In 1999, Honda introduced the EV Plus with a range of 81 miles. The cute compact launched as a lease-only car in California just in time for the start of the state’s zero-emission vehicle program. A decade later, Honda offered the all-electric version of the five-passenger Fit hatchback for three years. To date, Honda’s biggest foray into electric vehicles in the United States has been the trio of Clarity models that arrived in late 2016.
The Clarity, a large family sedan, was introduced as a pure EV, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell electric vehicle. The Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, which sells across the United States, is one of the best-selling plug-in hybrids on the market.
In recent years, Honda displayed a series of small hip, retro-styled EV concepts at major international auto shows. That culminated in the adorable Honda e roadster that went on sale in Europe in 2020. But the best days for Honda EVs are ahead. In April 2020, the company announced that it was teaming up with General Motors to produce two new EV-specific models expected in about 2023.