Honda Tech MTG 2024: We were one of the first to test drive the new 0 Series EV architecture

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.

A lot of these technologies were cool to see, but aside from the powertrain and battery technology, Honda wouldn’t give any sort of confirmation or timeline as to when they will actually be implemented in a production model. Clearly they’re still working a lot of technology out, and that’s fine, as we won’t see the first Honda 0 EV (based on the Saloon) until 2026, but six more BEV models are expected to arrive by 2030.

Since we have yet to see a bonafide Honda 0 Series production model emerge, we couldn’t drive one. However, the automaker did offer an opportunity to test out the new 0 architecture installed beneath some of its existing models.

Test driving Honda’s new 0 Series architecture

It wasn’t a Saloon, but it was something. From Tochigi, Honda arranged an opportunity for Electrek to be one of the first to actually drive its new 0 platform, providing media with two all-electric prototypes to test out.

They may look like a traditional CR-V and Accord from the images below, but these unique builds are 100% electric, and feature the e-Axle and thinner battery technology mentioned above. Due to time contraints, we were only able to drive one to the other prototype, and only had a few minutes with it. I chose the sedan thinking it was lower and more similar in design to the Saloon concept, and got to do three leaps around Honda’s local test track.

My first impression is that it drives like an EV. The response is quick, acceleration is smooth but not mind-boggling, and the handling was quite comfortable, even at high speeds. Forgive me for my lack of real detail, but it’s hard to critique architecture alone, especially when driving in a vehicle body that was not specifically designed for the 0 architecture.

Because of this, the prototypes still had mechanical steering as opposed to steer-by-wire planned for the production model 0 BEVs, so I wasn’t able to get the full experience of Hond’s next generation of vehicles, but it still was a joy to test out.

Honda also had a static Honda e BEV it was using as a UX concept. This was cool because customers may someday be able to choose different engine noises from renowned models like the RSX or Civic Type-R to flood their BEV cabin with revving sounds. There’s also an option to choose Honda Jet noises. Have a listen:

Like most of the tech we saw in Tochigi, Honda could not confirm or deny if and when this UX feature would be available to customers. However, it’s an excellent idea for those who want to go electric but still love the roar of a Honda engine, especially since the sound is not projected outside the vehicle for the rest of us to hear.

From what I could gather, Honda’s architecture is on the right track. Still, I left the 2024 Tech Meeting with more questions than answers about what technologies will be implemented in the future. Still, the trip had plenty of other highlights, including a look at Honda’s new production techniques, which admittedly blew me away.

Other highlights from the Honda Tech Meeting 2024

In my opinion, one of the most interesting aspects of our tour around Honda’s facilities was a look at its pilot production lines where future 0 BEVs will be built in Japan. This included a demonstration of Honda’s new 6,000-ton megacasting machine – six of which will go into operation at Honda’s US production facility in Ohio.

Honda shared that it was able to reduce the number of parts in its Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) from 60 to 5 using megacasting, and has taken an approach to utilize a dedicated case piece to a common part using truly amazing friction welding that will enable Honda to more efficiently build modular EV IPUs to suite a number of body sizes.

Another demonstration I found quite interesting was the world’s first application of Honda’s proprietary Constant DC Chopping (CDC) welding technology. The technique maximizes heat distribution to a weld, reducing vehicle weight while increasing passive safety performance. Here’s it in action. Notice how there are no sparks?

Electrek’s take

All in all, Honda is definitely making a conscious effort to compete in the BEV market with its upcoming 0 Series. I saw a lot of innovation, particularly within its pilot production lines, but there was a feeling of secrecy as Honda is still keeping much of its hand close to its chest.

We media have heard a lot of phrases like “someday” and “in the future,” but there are no clear timelines for when and if some of the introduced technology will make its way into production models. Perhaps it was a tad too early for a Tech Day, but it was an informative and exciting experience nonetheless.

Much of the tech Honda introduced has already been implemented into BEVs currently on the market, but it’s quite clear that the Japanese automaker is looking to optimize and master those elements to stand out. I see a genuine opportunity here for Honda to truly embrace BEVs and become the leader in the space across all Japanese automakers.

The Saloon concept is much larger and roomier up close, and its overall design is unlike anything else on the road right now. It will be exciting to see how close a production 0 Series version comes to that initial design, but at this point, we still don’t know.

One thing we did learn, is that Honda is planning to unveil a second 0 series production model this January at CES 2025. According to the automaker, this new BEV model “will be the embodiment in product form of the technologies and electrification concept introduced during the 0 Tech Meeting 2024.”

I was thinking about skipping CES this year, but now I want to see what Honda unveils next. We will be sure to report back at that time.