The EV Outlier Concept Challenge: Future EV Design Aiming for a Future-Oriented Electric Motorcycle
Crafted Through an Uncharted Process
—The EV Outlier Concept has been unveiled. What was the goal when the project started?
Tsutsumi
The EV Outlier Concept builds on the EV FUN Concept and EV Urban Concept unveiled at last EICMA* 2024, proposing a model that looks ahead to the future of electric mobility. It wasn’t conceived as an extension of existing models. Instead, it began as a project challenging us to deliver “surprise and excitement” to customers by exploring what unique value can be realized only through electrification, and what new design emerges from that value.
The word “outlier” signifies something unconstrained by boundaries. We wanted to demonstrate that Honda’s vision for electric motorcycles isn't merely replacing internal combustion engines with electric power, but a representation of the potential for evolution into an entirely new category. That’s the spirit we've poured into it.
While I typically translate designers’ sketches into three-dimensional forms for mass production, in this project I acted as the LPL (Large Project Leader), overseeing the entire project from concept development to model production.
*EICMA: Esposizione Internazionale del Ciclo, Motociclo e Accessori, the world’s largest motorcycle show held in Milan, Italy.—To create such a unique design, did you need to follow a process different from standard design development or pre-development?
Tsutsumi
Yes. First, all participating members started by resetting existing values.
This project involved not only motorcycle designers in Japan, but also designers from the Power Products division and overseas design members. Centering on the theme “What value can only be realized through electrification?”, we thoroughly embraced a Waigaya* approach, freely exchanging opinions while moving back and forth between the users’ and the designers’ perspectives.
*Honda’s waigaya culture encourages open, informal discussions where everyone—regardless of rank—can freely share ideas, challenge assumptions, and collaborate to drive innovation.
Original styling that embodies a completely new Joy of Riding
Unique value of electric mobility demonstrated by the EV Outlier Concept
—The EV Outlier Concept features original styling that clearly distinguishes itself from conventional motorcycles at first glance, starting with its overall silhouette. What was the philosophy behind this styling?
Tsutsumi
Like the EV FUN Concept and EV Urban Concept unveiled at EICMA 2024, it is founded on Honda’s shared design theme for electric motorcycles: “Precision of Intrinsic Design”. Honda aims for an intrinsic design through refining functionality in electric motorcycles.
Furthermore, for the EV Outlier Concept, we aimed to realize “electric-specific value” distinct from existing motorcycles and a new riding experience. To achieve this, we established three elements: Gliding, Ecstasy, and Low.
Realizing a completely new riding experience
Gliding, Ecstasy, and Low
—How do these three elements relate to the specific design of the EV Outlier Concept?
Tsutsumi
Gliding and Ecstasy are terms expressing distinct riding sensations.
Gliding represents a riding feel with a sense of gliding, leveraging the uniquely smooth power delivery and quietness of an EV. The transitions between acceleration and deceleration, along with turning behavior, are exceptionally smooth, creating a static ride quality that feels like gliding over the ground. We believe the experience realized through “dynamics within silence” represents one of the new values offered by electric mobility.
Tsutsumi
Ecstasy is an emotional riding sensation resulting from the instant responsiveness, acceleration, and immense torque only possible with motor drive. By freely controlling the front and rear in-wheel motors to suit the circumstances, transmitting drive power more directly to the road, it achieves an exhilarating ride unique to electric vehicles, where rider and machine become as one. This represents a new value made possible because it is an EV, leveraging the massive motor drive torque and the freedom to radically reposition power sources and functional components.
The coexistence of two contrasting riding feels—Gliding and Ecstasy—is only achievable with an EV featuring motor drive, known for its quiet operation and precise controllability. Furthermore, elevating these two riding sensations to a completely new riding experience, the element called “Low”—the Dynamic & Low Position—also defines the model’s distinctive styling.
Anticipating that the freedom of EV packaging will increase even further in the future, the EV Outlier Concept aims to achieve a remarkably low seat height, even among Honda motorcycles. From the project’s early stages, discussions emphasized that the rider’s perception changes significantly based on seat height. Differences in riding position are crucial for a new riding experience. To create the exhilarating visibility and strong acceleration sensation unattainable with conventional motorcycles, the team lowered the seat’s hip point and minimized the eye point.
