New Concept Car: Honda Micro Commuter EV

Honda has revealed the latest prototype of its Micro Commuter electric vehicle. We first saw the tiny EV at last year’s Tokyo auto show when it was named the Small Sports EV Concept.

This latest version, however, has shed some of the concept car’s funky styling and appears more production ready.  Honda says the Micro Commuter Prototype rides on a new Variable Design Platform, in which big items like the lithium-ion battery and motor are stuffed below and at the rear end of the car to maximize passenger and cargo room. The initial specs include a power rating of 20 hp and a maximum speed of about 50 mph. Range is limited to 37 miles, and the battery will need three hours of charge time to reach maximum capacity. Exterior dimensions are 98.4 x 49.2 x 56.9 inches. For comparison, the 2013 Honda Fit’s entire wheelbase is 98.4 inches long. The 2013 Fit is 66.7 inches wide and 60.0 inches tall.

Those numbers only emphasize the micro EV’s purpose as a city car. Honda says the cabin will accommodate one driver up front and the back can either fit two children or one adult thanks to a reconfigurable seating system. The Micro Commuter Prototype will also be packed with technology including a tablet device that acts as an energy monitor, back-up camera display, audio, and navigation system. The prototype has roof-mounted solar cells to recharge the tablet’s battery. No word if the head-up display from last year’s concept has made it to this latest prototype. It’s too soon to say if Honda will push this to production. We should know more after the automaker  tests vehicles like the prototype pictured above, starting in 2013.

Thanks to: Motor Trend