2013 Honda Fit EV receives EPA fuel economy rating of 118 MPGe; highest yet
06 June 2012
The 2013 Honda Fit EV (earlier post) received a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency (MPGe) rating of 118 MPGe—the highest yet awarded by the EPA. City and highway cycle fuel-economy ratings are 132 and 105 MPGe, respectively. The FIT EV’s fuel consumption rating is 29 kWh per 100 miles; EPA-rated annual fuel cost is $500.
The 5-passenger Fit EV’s 20-kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery provides the capacity to earn an EPA combined city/highway estimated driving range rating of 82 miles, allowing the Fit EV to surpass the EPA efficiency and range ratings of the Ford Focus Electric (105 MPGe, 76-mile range), Nissan Leaf (99 MPGe, 73-mile range), and Mitsubishi i-MiEV (112 MPGe, 62-mile range).
| Honda Fit EV Efficiency Comparison | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | EPA Combined MPGe | EPA Combined kWh/100m | Battery Capacity | EPA Label Range | ||
| Honda Fit EV | 118 | 29 | 20 kWh | 82 miles | ||
| Mitsubishi i-MiEV | 112 | 30 | 16 kWh | 62 miles | ||
| Ford Focus Electric | 105 | 32 | 23 kWh | 76 miles | ||
| Nissan Leaf | 99 | 34 | 24 kWh | 73 miles | ||
| CODA Auto. CODA | 73 | 46 | 31 kWh | 88 miles | ||
The Fit EV battery can be recharged in less than 3 hours from a low charge indicator illumination point with its 6.6 kW, 32A on-board charger and a 240-volt circuit.
The 92 kW (123 hp) coaxial electric motor generates 189 ft-lb of torque, and is teamed to a chassis with a fully-independent suspension and a driver-selectable 3-mode electric drive system adapted from the CR-Z Sport Hybrid. The system allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal and Sport to instantly and seamlessly change the driving experience to maximize efficiency or improve acceleration. While in Econ mode, practical driving range can increase by as much as 17% compared to driving in Normal mode. Acceleration improves significantly when in Sport mode.
Honda debuted the 2013 Fit EV at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and announced plans to begin leasing the battery-electric commuter vehicle to customers in select California and Oregon markets during the summer of 2012, followed by an East Coast rollout in 2013.
The Fit EV is a part of Honda’s portfolio approach, which includes the development of battery-electric, hydrogen, natural gas, and gasoline-electric powered vehicles, to improve fuel-efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1068832_electric-cars-some-are-real-most-are-only-compliance-cars--we-name-names
T/F?
Posted by: kelly | 06 June 2012 at 07:20 AM
Impressive MPGe and EPA range from the Fit EV - but I have to wonder if we're comparing apples to oranges when it comes to the range when looking at earlier EVs - if nothing else because the math doesn't add up.
It is known that the other EVs EPA numbers (the LEAFs for example) are based on the EPA 2-cycle and then adjusted down by 30%. I have to wonder if the Fit EV's range numbers are based on the EPA 5-cycle results which end in less of a range penalty.
The Fit EV uses 15% less energy per mile than the LEAF - but it has 17% less energy storage. So the overall range should end up being basically the same, but instead it has 8% more range.
Besides a different in EPA test cycles, other possible explanations:
1. Fit EV has a more efficient onboard charger increasing the apparent efficiency.
2. Fit EV uses a higher percentage the available 20 kWh than the LEAF does of it's 24 kWh.
EPA energy used (from the wall) to achieve stated range above:
Fit EV: 23.8 kWh 20% more than capacity
iMiEV : 18.6 kWh 16% more than capacity
Focus : 24.3 kWh 5% more than capacity
LEAF : 24.8 kWh 3% more than capacity
CODA : 40.5 kWh 12% more than capacity
As you can see - either the Fit EV either has more capacity than the other cars, or it's using nearly all of it's 20 kWh battery pack (LEAF at least is known to use about 21.5 kWh of it's available 24 kWh, for example).
Posted by: Dave R | 06 June 2012 at 07:27 AM
At 4.1 miles/Kwh the Fit EV is the current champion. The larger Focus at 3.87 miles/Kwh is not that bad.
However, considering its much heavier weight etc, the new long range Tesla S at a claimed 3.76 miles/Kwh is superior to both?
Posted by: HarveyD | 06 June 2012 at 07:45 AM
Let's hope that Honda can be more successful with its EVs than with its Hybrids...
History shows that playing too cheap is not a good strategy so it is good that their Fit outperform other brand models released before rather than the opposite
Posted by: Treehugger | 06 June 2012 at 08:42 AM
Let's hope they actually start producing and selling (not just leasing) in quantities that can get the price down. Granted, with that MPG, the payback is slightly better. However, $32K with a tax rebate and you have a winner. $36K and a tax rebate and you are still asking people to pay a premium for being green.
I will say, it has a more appealing appearance than many of the EV offerings.
