Honda just unveiled an EV for the bike lane and it’s not what you think

The world has been waiting for Honda to seriously get behind electric bikes, motorcycles, and other lightweight personal electric vehicles. And now they just have, in a big way. But I no matter what you’re expecting when you hear “Honda just launched a bike lane vehicle”, I can pretty much guarantee that it isn’t this. Say hello to the Fastport eQuad, a new four-wheeled delivery vehicle from Honda.

Honda is officially entering the micromobility space, and they’re not easing in – they’re rolling out a pedal-assist, battery-swapping, cargo-hauling quadricycle that’s designed to live in bike lanes and take over the urban last-mile delivery game.

Say hello to the Fastport eQuad, the first product from Honda’s new micromobility business, Fastport, which will make its global debut at Eurobike in Frankfurt later this month. Fastport will become Honda’s newest spinout, a “B2B business dedicated to transforming the last-mile delivery industry with innovative micromobility solutions.”

Fastport’s first product, the eQuad, is a four-wheeled, pedal-by-wire electric delivery vehicle built specifically for navigating congested cities – in bike lanes.

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Yes, this thing is actually designed to be bike-lane legal. That’s a bold move, but potentially a game-changer for cities where streets are packed and curb space is at a premium.

And yes, if you’re thinking that bike lanes aren’t meant for four-wheeled vehicles, you may be onto something. That’s true in many areas of the US, though laws differ between cities and states. But in Europe, many countries allow four-wheeled vehicles like these to use bike lanes, which are more like mobility lanes intended for a variety of non-car urban runabouts.

Keep in mind though that Honda is targeting both North American and European markets with the Fastport eQuad, so the US definitely looks to be in its sights.

“The Fastport team has worked tirelessly to create the Fastport eQuad, a zero-emission alternative to delivery vans that solves the challenge of last mile urban logistics by meeting the needs of urban residents expecting on-demand deliveries of packages, groceries and other items,” explained Jose Wyszogrod, general manager and founding member of Fastport. “Drawing from the deep knowledge of Honda design and engineering talent in the U.S., the Fastport eQuad is a testament to the commitment of Honda to advancing a more sustainable future through innovative mobility solutions.”

Instead of fighting traffic in a Sprinter van, the Fastport eQuad lets couriers zip through town at up to 12 mph (20 km/h), quietly and cleanly, thanks to a combination of pedal-assist power and swappable Honda Mobile Power Packs. It’s fully enclosed with a UV-protected canopy, a ventilation fan, and automatic parking brakes. Think of it as a futuristic urban rickshaw mashed up with a mini delivery van, only way smarter.

And I mean smarter. This is a software-defined vehicle, which means it’s more than just an EV; it’s a rolling data hub. It comes with AI-enhanced fleet dashboards, real-time diagnostics, and cloud-based updates over the air. Honda’s also launching a full Fleet-as-a-Service (FaaS) platform, handling everything from battery swaps to maintenance.

There are two versions: a larger model with a 650-pound (295 kg) payload capacity and a smaller one that carries up to 320 pounds (145 kg). The big one can go up to 23 miles (37 km) on a charge even when fully loaded, though the smaller version’s range is listed as “TBD.”

If 23 miles of range doesn’t sound like much, remember that this is an urban delivery vehicle, and it’s more than likely going to be used for delivery circuits that are significantly less than 23 miles. But if the need ever arrived, it’s Honda Mobile Power Pack batteries are around the size of a lunchbox (remember those?) and can be swapped out in seconds. Considering the rear cargo box can carry between 90 to 150 cubic feet of cargo (1.5 to 4 cubic meters), I’d say there’s room to bring a spare battery.

Both models are built with a modular design that allows businesses to swap out the cargo box for parcel, grocery, or specialty delivery needs.

Or if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, that rear cargo box would make an awesome camper. At 75 and 89 inches in length for the smaller and larger cargo boxes (190 and 239 cm), both would fit a sleeping adult, no problem. Don’t get too excited yet though – it doesn’t look like Honda has any plans for a camper or passenger version, at least not at the moment.

The specs are impressive, sure. But what really stands out is Honda’s commitment. This isn’t some side project. They’re building it in the Honda Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, the same place that makes the Acura NSX supercar and Honda’s race cars.

If you want to know whether Honda is serious about this whole micromobility thing, that should answer your question. They’ve also designed it around their fancy-shmancy Gogoro knock-off batteries, finally giving us more real world devices to use the rarely-seen power packs. That further lends credence to the impression that Honda is really getting behind this thing.

The Fastport team says vehicle deliveries will start in late 2025, with mass production set for 2026. And while pricing hasn’t been revealed yet, it’s safe to assume Honda is positioning this as a premium business solution, not a consumer joyride. But hey, as long as it’s not insanely expensive, that might not stop me from trying to raise the funds to buy one and trick it out into an awesome bike camper. Feel free to email my publisher and tell him Electrek should help me make that happen…

Electrek’s Take

This could go either way. I love the ability for vehicles like these to take more vans and trucks off the road. That’s better for everyone. On the other hand, I can see cyclists having something of a problem with a the bicycle equivalent of a delivery van inviting their bike lanes. As a car-free guy, I get it.

That said, I have to deal with trucks and delivery vans in my bike lanes all the time, so hey, this smaller one is definitely an improvement. Getting hit by it is more likely to ruin my day than to ruin my life. So….. progress?

Jokes aside, I think it is fair to say that with the rise of urban delivery services, and cities pushing harder than ever to get vans out of downtowns, the timing couldn’t be better. We’ve seen a few bike-lane-legal delivery quads hit the market in Europe, but not from a brand with Honda’s resources, engineering, and distribution network.

If this is what Honda thinks the future of urban logistics looks like, I’m all for it. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing Fastports zipping past gridlocked vans sooner than we think. Perhaps with something this large, you could even “Take the lane” and ride on streets with cars with a little more confidence. Car drivers often don’t seem to be worried about a cyclist’s femur messing up their paint, but they might be a little more careful when they’re challenged by something that could actually send them to the garage for expensive bodywork.