Honda says making cheap electric vehicles is too hard, ends deal with GM

L4sBot@lemmy.worldmod to Technology@lemmy.world – 548 points –
Honda cancels plan for cheap electric vehicles, ending collaboration with GM
arstechnica.com

Honda says making cheap electric vehicles is too hard, ends deal with GM::The platform was to use GM's Ultium batteries.

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Prius anyone? Still a better approach than a full electric.

PHEV's are getting reclassified/re-regulated by the EU, because:

  • The stated average emissions are based on actually plugging in to charge, which most owners don't bother with, considering electric propulsion only accounts for like 1/15 of the cars total range

  • It has been regulated in a way that gave the manufacturer only small emissions penalty for increasing the motor size & weight of the car - because it was still considered to be electrically powered.

  • The design itself leads to a heavier car (having 2 propulsion systems)

Meanwhile, the full EV market has been more self-regulating in the sense that they have kept the weight/energy requirements down in order be competitive on range.

I would not say a better approach, but it is a workable one. We have one already and will be getting a second one in the next few months. Our next new car will be an all electric, but that is a few years down the road.

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