EPA-rated at 118 MPGe, the Honda Fit EV will lease for $389 a month
Reid Stewart -
CleanMPG - July 13, 2012
Honda recently announced the all-new 2013 Honda Fit EV will be available for lease beginning July 20, 2012, with a three-year lease price of $389 per month. The 2013 Honda Fit EV is the latest in Honda's diverse and growing range of alternative-fuel vehicles, and received the highest fuel-efficiency rating ever given by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with an adjusted combined mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe.
The Fit EV will be available for lease-only in key markets in Oregon and California, after which availability will expand to six East Coast markets in early 2013. The Fit EV's three-year lease price of $389 per month computes to a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $36,625.
Honda is the only automaker to offer such a diverse range of alternative fuel vehicles, which includes the Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell electric vehicle, multiple gas-electric hybrid models and America's only mass-produced natural gas vehicle, the Honda Civic Natural Gas.
"No other automaker on the planet is more deeply committed to produce and deliver more energy-efficient and sustainable transportation solutions than Honda," said Steven Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office. "The 2013 Honda Fit EV is the latest example of this commitment."
Based on the popular five-door, five-passenger Fit and Fit Sport, the 100-percent electric Fit EV features a 20-kilowatt-hour (kWh) Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery and a compact 92-kilowatt (123 horsepower) AC synchronous electric motor that generates 189 ft-lb of torque. This efficient powertrain is teamed to a chassis with a fully-independent suspension and a driver-selectable 3-mode drive system adapted from the CR-Z Sport Hybrid. The result is a fun-to-drive EV with a class-leading EPA combined city/highway estimated driving range rating of 82-miles.
An onboard charger allows the vehicle to be plugged into any household-type 120-volt or available 240-volt AC power supply. When connected to a 240-volt circuit, the Fit EV battery can be recharged in less than three hours from a low charge indicator illumination point. When connected to an outlet, charging can be started or stopped with an included Fit EV interactive remote control, through an available smartphone application, or through the internet on a personal computer.
Fit EV Summary
•20-kWh Li-Ion battery
•Maintenance-free 92-kW AC synchronous electric motor
•MPGe ratings1 of 132/105/118 city/highway/combined
•EPA combined city/highway estimated driving range rating of 82-miles1
•3-mode drive system (Econ, Normal, Sport)
•Regenerative braking system
•Included 120-volt portable charging cable
•240-volt charge capability
•Standard Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System
•Interactive Remote Control
•Available free smartphone app
•15-inch alloy wheels
•Unique aerodynamic body details
•Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure
•Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®)
•Passenger volume, 89.3 cu-ft. •Cargo volume, rear seat up/down: 12.0/49.4 cu-ft. •Body Length x Width x Height: 162.0 x 67.7 x 62.2 in.
•Wheelbase: 98.4 in.
Fit EV Firsts
•First use of next-gen Honda Bio-Fabric seat material
•First Honda model to use new HondaLink EV™ telematics
•First Fit model to feature multi-link rear suspension
•First Fit model to use lightweight aluminum front subframe
Powertrain
The electric motor drives the Fit EV through a high-efficiency coaxial gearbox with a single forward ratio. The 3-Mode Drive System's ECON mode can help the driver improve range from the NORMAL mode, while in the SPORT mode, improved responsiveness adds to the Fit EV's fun-to-drive nature. In all modes, a new regenerative braking system returns energy to the battery pack during deceleration and braking. Additionally, a driver-selectable "B" mode optimizes the rate of regenerative braking.
The onboard charger allows the vehicle to be plugged into any household-type 120-volt or available 240-volt AC power supply. When connected to a household 120-volt power supply with the included portable charging cable, the Fit EV can be fully recharged in less than 15 hours. With a suitable 240-volt AC Level 2 supply connected to the Fit EV's standard onboard double-power 6.6 kW charger, the charge time from low-charge indicator illumination is less than three hours. A 240-volt charging station is available for customer purchase through Leviton, Honda's preferred electric charging equipment supplier.
An interactive remote control with a range of up to 100 feet can also control charging and operation of the climate control system when the Fit EV is connected to a power supply. To allow charging at the lowest available electricity rates, charge scheduling can be set via the Multi-Information Display (MID) or by an available free Fit EV smartphone app.
