Honda Rolls Out $15,500 Electric N-VAN e for Japan Market

As electric vehicles (EVs) are starting to appear in more diverse offerings, Honda is officially bringing its electric N-VAN commercial van to the Japanese market. The new battery-powered N-VAN e will have a starting price of 2,439,800 yen (around $15,500 USD) when sales start, making it one of the most affordable electric vans available.

As Honda has now launched its electric counterpart of its gas-powered N-VAN, the company’s launch of the N-VAN e has been developed even for commercial use cases including deliveries and businesses despite its compact size.

Honda N-Van e In Four-Offered Trims

Honda will offer four distinct N-VAN e trims designed for different commercial and personal electric mobility needs across Japan:

• e:L4 – The standard 4-seat model with a 7-inch display for ¥2,699,800 ($17,200). 
• e:FUN – Based on the e:L4 with luxury styling and faster charging for ¥2,899,800 ($18,500). 
• e:G – Single-seat commercial van variant for ¥2,439,800 ($15,500) leasing only. 
• e:L2 – Tandem 2-seat version with open cargo area for ¥2,549,800 ($16,200) leasing only. 

Specs and Length

In terms of its capabilities, Honda’s N-VAN e can reach up to an estimated range of 245 km (152 miles). Moreover, it can support both regular 6 kW charging in around 4.5 hours or DC fast charging to 50% in merely 30 minutes utilizing a 50 kW charger.

Notably, Honda’s N-VAN e maximizes cargo room, by positioning its battery pack underneath the flat floor. As a result, this enables a large front door opening by removing the center pillar. The interior length has also been extended by 3.7 inches in contrast to its gas counterpart, while the load floor height drops by 4.7 inches for easier access.

Regarding offered features, the Honda N-VAN e arrives with 7-inch LCD meter for its L4 trim, ECON mode for less power consumption, electric servo brake system, and many others. Furthermore, the N-VAN e loads the latest Honda Sensing safety suite with a front wide view camera with a wide horizontal angle of view and 8 front and rear sonar sensors while including automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise, and more across all trims. Interestingly, it is also the first kei van to provide side curtain airbags as standard.

Japan’s EVs Going Forward

As Japan’s cities are filled with compact urban EVs including the N-VAN e due to its convenient aspects and aesthetics, Honda has not announced any plans to bring it to the North American market. Although the company could preview similar small commercial EVs the automaker aims to produce globally by 2030 as part of its $65 billion investment in future EVs and software.

With Honda staking an early claim with its affordable and adaptable N-VAN e targeted at businesses and families in Japan’s cities, the acceleration of electric mobility for the country will see EV adoption surging forward. The Honda N-VAN e in Japan will be available on October 10, 2024.

Want to learn more about EV? Thinking of buying an EV? Head over to EV.com and discover more.