Honda commits to going out of business by pulling back on EVs as sales rise
Honda said it will reduce its planned EV investments by $21 billion, claiming that it’s doing so due to a slowdown in EV sales which isn’t actually happening.
Instead, it will focus on hybrids, which get 100% of their energy from fossil fuels, and which cause climate change and poison the air you breathe.
Honda’s announcement came earlier today in Japan, stating that it will scrap its plan for EVs to be 30% of its global vehicle sales by 2030, citing a “slowdown in the expansion of the EV market due to several factors, including changes in environmental regulations.” It will reduce planned investment from 10 trillion yen ($69 billion) to 7 trillion ($48 billion).
However, as we have pointed out many times here at Electrek, EV sales have not fallen, cooled, slowed or slumped. In fact, last year, in 2024, EV sales grew more than they did in 2023. Meanwhile, global gas car sales hit their peak in 2017, and have been trending down since.
Honda didn’t precisely state its new timeline, but said that EVs would fall below the previously-announced target of 30% by 2030.
It instead said it would focus on hybrids, which get 100% of their energy from fossil fuels, and thus pollute the air you breathe and cause climate change with every stroke of their outdated, inefficient engines.
(*Note: Honda’s chart says “HEV,” not “PHEV” – it’s possible they’re including plug-ins here, and thus some of these vehicles will get some of their energy from something other than fossil fuels, but HEV typically means conventional hybrids which get all of their energy from gas)
Honda said that these gas-guzzling hybrids will “be introduced to market in 2027 onward,” which means they will continue driving on roads and polluting the Earth for decades, including after Honda’s 2050 carbon-neutrality target.
Honda’s previous plan for 30% by 2030 was already quite low compared to other global automakers, even after many of these companies have walked back their EV plans. Most of these other companies also cited the nonexistent slowdown in EV sales.
Honda said that its future hybrid models will “play a key role during the transition period toward the popularization of EVs.” In some of the world’s more profitable countries for auto sales, EVs are already at or nearing majority market share.
Electrek’s Take
It’s estimated that this year – not 2030 – 25% of cars sold globally will be EVs. So, any company that sells less than that is lagging behind the curve, losing ground to companies that are ready for the transition that is already happening. When you are behind, the way to catch up is to speed up, not to slow down.
This 25% EV sales projection shouldn’t be a surprise, because EV sales have been rising globally for many years now, and haven’t stopped doing so, as we keep having to point out. In fact, the opposite is happening.
Honda also mentioned changes in environmental regulations, stating that these regulations were “the premise for the widespread adoption of EVs.” In the same statement, it mentioned its “ambitious goal to ‘achieve carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities’” – so I guess the mention of regulations as the actual premise means all that carbon neutrality stuff was just greenwashing, after all.
But as for regulations, currently, US regulations target ~50% market share for EVs by 2030, and California targets 68%. 30% is a far cry from either of these, so one would think that Honda should increase that number, not lower it.
Further, those regulations are likely not changing nearly enough to make up for Honda’s change in strategy here. Despite the protests of a former reality TV host and convicted felon (who is Constitutionally barred from holding office in the US, by the way), it is unlikely that already-filed regulations, which cover the period from 2027-2032, will be changed.
But the US isn’t the world – maybe Honda was talking about other major markets?
Well, Europe isn’t changing its regulations, either – the bloc recently said it will give automakers “breathing room”, allowing them to use the average of their emissions from 2025-2027 to comply with new emissions regulations, but this will still require a steeper ramp-up by the end of that period if automakers are not in compliance today. In other words, those regulations have not been softened on a 2030 timeline, only on a 2025 one.
And in China, well, new regulations went into effect a couple years ago, but they almost didn’t need to, because ICE cars are virtually unsellable there these days. EV adoption is rising incredibly rapidly in China, driven by local brands which Chinese customers trust more, and which have more nifty features than the models global automakers are offering there.
In fact, Honda’s profit is slipping precisely because of the rapid advancement of the Chinese auto market. AP reports that Honda’s Q1 profits slipped by 24.5%, driven largely by sliding sales in China in the face of local EV competition. How’s that for “slowing demand.”
Honda does sell one EV in the US market, the Prologue, which is selling like gangbusters. It’s the fifth-best-selling EV in the country, and was a large part of what drove US EV sales into growth in April. It’s also Honda’s fastest-growing model – though, to be fair, that does count from a very low baseline, as the model was only trickling out onto the market a year ago.
