The CEO of Honda Motor Co, Takahiro Hachigo, recently told reporters at the Tokyo Motor Show that Honda will begin selling compact plug-in electric vehicles in Japan from 2020 onwards, following the release of the 
company’s first plug-in electric vehicle in the European market in 2019.
The Honda CEO also noted, though, that the plug-in electric vehicle (EV) sector remained a “tough business” and that cost-related hurdles still stood in the way of the company fully embracing the technology.
Interestingly, the Honda CEO also commented that, while the company was now investigating other potential markets for zero emissions vehicles, “they were probably not well-suited for the US market,” as reported by Reuters.
That coverage continues with this: “The company will clear cost-related hurdles for compact EVs and study better ways to produce them. … Electric vehicles cost more than conventional cars because of the high cost of batteries.”
Taking the situation with Honda as a whole it’s hard to tell what exactly is going on. … Is the company simply unwilling to lower profit margin expectations for EVs as many other auto manufacturers seem to be doing (with the expectation of securing market share in a rapidly growing sector)?
Is there some sort of behind-the-scenes jockeying in Japan that makes it clear that support will remain stronger for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles than for battery-electric vehicles?
Out of all of the major auto manufacturers out there, Honda’s approach to plug-in electric vehicles is perhaps the most mystifying* … a case in point right here: “Honda Clarity EV To Possess Only 80-Mile Range.”
*Editor’s note: ditto.
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