Honda announced that the EV-neo electric scooter will make its European debut. A Demonstration Program in conjunction with Barcelona City Council will get underway from the beginning of July 2011. EV-neo is a battery electric scooter with zero in-use CO2 emissions. Representing a significant development in its EV European activities, Honda will provide Barcelona City Council with 18 EV-neos for the period of one year. EV-neoMontesa Honda, Barcelona City Council and RACC, Spain’s leading Automobile Club will work together to carry out daily research and monitoring activities on the EV-neo’s usage in Barcelona.
The EV-neo is a battery electric scooter. It operates using a 2.8kw motor and a Lithium-ion battery.
The EV-neo has a range of 34km at 30km/h on level ground. The regular charger takes the battery from zero charge to a full charge in approximately 3.5 hours and is a highly portable unit that fits neatly in the cargo space beneath the seat of the EV-neo. The rapid charger fully charges the EV-neo in approximately 30 minutes.
The EV-neo is also being used in Honda Electric Vehicle Testing Programs in Kumamoto and Saitama prefectures. These testing programmes which include motorcycles, automobile and power equipment products based on electromotive technologies will help to test future forms of personal mobility and their potential in CO2 reduction. In the Kumamoto Program, EV-neo scooters are rented to residents and tourists to provide feedback on their use and benefits and in Saitama they are leased to delivery companies. Lease sales of the EV-neo started in Japan in April 2011 with Honda expecting to sell approximately 1,000 units in the first year. The base price is 454,650 ($5635) Japanese yen.