Posted by: Brotherkenny4 | 06 June 2012 at 09:51 AM
Its really doubtful that Honda is using more of the battery than Nissan.. The Leaf will charge up to 95% capacity (4.1V per cell vs 4.2V) and it will shut off at 2% capacity left.. and that is pushing it.
Posted by: Herm | 06 June 2012 at 10:56 AM
Do not discount the advantage of better aerodynamics and lightweighting.
Posted by: ai_vin | 06 June 2012 at 12:29 PM
@Dave R:
The Fit uses the outstanding Toshiba SCiB battery, which can operate with a 95% DOD, far more than other batteries,
hence the range against battery capacity:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/scib-20111117.html
I would urge anyone who can to buy this car rather than lease it, as the battery pack should last well beyond the life of the car, unlike the ~10 year life of other packs.
In my judgement this may be the best EV for the money out there.
It is a shame that Honda is not going more heavily for EV's.
Posted by: Davemart | 06 June 2012 at 02:18 PM
This design, fit ev, is not complete, please refer to the volt. Also why not wait for 2015 for a more realistic and practical package, if they don't start selling hydrogen cars in 2015 then postpone starting today any car expenditure till there is something great that appear on the free market. Don't fall for this electrical box, they do brainwash with hard numbers. For them it is the most efficient car on the market with brainwash numbers that tell nothing like 118 mpge. Less then 0.1% of the market know what is 118 mpge. This is a 'new' measure from the same one that had a salary giving mpg numbers to gasoline cars so they had to invent a new measure because they had the job first but they don't know how to explain this measure. For exemple the highest the mpge the lowest the range because it just carry a smaller battery. This might be, given that small range , one of the worst bev. Consumers mainly are looking at the range not the mpge and are rejecting wholehearthedly bev cars like focus ev, leaf, imiev, tesla.
Postponing any car expenditure till hydrogen fuelcell cars is just sound consuming. It's not me that is doing the market. The auto industry perfectly know that bev are flawed, it's been paid by subsidies and they know that it is just some pr to give gasoline 99.99% of the market so they just keep petrol sales at maximum. Probably that in 2015 we won't see any hydrogen fuelcell either. It will be so limited with tons of new hassles without hydrogen stations , etc, etc. They just follow the money that is petrol and the rest is just pr at best. Hydrogen fuelcell can be anyway have been put on the market in 1998, the year of the first prototype from honda.
So the only solution is a strike from consumers toward any new expenditure till they start selling the green car that is less costly, green without fuel cost.
Posted by: A D | 06 June 2012 at 05:03 PM
Davemart, as the link says, "Honda obligingly revealed that it would lease the Fit EV for $399 a month (on a base price of $36,625), but not offer it for sale.
And, it said, it plans to offer only 1,100 of them from 2012 through 2014, starting in California and Oregon this summer, expanding into six East Coast markets next year.
That's a slam-dunk; it's a compliance car."
Posted by: kelly | 07 June 2012 at 04:26 AM
How sad that Honda only pays lip service to EVs and has NO intention of making it a commercial product. kelly points out this is compliance only and will do nothing to further electrification of transport.
So we are back to PHEVs, Nissan and Tesla to carry the electrification ball. Tesla is near term winner with Model S shipping next month.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 08 June 2012 at 05:53 AM
So, Honda only pays lip service to EVs (makes compliance EVs) and has NO intention of making it a commercial product.
Must mean that they are unwilling to market these (in production quantities) because they are not profit makers - because batteries cost too much.
Or, umm, maybe their product development process is nothing more than a ten year old GM press release taped to the wall that says EVs aren't marketable.
And it is so much fun to crush them.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 08 June 2012 at 05:04 PM
@Davemart: It depends on how large the BEV market will be in the next couple of years. We have already seen that GM over-estimated sales potential of Volt. We'll see how many Leafs are selling next year when production is transferred to N. Am.
According to the USA Today:
Explaining the limited availability, Honda says the Fit EV is aimed to perfect the components and that it is a forerunner, says Honda spokeswoman Angie Nucci, of "our mass production EV in a few short years."
Says Nucci: "When Honda sells a vehicle, we need to assure its use and utility no matter where a customer might take the vehicle. All EVs have limitations and we want to make sure we understand how our customers address those limitations."
Posted by: Pierre | 08 June 2012 at 07:57 PM
@DaveR:
Such conspiracy theory....
Isn't this the 'official' EPA rating, just like those for the LEAF?
Posted by: Pierre | 09 June 2012 at 07:45 AM
"Honda's top selling subcompact car as an EV
with Focus Electric room,
MINI E performance,
Tesla Roadster efficiency,
Coda range,
LEAF price.
The bar rises. You kind of have to pay attention."
Posted by: Pierre | 09 June 2012 at 07:47 AM
@kelly:
My bet is the Fit EV will have FMC by 2014. Thus Honda is testing the market and sees what 'actual' customers want, and incorporates them into the next generation BEV.
Posted by: Pierre | 11 June 2012 at 08:29 PM