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Honda Zero first drive: an EV without the baggage

Honda was light on details about how it will make lighter EVs.

We got a total of three laps of a closed course at Honda Global in Tochigi, Japan, which included a short acceleration run, a rising hairpin, and a series of slaloms. The smaller e-Axles are laid out horizontally in the car, and the more compact inverters are right next to the motors, contributing to a lower floor height and more interior space for passengers, a design value that Honda refers to as “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum,” or the “M/M Concept.” The company is also leveraging its own Constant DC Chopping (CDC) technology to join thin and thick materials to keep the frame weight down while still offering high tensile strength for safety.

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