Body
The compact Fit EV shares its essential design and engineering features with the gasoline-powered Fit and Fit Sport, and has aerodynamic upgrades and unique styling cues that set it apart. The unit-body utilizes 56-percent high-strength steel that maximizes stiffness without adding unnecessary weight.
The Fit EV's 162.0-inch overall length belies an extraordinary amount of interior space, and the 98.4-inch wheelbase pushes the wheels toward the edges of the body envelope, resulting in a remarkable blend of ride quality and handling agility. The 58.5-inch front/57.6-inch rear track adds both cornering stability and interior roominess.
Aerodynamic innovations include a revised and more efficient front end, grille area and lower fascia. Along the body sides, the rocker panels now feature aggressive air-control shapes behind the front wheels as well as ahead of the rear wheels. The rear spoiler and lower fascia have been redesigned to further reduce aerodynamic drag.
Chassis
The Fit EV's smooth ride, nimble handling and connected-to-the-road feel starts with its rigid steel unit body, enabling precise handling and body control. The MacPherson strut front suspension has been optimized and the Fit's H-shaped torsion beam rear suspension has been replaced with a rear multi-link system. The Fit EV's Li-Ion battery pack is packaged beneath the floor of the vehicle, preserving the Fit's outstanding interior space.
An electrically power-assisted hydraulic braking system utilizes 11.1-inch ventilated front discs and 8.7-inch rear drums, along with a new electric servo braking system that helps to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack while the vehicle is coasting or braking. Electric Power Steering (EPS) is standard.
The Fit EV is equipped with low rolling-resistance P185/65R15 all-season tires with 15x6.0-inch, five-lug aluminum alloy wheels. A flat tire repair kit eliminates the need for a spare tire, allowing extra room for the under-floor Li-Ion battery pack, and roadside assistance comes standard with the Fit EV for the length of the lease.
Interior
The Fit EV has a roomy five-passenger interior offering a high level of comfort and remarkable versatility. Seating features include a manual tilt and telescope steering wheel, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, and a new version of Honda's Bio-Fabric seat material.
Helping drivers to operate the vehicle more efficiently is new analog and digital instrumentation, which displays the vehicle's energy use, the lithium-ion battery pack's state of charge, and estimated remaining driving range. An ECO scoring system lets drivers know how efficiently they're operating the vehicle, and other indicators show the energy used by the climate control system and other systems.
The FIT EV is well equipped with a standard six-speaker 160-watt audio system that includes a USB3 audio interface and Bluetooth®4 HandsFreeLink®. In addition, a standard Voice-Activated Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System includes the locations of public EV recharging stations, as well as a graphic depiction of estimated driving range.
Safety
The new Fit EV offers a broad range of standard active and passive safety features designed to help protect not only its occupants, but also pedestrians and the occupants of other vehicles. Standard active safety features include Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control, a 4-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
An Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure helps make the vehicle highly effective at absorbing and dispersing the energy of a frontal crash, while daytime running lights (DRL) and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle further improve safety. The 2013 Fit EV is expected to receive an Overall Vehicle Score of 5 Stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests, and a Top Safety Pick by the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Honda Financial Services Lease
The new Fit EV is available exclusively on a 36-month closed-end lease for $389 per month (plus tax, $0 cap cost reduction). This lease payment price includes the cost reduction for the available $7,500 federal EV tax credit. The first month's payment plus tax and license fees are due at lease signing, and the lease allows up to 12,000 miles-per-year. Lease payment includes roadside assistance, routine maintenance and navigation Point of Interest updates. There will be no purchase option at lease end, and customers are responsible for insurance5. Customers interested in leasing the Fit EV can begin the process at
www.FitEV.Honda.com, which provides an EV Readiness Assessment to determine if they are a good candidate for a Fit EV lease.
Manufacturing and Warranty
The Fit EV is manufactured by Honda at the New Model Center in Tochigi, Japan, the same facility that manufactures the FCX Clarity fuel-cell electric vehicle. It is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile Limited Vehicle Warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile Corrosion Limited Warranty. The Fit EV Lithium-Ion Battery Warranty is in addition to Limited Warranty and continues for the duration of the lease of the vehicle.
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