Honda has announced it aims to sell only electric cars in Europe by the year 2025.
The manufacturer made the announcement at a press conference in Geneva where it unveiled its new e Prototype car, which will be Honda’s first battery electric vehicle for the European market.
Honda’s announcement builds on its previous stated aims of two-thirds of its worldwide sales to be electrified by 2025 and all its cars being electrified by 2030.
Tom Gardner, senior vice president at Honda Motor Europe, said: ‘Since we made that first pledge in March 2017, the shift towards electrification has gathered pace considerably.
‘Environmental challenges continue to drive demand for cleaner mobility. Technology marches on unrelenting and people are starting to shift their view of the car itself.’
The new e Prototype is designed for urban commutes, featuring a range of over 200km with the car able to charge to 80% of its range in 30 minutes.
The production version of the new battery electric car will be unveiled later this year.
Earlier this year Honda successfully launched its new CR-V hybrid car, as it stated that full hybrid technology will play a key part of its strategy in hitting its new 2025 goal.
At the press conference, Honda also announced details of the energy management business that it is developing for Europe.
The company plans to build a portfolio of energy management products and services that will be of benefit to both EV drivers and service operators across the continent.
Gardner said: ‘This is a significant move for Honda, our intention is to deliver industry-leading innovation by launching energy services…to create additional value for power system operators and EV customers alike.’
Honda has been working alongside the engineering company EVTEC to develop its Honda Power Manager technology – compatible with battery electric vehicles like its e Prototype – which it hopes to offer commercially over the coming years.
At the conference Honda also declared partnerships with the energy innovation company Moixa and the urban EV charging provider Ubitricity.
The company will now embark on feasibility studies for its technologies with further developments expected to be announced later this year.
Honda’s announcements came weeks after a survey of over 20,000 AA members in the UK revealed that two-thirds of drivers would consider purchasing an electric or hybrid car.