However, lowering the entire chassis would diminish the seat’s perceived height. We therefore deliberately added volume to the front section, creating a sense of mass to emphasize the rider’s low seat position and achieve a distinctive proportion. This Dynamic & Low Position is made possible only because it is electric.
Tsutsumi
Further defining this riding experience is the bucket-type backrest. This backrest not only absorbs the massive acceleration of the motor drive but also enables a new handling sensation where the rider pivots through corners using their hips as an axis. It delivers a riding sensation unlike any existing motorcycle, evoking both surprise and excitement—core elements of Honda design philosophy.
The handlebar area and instrument cluster also speak to future design
— Mirrors are typically mounted on the handlebars and tend to be positioned high. Integrating them with the instrument cluster creates a clean look. The instrument cluster design also feels futuristic.
Tsutsumi
The instrument cluster adopts a slim and wide layout to secure a broad field of view for the rider, while camera-based mirrors contribute to a clean and futuristic appearance. Furthermore, the GUI (Graphical User Interface) is designed to intuitively display information such as the motorcycle’s lean angle, enabling a deeper sense of connection between rider and machine. These designs contribute to the previously mentioned exhilarating visibility and the realization of a gliding feel. By minimizing non-essential information through an instantly recognizable GUI and intuitive control interface, the system enhances the rider’s sense of immersion—realizing an even more emotional riding experience.
Tsutsumi
Additionally, when switching riding modes, the sub-display shows real-time changes in the drive status and output characteristics of the front and rear motors, allowing the rider to experience the distinctive enjoyment of electric propulsion. It also envisioned to links with the user’s personal data, providing riding control tailored to individual skill levels and suggesting destinations aligned with each rider’s schedule and preference.
In HMI design, we aimed to create new forms of interaction, creating opportunities for fresh discoveries and inspiring new experiences.
Overcoming EV design challenges in Honda’s unique way
Discussions and verification from zero
Motorcycle design unbound by theory
—After solidifying the concept through discussions, you began sketching. What was your impression when you saw the final sketch?
Tsutsumi
I felt it truly embodied the surprise and excitement that Honda design strives for. Just imagining it displayed in Honda showrooms and shops, I could naturally picture crowds gathering around it. The excitement that it would emanate an overwhelming presence once modeled consumed the entire team.
— Achieving this unprecedented design surely required numerous ingenious approaches.
Tsutsumi
We struggled particularly with judging the proportions and sense of scale. For ICE (internal combustion engine) models, there has long been an established theory of beautiful proportions backed by years of motorcycle design experience. The EV Outlier Concept deliberately breaks away from that convention. We repeatedly verified the balance of the wheelbase and height, exploring new proportions to make the unique characteristics of an EV more appealing.
— While electric motorcycle development is still in its early stages, what unique value do you think Honda can provide? And how does that influence the design?
Tsutsumi
Motorcycle electrification is still in its infancy, and the entire industry is currently at the same starting line. Designing without any benchmark models presents a significant challenge and the difficulty of finding the right answer. However, that very uncertainty is also where Honda’s unique strengths can shine. By leveraging the expertise cultivated through ICE development and actively embracing new technologies, materials, and manufacturing methods, Honda seeks to create new value in this uncharted domain. We see this as our mission and view it as an excellent opportunity to propose uniquely Honda models that exceed customer expectations.
Tsutsumi
Furthermore, Honda’s strength lies in its diverse product portfolio—spanning not just motorcycles, but also automobiles, power products, and robotics—allowing us to actively incorporate insights from other domains. During the concept development phase, we gathered information and ideas from various departments. This included discussions on the latest electric powertrain technologies for automobiles and Waigaya sessions with engineers working on Honda Riding Assist, our motorcycle stability control technology aimed at reducing the risk of falls. The styling sketch phase also brought together insights from designers across diverse fields, including overseas designers. We believe that this cross-domain, boundary-transcending approach will become the driving force in shaping the next generation of electric motorcycles.
— How do you feel about your upcoming announcement at Japan Mobility Show 2025?
Tsutsumi
The EV Outlier Concept embodies new value unique to electrification. At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, where it will be exhibited alongside the EV Urban Concept, we are confident many visitors will experience the world of Precision of Intrinsic Design—Honda’s design theme for electric motorcycles—and feel the surprise and excitement that is the very purpose of this project.
Profiles
Yuya Tsutsumi
Motorcycle and Power Products
modeler
