According to Nikkei News, Honda will start demonstration experiments such as ultra-compact pure electric vehicles (EVs) that can take 1 to 2 people in Changso City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and they plan to use only camera images. Recognition technology and artificial intelligence (AI) technology will realize automatic driving without high-precision maps in 2 to 3 years, and the goal is to achieve commercialization around 2030.
Honda will accelerate the transition to a new generation of vehicles through the fusion of pure electric vehicles and high-precision autonomous driving technology.
On Wednesday, Honda showed a demo of the minicar prototype. One is a single-seat minicar that looks like an ultra-compact phone booth; there is a two-seat minicar, and a four-seater model that resembles a golf cart.
These pure electric vehicles are all developed under the “CiKoMa” brand, will use cameras for spatial recognition, and support AI technology, and will start driving experiments in the natural experience facility area of Changso City in November. Honda will first use a 4-seat small EV for demonstration experiments. One stereo camera is installed in front of the vehicle, and six cameras are installed in the front, rear, left, and right positions to quickly capture roads and obstacles.
Of course, these cars will be equipped with safety officers during the test to ensure the safe operation of the vehicles. Honda will gradually upgrade its self-driving capabilities, with the goal of achieving autonomous driving within two to three years.
Yasui Yuji, the executive chief engineer of Honda R&D, said: “The demonstration experiment of the electric micro-car will improve artificial intelligence technology.”
The tiny car will have four replaceable battery packs under the seat and is currently expected to travel 20 to 30 kilometers on a single charge. It starts with the push of a button on the touch panel, no traditional accelerator or brake pedals are required.
Honda will test the four-seater in Japan later this month. (image provided by the company)
“ultra-small vehicles” are the general term for vehicles classified as “Minicars” in Japan’s “Road Transport Vehicle Law”. Small.
According to the Yano Economic Research Institute of Japan, for the new generation of vehicles such as ultra-small vehicles and electric mini cars, according to the most popular situation in the domestic sales market in Japan, the market size in 2025 will reach 11,350 vehicles, which is about 2020. 20 times. It is expected to further expand to 102,700 vehicles by 2030.
It is worth mentioning that the Honda R&D Center is the leader in the development of this ultra-compact electric vehicle, which the company hopes to commercialize around 2020.
Of course, a key challenge for Honda and its Japanese peers Toyota and Nissan right now is catching up to Tesla and the lead in electric vehicles that Chinese manufacturers have achieved.
“Honda is transforming itself into an electric brand in China with a unique and diverse range of electric mobility products that only Honda can offer,” Honda CEO Mibe Junbo said in a statement.
Honda earlier this year set a goal of launching 30 electric vehicle models globally and producing about 2 million electric vehicles a year by 2030. The company said last year that after 2030 it would only launch electric vehicle models in China, including pure electric, hydrogen fuel cell or gasoline-electric hybrids.
