The Honda N-One kei car has been in production since 2012 and is now in its second generation. Its main highlight is a design styled after the iconic Honda N360 microcar of the 1960s. That retro look probably helped only at launch: demand has rarely exceeded 20,000 units a year since. Now the lineup gains the Honda N-One e: electric vehicle, which effectively replaces the unsuccessful Honda e produced from 2020 to 2024.
What Changed on the Outside
The battery-electric N-One e: is built on the existing petrol kei car and shares its body and chassis. The front end, though, has been substantially redrawn, with a new hood, headlights, bumper and a front fascia that carries the charging port. At the back there is a revised tailgate, and the licence plate has moved down onto the bumper. Five body colours are offered, with optional “racing” stripe graphics. Length (3,395 mm) and width (1,475 mm) appear unchanged, since strict kei car regulations dictate both. Exact specifications have not been published yet.
Inside: New, Though It Does Not Look It
The interior retains the same angular, minimalist style with an abundance of physical controls. In reality, however, it is entirely new. It features revised air vents, an instrument panel hood, and a two-spoke steering wheel. A shelf for small items runs along the dashboard, with a dedicated smartphone slot in the centre flanked by USB charging ports — there is no wireless charging. The multimedia system has a nine-inch screen with physical buttons and a rotary volume knob, though base versions go without a screen at all. The transmission selector is a set of push buttons on the centre console.
The rear seats fold together or separately, and can be laid completely flat for a level cargo floor. Honda emphasizes that many interior components are made from recycled plastic.
What Honda Has and Has Not Said
Details about the electric powertrain have not yet been fully disclosed. Officially there is a WLTC range of 270 km (168 miles) and bi-directional charging, both V2H and V2L. Beyond that it is inference: given how closely the N-One e: hatchback is related to the Honda N-Van e: commercial van, it is expected to use a single motor on the front axle producing either 53 or 64 hp — the maximum a kei car may have — with a 29.6 kWh traction battery.
When, and Where
The electric Honda N-One e: kei car will hit the Japanese market this coming September, when all details will be revealed. It also has a decent chance of reaching Europe and other markets: a prototype appeared at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed in England, and the car is confirmed for the September IAA Mobility show in Munich.
Honda N-One e: The Key Facts
- What it is: the electric version of the N-One kei car, replacing the unsuccessful Honda e of 2020 to 2024
- Size: 3,395 mm long, 1,475 mm wide — fixed by kei car regulations
- Range: 270 km (168 miles) on the WLTC cycle
- Charging: bi-directional, V2H and V2L
- Expected powertrain: one front motor of 53 or 64 hp with a 29.6 kWh battery — inferred from the N-Van e:, not confirmed
- On sale: Japan from September; shown at Goodwood and due at IAA Mobility in Munich
Frequently Asked Questions
How far does it go? 270 km, or 168 miles, on the WLTC cycle. That is the one range figure Honda has published.
How much power does it have? Honda has not said. The expectation of 53 or 64 hp comes from the closely related N-Van e:, and 64 hp is the ceiling for a kei car in any case.
Is it the same car as the petrol N-One? Body and chassis are shared, but the front end is substantially redesigned around the charging port, and the interior is new despite looking familiar.
Will it be sold outside Japan? Possibly. A prototype ran at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the car is confirmed for IAA Mobility in Munich — both signs of interest beyond the home market.
Photo: Alexey Byrkov
This is a translation. You can read the original article here: Хэтчбек Honda N-One стал электромобилем
Published October 01, 2025 • 4m to read
