Honda's Latest Electric City Car Comes with a Unique 'Pocket' Feature

author: FutureCar Staff    

Honda made quite the impression at the Tokyo Motor Show with not just one, but two surprises. Alongside the reveal of the Prelude Concept, the Japanese firm also introduced a small electric city car called the Sustaina-C. True to its name, this car focuses on sustainability by utilizing body panels made from recycled and reused acrylic resin. Honda's goal is to create a resource circulation system that transcends the limitations of scarce resources.

The design of the Sustaina-C takes inspiration from the original City model, but it bears a closer resemblance to the current Honda e. The overall body shape is reminiscent of the EV supermini, complete with rounded headlights that give it a slightly disapproving look. However, the bonnet of the Sustaina-C has a more angular design, and the two-tone paint extends to the wheel arches, giving it a chunkier appearance. The flat-faced wheels are equipped with thin tires to minimize rolling resistance.

Equipped with a fully-electric powertrain, the Sustaina-C is likely to be paired with the Honda e's 35.5kWh battery. Hopefully, this means that the Sustaina-C will have a greater range than the Honda e's maximum of 137 miles.

In addition to the Sustaina-C, Honda also showcased the Pocket Concept, an electric bike that pays homage to the iconic Motocompo from the 1980s. The Pocket Concept is designed for "last-mile mobility," allowing users to easily transport it in the back of the Sustaina-C for short trips into town centers. Honda has plans for an all-electric successor to the Motocompo called the Motocompacto, which was announced in September 2023.

If you're interested in Honda's latest production EV, be sure to check out our review of the e:Ny1.

FutureCar Staff