So, there seems to be no real justification for Honda’s change in strategy here. Unless they seem to enjoy that China is now beating Japan in terms of auto exports, and are excited to see Japan lose 14% of GDP and millions of jobs by stalling on EVs.
I guess if you want to go out of business and bring your country and the planet down with you, this is the way to do it.
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Polestar’s electric SUV set a new Guinness World Record after travelling over 580 miles (935 km) on a single charge. The trip took nearly 23 hours, but the Polestar 3 now claims the world record for the longest journey travelled by an electric SUV.
The Polestar 3 sets a new Guinness World Record
The record was set by an unmodified Polestar 3 Long Range Single motor model. Polestar launched the new variant in Europe last summer, followed by the US and other global markets in late 2024.
Powered by the same 111 kWh battery as the Dual Motor Polestar 3, the entry-level version features a single 295 hp (220 kW) rear-mounted motor. It’s also the most efficient model, rated with a WLTP range of 706 km (435 miles).
However, after a record-breaking trip this week, the Polestar 3 proved it’s much more efficient than the numbers show.
The Polestar 3 drove 935.44 km (581.3 miles) on public roads in the UK, setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest journey traveled by an electric SUV and smashing its range estimates by almost 230 km (143 miles).
According to Polestar, the electric SUV reached its WLTP range figure and still had 20% battery capacity, which allowed it to travel an additional 12.8 km (8 miles) before reaching 0%. And it did make it to a charger, in case you were wondering.
“While the drivers pushed the Polestar 3 to the boundaries of its range capability, it goes to show how battery range has improved exponentially over the past few years,” Polestar’s UK Managing Director, Matt Galvin, said.
Galvin added that “For a large premium SUV to go way beyond a London to Edinburgh distance is truly impressive and with this the adage that ‘EVs can’t go far’ has been very much consigned to the history books.”
The trip took 22 hours and 57 minutes, but the electric SUV delivered an impressive performance. Professional efficiency drivers, Sam Clarke, Kevin Booker, and Richard Parker, took turns driving every three hours.
The unmodified Polestar 3 was fitted with standard 20″ wheels and Michelin Sport 4 EV tires. Guinness World Record judge, Paulina Sapinska, verified the attempt. You can watch it in the video above.
Electrek’s Take
With an efficiency of 12.1 kWh/100 km (19.5 kWh/100 miles), or 5.13 miles/kWh, the Polestar 3 proved to be even more efficient than the Lucid Air Pure.
Lucid introduced the 2025 Air Pure last summer as the “World’s most efficient car” with an EPA estimated 5.0 miles/ kWh.
Last month, the Lucid Air Grand Touring model set a new Guinness World Record for the longest journey by any electric car on a single charge after driving 1,205 km (749 miles) through the Alps and into Germany.
And last week, GM announced the 2025 Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck set a world record after it drove 1059.2 miles on a single charge.
With most automakers and many other companies chasing more efficient batteries with new chemistries, this could be just the start.
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Forget fiddling with derailleurs and gear levers mid-commute. Instead, Bafang wants to make urban e‑biking smoother than ever with its all-new H730 hub motor, featuring its patented GVT (Gear Variable Transmission) technology. The idea is to combine the advantages of internally geared hubs with Bafang’s own hub motors to create an internally geared hub motor.
We covered Bafang’s GVT technology after seeing it first-hand on a tour of the company’s headquarters in China. Now we’re getting a look at a new 3-speed version, which takes the original 2-speed concept even further.
Launched this summer, this new hub motor packs a 3‑speed automatic gearbox that shifts gears seamlessly based solely on riding speed – no rider input needed.
The benefits are immediate: durability, simplicity, and less maintenance. Without derailleurs, cables, or external shifters cluttering the setup, the H730 boasts a clean, minimalist rear-end design, not to mention the benefits of weatherproofing the transmission to handle rain, mud, and debris.
The 250W motor includes a torque sensor and smart controller to analyze riders’ pedal input in real time, suppressing pedal lag while delivering smooth acceleration up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph). It’s an ideal match for daily commuting, where energy efficiency and responsiveness matter. The speed limit fits European-regulation bikes, but it would make sense to see Bafang introduce a slightly faster 20 mph (32 km/h) version for the North American market.
That’s even more likely considering Bafang seems to be targeting broad compatibility, with the company highlighting how the H730 plays well with belt-drive systems and minimalist e‑bike frames.
