honda:

Honda 0 Series models will be equipped with a system that enables the expansion of the range of driving conditions where driver assistance and Level 3 automated driving (eyes off) will be available. The expansion will start with eyes-off technology available in traffic congestion on highways, then continue through the OTA updates of the functions.

Other UX demos we saw were things like AI-integration and facial recognition software that could enable future Honda 0 vehicles to recognize an owner walking up and open the door for them. Better still, this technology can recognize if you are carrying a child and will open a rear door, or if they are in a stroller, also open the trunk for stowage.

Inside the cabin, Honda’s in-house OS can recognize the driver and their passengers, and can even distinguish if a pet is in the car and suggest that it may be time for them to stop for a potty break. Lastly, we got to demo an interesting social feature Honda is exploring in which a driver can loop their friend into the car ride while they’re at home via VR headset.

Check out the video we captured below. We were connected live to some other Honda employees in another part of Japan and rode along with them. We were able to communicate and request songs, and even stand up and get a view from outside the car as it moved.