By JIM MACPHERSON
The number of battery-powered, all-electric vehicles grows by 50 percent with the arrival of the 2013 all-electric Honda Fit
EV. Set to be offered for lease in selected markets, it should be snapped up by a small cadre of enthusiasts while the vast majority of new-car buyers ignore it.
While electric vehicles can be used for the vast majority of trips, initial cost, limited range and recharging time remain significant obstacles to mass acceptance. Can the genuinely fun-to-drive Fit EV overcome these issues?
Based on the gasoline-powered Fit, the electric version scuttles the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, replacing it with a 20-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 92 kW AC synchronous motor. Honda says this combination is good for 132 miles of city driving, or 82 miles of city/highway use.
Despite their modest exterior dimensions, the Honda Fit and Fit EV are surprisingly roomy, accommodating four larger adults in reasonable comfort. Honda had to raise the passenger compartment floor in the Fit EV to accommodate the air-cooled battery pack. But the high roof design still leaves plenty of room. However, the rear seat flip-forward capability in the gasoline Fit is a casualty of the conversion.
Driving the Fit EV is great fun, though it differs markedly in two areas from the gasoline-powered Fit. Acceleration is comparable; 10 seconds for a zero-to-60 time in the last gasoline Fit, 10.6 seconds in the electric version.
How the Fit EV accelerates is markedly different. It’s lively at lower speeds, and then whirs ever so smoothly up to highway speeds. There are no shifts, either. The transmission is a one-speed unit.
While the electric version is heavier than the gas version, the fun-to-drive factor is still there, enhanced by a lower center of gravity ? remember the heavy batteries are under the floor ? and by the adoption of an independent multi-link rear suspension.
As for range, 64 highway miles on one trip left the battery at 21 percent. Recharging from a Level 1 (120-volt) outlet takes about 15 hours if the battery pack is completely discharged. A Level II (240-volt) charging station can do the same task in less than three hours.
Using a separate kWh meter, our review Fit EV went 3.6 miles per kWh. (The instrument cluster readout said we achieved 4.8 miles per kWh.) With electricity at 14.5 cents per kilowatt hour, the energy cost in our review Fit EV came to four cents a mile, compared to 12.4 cents per mile for the gasoline version.
There are other benefits to an electric car as well: No oil changes, no engine radiator service, no muffler or tailpipe, no catalytic converter, no ignition components to service or replace and no need to visit a gas station, other than to inflate the tires.
The cost of entry comes to $389 a month for the lease, which includes collision (but no liability) insurance and routine maintenance. No down payment is required. Just keep it charged and drive.
Even if you think you would love a Fit EV, it’s unlikely you’ll be driving one anytime soon. Honda is limiting its supply to 1,100 vehicles for the next three years. And, while it will be leased in the tri-state region, according to a Honda spokesperson, it’s not here yet. California is the main market, and it’s probably able to absorb all 1,100 vehicles coming to these shores.
Paula says
“The Fit EV could cut my fuel bill by more than 60 percent.”
I’m not a fan of gas stations, which made the 2013 Honda Fit EV especially attractive to me. Refueling was a simple matter of pulling into our garage and plugging it in, a process that takes less than 10 seconds. Compare that to the time you take at the gas station.
The Fit EV was a lot of fun to drive. The car can be set for normal, sport or economical operation with the push of a button. It was very lively in sport mode, though the driving range readout on the electronic instrument cluster shows that this selection comes with a price. You can literally see five or 10 miles knocked off your range with a single full throttle acceleration run onto the highway. Climate control also reduces range, so we used the air conditioning sparingly.
One handy feature is the key fob, which reveals the charge status, allows the driver to start or stop a charge cycle and turns on the climate control while the car is still plugged into a charging station. This allows pre-heating or pre-cooling without adversely affecting range. It’s far easier to keep the cabin comfortable on battery power than to overcome a hot or cold day. These operations can also be done through a smartphone.
Here are my likes: The Fit EV could cut my fuel bill by more than 60 percent while being comfortable, enjoyable to drive, and offering a great view through the big windshield. It even makes a special noise to warn bystanders when backing up.
Louisville Kentucky Honda Dealer
Bob Montgomery Honda
Bob Montgomery Honda 