The GVT system itself is the culmination of nearly two decades of innovation, Bafang explained. Since its introduction with the H700 motor in 2022, over 40 global e‑bike brands, covering everything from urban commuters to fat‑tire and cargo e-bikes, have adopted GVT-powered solutions.
Bafang seems to be positioning the GVT as the foundation of a platform, with the company seeing the H730 as a springboard for integration into shared‑bike fleets, folding bicycles, and e‑bike systems built to last. That’s a compelling narrative for urban mobility: fewer moving parts, smarter automation, and a ride experience tuned for simplicity and longevity.
Electrek’s Take
I love this solution because we’ve normally had to choose between an internally geared hub OR a hub motor, but not both. Getting an IGH normally meant shelling out for a more expensive mid-drive motor, but now it’s possible to get the benefits of both. An economical hub motor can keep prices more affordable, while the IGH means you don’t have the muss and fuss of a derailleur.
I wish the system also worked through the motor itself (i.e. could downshift the motor for more torque on hill climbs), but this is still great progress for the industry. And who knows, maybe Bafang has gear-shifting hub motors in development somewhere to give us the multi-ratio motors we want. Until then, this looks pretty cool.
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EV charging is everywhere now, and it’s reliable, accessible, and affordable. There thousands of public chargers are already out there – and, in some places, you’ll find more plugs than pumps. But if you don’t drive electric, you’d never know it. That’s because gas stations don’t just exist, they announce themselves with giant, illuminated signs that can be seen for miles, while EV chargers tend to just sort of sit, nestled away in the back of the parking lot.
That’s why the new EV Totem from Blink Charging is such a big deal. It doesn’t just charge your car, it stands tall, lights up, and tells the world: electric fuel is here, now.
If you were on a road trip, and your tank was low, how confident would you be in your ability to find gas if you were greeted by the sight of Breezewood, PA, above? We might shake our heads at late adopters of EVs, we might dismiss the things we don’t notice ourselves, but the fact remains that my father-in-law can drive some sea-to-shining-sea of this still (relatively) great country with no plan, no map, and no app, and feel pretty secure in his ability to find gas.
Can you honestly, before spirits of Henry, Lee, God, and the DSM-V, look at that picture and believe that your parents would have similar confidence in their ability to find charging?
Now, imagine that all those thousands of EV chargers that you and I both know are out there. Imagine they were Blink EV Totems. Twenty feet tall, fully illuminated, and proudly proclaimed that here, weary traveler, was a place that you could – if you had an EV – simply pull up and plug in. Just like the gas stations out there have been proclaiming for nearly a hundred years.
Do you think they’d feel better slipping behind the wheel of an EV then?
No need to imagine
Co-developed by Blink Charging and Universal Media, the EV Totem concept combines Blink car chargers with elevated, 55″ screens to help maximize their eye-catching visibility. It’s a clever solution, and, while we’ve seen chargers with screens before, lifting the screens up above the cars in a parking lot makes them significantly more visible.
But because it’s 2025 and everything is terrible, instead of the EV Totem’s screens simply announcing the availability of reliable EV charging nearby or educating consumers about off-peak savings and duck curves, they’re designed to serve non-stop ads while collecting data that, “provides real-time insights for brands and property partners.”
“The EV Totem is designed to transform EV charging into a smarter, connected platform — one that delivers value for drivers while unlocking new opportunities for brands, property partners, and communities,” said Todd Cohen, Co-founder and CEO of Universal Media LLC, without even the slightest hint of remorse.
Blink’s EV Totem units are available now, with the first units already in service at Mountain View Village, a retail and lifestyle destination (read: strip mall) in SLC.
Electrek’s Jo’s Take
Visibility matters, and electric charging stations are almost totally invisible in real life. What that means for most drivers is that, unless they’re in a Tesla or using a third-party app, they might have a tough time seeing public charging stations, even if they’re relatively close as the crow flies. Even if they’re plentiful.
The reality is that all those signs advertising gasoline create confidence on a subliminal level that gas, snacks, and restrooms are everywhere. Meanwhile, the EV charging signs (where they exist at all) are just too small, too bashful to be effective. EV charging is invisible to generations of ICE drivers, and we – as EV ambassadors – need to put ourselves in those drivers’ shoes, meet them where they are, and demand that the electric fuel industry do a better job of selling that same institutional kind of confidence.
SOURCES: Blink, Universal EVX; featured image by Ben Schumin, under Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
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