Honda Prologue EV – Vapor Ware Until 2024

Honda today announced that its first new volume battery-electric vehicle will be named “Prologue,” as part of electrified  press release era that will lead ever so slowly to the company’s vision for 100% zero emission vehicle sales in North America by 2040. The SUV will be built in a North American General Motors plant starting in early 2024. Named the Prologue, the new SUV will use the Ultium battery and motor technology GM developed for use in EVs (Honda to Abandon IC Engines – Global Electrification by 2040, Honda, GM Ink MoU on North American Alliance!)

As an all-new SUV coming to market in early 2024, the battery-electric Honda Prologue notably lacks any specific details about the new vehicle. Any. Presumably, they will be released as slowly as possible over the coming months to give the impression that the Japanese company once known for its innovations in powertrains is not being left behind in the CO2-free exhaust of major players such as General Motors, BMW, Ford, VW and countless others. (EPA Range of 270, 260 miles for Mach-E GT, GT Performance)

If you want to an EV now or in the near future look elsewhere. (Milestones: Nissan Production of 500,000 Leaf EVs, GM Doubles Down on EVs in Bid to Win Global Race, Toyota, Subaru at Shanghai Introduce Latest Joint-Venture EVs, 2021 Mustang Mach-E GT and GT Performance Edition On Sale, EV Ford Mustang Has Optional Intelligent Range, Ford Introduces All-Electric F-150 Lightning Pro – Bring Money, EV Pickup! Ford is Betting Lightning Can Strike Twice)

Honda has a history of bringing electrified vehicles to market in the U.S., beginning almost a quarter century ago with the EV Plus electric vehicle (1997). There was America’s first hybrid, just ahead of Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight (1999). Honda FCX (2002) was among the industry’s first fuel cell vehicle in the hands of individual customers, and the Clarity series (2017). It’s been slow going since then.

AutoInformed on:

• First Look – A Technological Tour de Force – Toyota Gen 2 Mirai Fuel-Cell Electric Sedan Starting at -$9000 Compared to Gen 1,
• Toyota Gen 2 Prototype Fuel-Cell Trucks to Start Drayage Runs at the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach. Carbon Free Hauling,
• GM Roughs in Choices for Autonomous Fuel Cells,
• 3000 Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cells Sold in California,
• Hyundai Delivers First 2019 NEXO Fuel Cell SUV,
• Toyota and Hino Heavy-Duty Fuel-Cell Electric Truck Verification Tests Start in the Spring of 2022)

Honda will introduce an all-electric Acura SUV in the 2024 calendar year too. Both will use a flexible global EV platform powered by Ultium batteries based on the company’s partnership with General Motors. Honda also plans to launch a new series of EV models in the second half of the decade based on a new e:Architecture, with development led by Honda. (Honda’s New Mobility Business – Cruise to Send First Self-Driving Vehicles to Japan for Testing)

In April 2021, Honda global CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, announced a vision to achieve carbon-neutrality for its products and corporate activities by 2050, including key targets for sales of electrified vehicles. This vision calls for the sales ratio of battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles in North America to progress from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035 to 100% by 2040.

As Honda prepares for the launch of Prologue, the company will introduce hybrid-electric systems to more models to continue to reduce CO2 emissions and hope customers will wait for the volume battery-electric vehicles now in development – just like every other automaker. Simply put: Honda hopes prospective EV customers with lots of patience will endure the slow rollout by engaging with a new webpage at https://automobiles.honda.com/future-cars/prologue.