This EV is a crucial model for achieving carbon neutrality. Light vans are closer to people’s lives, so there was a sense of fulfillment in working on them.

In the early stages of developing the electric version of the commercial light van, we conducted interviews with various corporate customers to understand the performance expectations for the product. Furthermore, using big data collected through Honda’s proprietary communication-type navigation system “internavi LINC”, we set target values while anticipating how commercial vehicles would be utilized when replaced with EVs, and proceeded with product development.

However, since we were primarily considering based on gasoline powered vehicle drive data, as a way to verify whether we correctly understood how customers use it and whether our hypotheses (goals) were accurate, we wanted customers to actually use it to confirm the validity of our set goals and performance.

Yamato Transport and Honda shared a common awareness of the necessity to avoid polluting the air through their corporate activities and products, as well as the importance of actively addressing environmental issues. In addition, Yamato Transport places emphasis on the usability of delivery vehicles to reduce the burden on drivers. They also aim to address the continuously rising fuel costs and promote the introduction of reliable EVs. In such a context, when we informed Yamato Transport about Honda’s plan to release a new commercial-use mini-EV in spring 2024, they expressed a high level of anticipation, saying, “If there is such a vehicle, we would like to actually use and test it”.

Both companies share this mindset, and in order to test whether the EV is truly usable at the forefront of delivery, where it undergoes more demanding use than in typical households, it was decided to have them try it out. This will allow us to gather information from areas that cannot be captured by big data alone.

Customers were seeking a practical range that they could rely on for driving the N-VAN e:. We translated that into WLTC mode values (an internationally standardized test method for measuring electric energy consumption and fuel efficiency) and set a development goal of 210 km or more on a full charge.

We believed that this performance would meet the needs of Yamato Transport’s collection and delivery operations. However, the load on the vehicles varies significantly depending on the region (collection and delivery vehicle routes and road conditions). If it becomes a commercial vehicle, there will be a demand for performance that is not limited to specific regions. Therefore, we chose Nakano, an urban area with frequent stop-and-go traffic, Utsunomiya, a suburban area where the distance covered in a single delivery increases, and Suma in Kobe, a hilly region where the load on the vehicle increases. These locations have different characteristics, and we selected them in collaboration with Yamato Transport.

In the midst of the calls for SDGs, associated ESG investments, and responses to soaring fuel costs, the adoption of electric vehicles is recognized as a more urgent challenge for corporations than for the general public. However, particularly for small-scale business owners who have little exposure to electric vehicles, there remains a lingering concern, “Is an electric vehicle really practical for us to use?”

The specific results obtained from the practicality verification, such as the reduction in fuel costs and the practical driving range in collection and delivery tasks, now allow us to confidently say that this vehicle is usable for those who may have concerns about adopting electric vehicles.

Providing a lively and agile driving experience is an integral part of Honda’s approach to car manufacturing. In this case, the development is also taking into account the ease of handling for accelerator and brake operations when the vehicle is under load, while incorporating the power characteristic of an EV.

Drivers have also noted that there is ample power, even when the vehicle is loaded with cargo, with smooth driving performance in response to accelerator/brake operation. Drivers have provided positive feedback, mentioning aspects such as the reduction of stress associated with concerns about engine noise during acceleration, which they had to be mindful of in their previous tasks.

It seems that drivers considering switching to their first EV will be satisfied with this vehicle. Please, look forward to it.

Pertamina is a well-known company in Indonesia that operates gas stations. They advocate the concept of "Green Energy Stations" and are actively addressing environmental issues. Pertamina, aiming to reduce CO2 emissions in its business activities, found common ground with Honda, which sought to verify EV performance in challenging environments. This alignment of needs led to the collaboration for practicality verification.