Honda to be fully EV by 2040, goodbye VTEC and Type R

The future for Honda is electric, as the Tokyo-based company has committed to go fully-electric by 2040.

Yes, by 2040, it is “goodbye, combustion engines” for Honda. The same move will also mark the end of VTEC and the Type R as you know it.

According to Honda’s newest CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, by 2030, 40-percent of Honda’s vehicles in major markets will be xEV or FCV (fuel cell vehicle). Honda expects to double that amount to 80-percent by 2035. By 2040, Honda’s entire line-up will either be EV or FCV.

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In fact, Honda aims to be 100-percent electric in Japan by 2030, which includes hybrid petrol-electric vehicles. Honda will also be introducing an EV model in the kei car segment in 2024.

On the topic of EVs, Honda has also said that they will be conducting independent research on all-solid-state batteries as the next generation batteries. Solid-state batteries can offer more capacity than current lithium-ion (Li-ion) or nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-Mh) at a cheaper price.

“These are challenging targets, and to attain them, we must put forth a collective effort of our entire value chain. However, we decided to set high goals so that all of us share the vision of what we are trying to accomplish and take on challenges toward the realization of our goals,” he said.