Can The 80 Mile Per Charge Clarity Command A $35K Price Tag?

In a new article based on comments made by Steve Center, vice president of environmental business development at American Honda Motor, Automotive News reports that Honda’s EV version of their Clarity vehicle platform will focus more on size and price than long range. They expect that Honda will release the car with about an ~80 mile range and an expected pricetag in the area of $35,000.

While Honda would like to have released with a larger battery, the size constraints of the Clarity platform and price constraints of Honda’s brand identity led them to decide on a smaller battery than many other future EVs which have recently been announced by other automakers.

TheSteve - 2/28/2017 1:50:56 PM

+4 Boost

I certainly wouldn't do it. The looks are off-putting too. Others might like it. I can't see it as generating meaningful sales numbers.

TomM - 2/28/2017 3:31:22 PM

+4 Boost

I believe at least 150 and probably 200 miles is required to get people to feel "safe" enough rangewize to purchase an EV. Sorry Honda - but this is not going to sell at all.

atc98092 - 2/28/2017 3:46:56 PM

+2 Boost

The e-Golf has just been bumped to what, for my typical use, is the bare minimum range: 125. And yes, the looks of the Clarity does't float my boat either.

qwertyfla - 2/28/2017 7:48:26 PM

+3 Boost

Why does every manufacturer of electric cars except Tesla Model S make their cars so butt ass ugly? I'm all for EV cars especially for citiots but with gas prices so low and fugly so high, this thing looks like a Civic cross bread with an Aztec.

And the 2017 Edsel award goes too....

Lantz - 2/28/2017 10:59:46 PM

+1 Boost

LMAO hahahahahahahahahaha

MorePower - 3/1/2017 2:13:55 AM

+2 Boost

I saw this car in a parking lot last week and thought the owner had created the world's worst looking Civic.

At $$35k, 80 miles is not enough range to justify the price when someone can walk into a BMW dealer and probably pickup an i3 for that price or less.

SanJoseDriver - 3/2/2017 7:52:49 PM

+1 Boost

Honda is smoking crack. $35k for 80 miles might have been okay with 1st gen Leafs, but it is completely unacceptable today. Maybe $15k for a 80 mile car designed for teenagers just getting their driver's license would be okay.

150 miles should be the bare minimum for a mass market EV and 200 is more psychologically comforting for those that are not used to EVs. There is no reason anyone should get this over a Bolt or Model 3.