Honda EV-neo Electric Scooter to Begin European Trial

Honda announced it will begin a trial program for its EV-neo electric scooter in Barcelona, Spain.

Already available in Japan under a lease sale program, the Honda EV-neo is designed to be a commercial delivery vehicle, with performance said to be on par with an under 50cc scooter.

The electric scooter will make its European debut as Honda is providing Barcelona City Council with 18 EV-neo scooters at the beginning of July for a one-year trial.

“We are delighted to bring Honda’s EV technology to Europe for the first time,” says Yukitoshi Fujisaka, President of Montesa Honda. “Testing the EV-neo in European conditions is an important step as we develop our EV activities.”

According to Honda, the EV-neo has a range of 21 miles, when traveling at a constant speed of 18.6 mph. Honda claims a charge time of 3.5 hours for the lithium-ion battery with the regular (and portable) charger, but just 30 minutes with the rapid charger.

Gallery and press release after the jump.

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Honda begins European Demonstration Programme of Zero Emission EV-neo Electric Scooter

Honda announced today that the EV-neo electric scooter will make its European debut. A Demonstration Programme in conjunction with Barcelona City Council will get underway from the beginning of July 2011. EV-neo is a battery electric scooter with zero in-use CO2 emissions. Representing a significant development in its EV European activities, Honda will provide Barcelona City Council with 18 EV-neos for the period of one year.

Montesa Honda, Barcelona City Council and RACC, Spain’s leading Automobile Club will work together to carry out daily research and monitoring activities on the EV-neo’s usage in Barcelona.
“We are delighted to bring Honda’s EV technology to Europe for the first time,” said Yukitoshi Fujisaka, President of Montesa Honda. “Testing the EV-neo in European conditions is an important step as we develop our EV activities.”

A wide range of incentives exist for EVs in Barcelona and with motorcycles accounting for 30% of all vehicles in the city, Barcelona was an ideal location for this Demonstration Programme.

Editors Notes

About EV-neo
The EV-neo is a battery electric scooter. It operates using a 2.8kw motor and a Lithium-ion battery. The EV-neo has a range of 34km at 30km/h on level ground* The regular charger takes the battery from zero charge to a full charge in approximately 3.5 hours** and is a highly portable unit that fits neatly in the cargo space beneath the seat of the EV-neo. The rapid charger fully charges the EV-neo in approximately 30 minutes**.

*Honda calculations based on predetermined test conditions (user results may vary based on weather, road conditions, vehicle condition and maintenance, and other parameters).
**at ambient temperature of 25 °C

EV-neo Activities in Japan
Lease sales of the EV-neo started in Japan in April 2011 with Honda expecting to sell approximately 1,000 units in the first year. The base price is 454,650 Japanese yen or approximately 4,000 Euros.
The EV-neo is also being used in Honda Electric Vehicle Testing Programmes in Kumamoto and Saitama prefectures. These testing programmes which include motorcycles, automobile and power equipment products based on electromotive technologies will help to test future forms of personal mobility and their potential in CO2 reduction. In the Kumamoto Programme, EV-neo scooters are rented to residents and tourists to provide feedback on their use and benefits and in Saitama they are leased to delivery companies.

For more information, images and footage of the EV-neo please visit www.ev-neo.eu

About Montesa Honda
Honda started operations in Spain in 1979 by creating Honda España S.A. In 1986, this company became Montesa Honda after acquiring the legendary Spanish motorcycle firm Montesa.
Montesa Honda, S.A. has a manufacturing plant located in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda (Barcelona province), where the corporate offices of Montesa Honda are also located. This plant specializes in plastics and paint injection while continuing to produce the Montesa Cota 4RT trial bike.
In 2010, Honda once again led bike registrations, as it has done continuously, without interruption, since 1986. In 2010, Honda delivered 21,755 motorcycles to Spanish customers, a market share of 16.7%.

By Dennis Chung