Japan’s newest small electric car priced at $15000 is making a big statement in a tiny package

Kei cars, a category of small vehicles ideal for navigating narrow city streets like Tokyo’s, saw strong sales in Japan last year.

The Nissan Sakura, an electric Kei car priced at $13,000, outsold well-known EVs such as Tesla, according to Bloomberg‘s auto industry data.

Recently, Honda launched the N-VAN e, a small electric truck priced at 2.44 million yen or $15,500, entering the electric Kei cars market.

Japan’s transition to electric cars lags behind other nations; in 2023, just 2.2% of new passenger car sales were electric, contrasting with China’s leading 25%, as reported by Nikkei.

Honda plans to aim its electric truck at delivery and construction firms, not regular consumers.

They are currently testing the small truck with the logistics company Yamato.

Honda claims their new electric Kei cars will travel 152 miles on a single charge and recharge in 30 minutes using fast charging technology.

Honda has tackled temperature challenges for EVs with the N-VAN e, using a system to cool and heat its battery for stable performance.

Moreover, the vehicle also doubles as a portable power storage unit, allowing drivers to use its external outlet to charge household items such as hot plates and electric kettles.

The N-Van offers seating for one to four people, depending on the chosen configuration, each priced differently, and is set to launch in Japan in October.

Honda‘s new entry to electric Kei cars, N-VAN e, comes in four variants:

1. e: L4

The e: L4 is a versatile 4-seater for commercial and personal use. Despite its underfloor battery, it provides cargo space similar to a gasoline-powered N-VAN.

It includes a 7-inch LCD display for information and offers two-tone exterior colors to cater to diverse customer preferences.

2. e: FUN

The e: FUN type, derived from the e: L4 model, is tailored to customers’ leisure interests with a stylish design.

It offers a light, natural beige interior and two-tone exterior colors and includes standard LED headlights and fast charging capability.

3. e: G

The e: G type is tailored for commercial use, emphasizing functionality with a single driver seat.

Its design allows for efficiently accommodating long items on the passenger side dashboard.

By eliminating the passenger seat, Honda has increased the interior length by 95 mm and lowered the floor height by 120 mm compared to gasoline-powered N-VANs and other models like the e: L4 and e: FUN.

These changes enhance usability for commercial purposes.

4. e: L2

The e: L2 type features a front/rear tandem seat setup on the driver’s side and inherits spaciousness from the N-VAN.

It includes a pillar-less large opening on the passenger side, making vehicle access easier and aiding in loading and unloading tasks.

The N-VAN e includes standard advanced safety and driver-assist features across all models.

It sets a new standard as the first commercial-use light van with side curtain airbags for driver and front passenger seats.

Additionally, it introduces Japan’s first mini-vehicle with a Post-Collision Braking System designed to mitigate additional damage following a collision.

The e: G and e: L2 models are the most affordable, ranging from 2,439,800 yen (~$15,500) to 2,659,800 yen (~$16,900).

The standard e: L4 starts at 2,699,400 yen (~$17,200) without quick charging; with quick charging, it goes up to 2,809,400 yen (~$17,900).

The priciest option is the e: FUN, beginning at 2,919,400 yen (~$18,600), per CarScoops.

Meanwhile, Honda and Mitsubishi are teaming up to form a new company called Altna.

This joint venture aims to cut down on the cost of electric vehicles and prolong the lifespan of EV batteries.

Like other Japanese automakers, Honda started slowly in the electric vehicle sector.

However, it is ramping up its electrification efforts, committing $11 billion to a Canadian EV hub.

By 2035, Honda plans for 80% of its vehicle lineup to be electric, aiming for full electrification by 2040.

See Honda’s new entry to electric Kei cars, N-VAN e, through the video below: