Honda will begin leasing the 2013 Fit EV this summer in select California and Oregon markets, with a

Honda will undoubtedly be pleased as its inaugural electric, the Fit EV, has been given a 118-mile-per-gallon equivalency rating (MPGe) by the Environmental Protection Agency, allowing the Japanese automaker to boast the highest MPGe of any electric travel discount passenger car to date.
Until now, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV sat on the MPGe throne, besting both the Ford Focus (105 MPGe) and the Nissan Leaf (99 MPGe) with a solid 112 EPA MPGe rating of its own. Not only has Honda managed to wrest the crown from Mitsubishi and company with its impressive 118 combined MPGe rating, but the Fit EV also boasts the highest range among its electric adversaries travel discount with a combined highway/city rating of 82 miles on a single charge of its 20-kWh lithium-ion battery. To add a little icing on top of the cake, the Fit EV's battery can be recharged in less than three hours from a state of low charge when connected to a 240-volt level 2 system, according to Honda's press release.
Of course it can t just all be about the numbers, right? Consumers don t want to jump behind the wheel of the automotive equivalent of a lobotomy, which is where Honda has taken the time to highlight travel discount the Fit EVs zippy drive experience. Just as important as the industry-leading fuel-efficiency and fast recharging time, as a Honda, the 2013 Fit EV will be an absolute kick to drive, said Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office.
travel discount The Fit EV s 92 kilowatt (123 horsepower) coaxial electric motor generates 188 ft-lb of torque, and is mated to a chassis with a fully-independent travel discount suspension and a driver-selectable 3-mode electric drive system, which is similar in many ways to what is currently used in the company's CR-Z Sport Hybrid.
With the Fit EV's estimated annual fuel cost of $500, Honda says the 2013 Fit EV will provide travel discount the most bang for your electric buck. That's assuming, of course, you live in Oregon or California, where the efficient electric will begin its "select market kickoff." Now we've already reported on the possibility of the Fit EV likely being nothing more than a compliance car . And that seems to be the case now more than ever.
Honda will begin leasing the 2013 Fit EV this summer in select California and Oregon markets, with an east coast push expected sometime next year. Leasing for the car is said to start at $399 for qualified customers and feature travel discount a sticker price just over $36,000. But Honda isn't just limiting the Fit EV's availability. While it has yet to be confirmed, word on the street is Honda only plans on making 1,100 examples for the U.S. market.
These electric vehicles all seem like a complete waste. They re only good if you live in the city or have a fairly short commute. They re also only good if you never plan to drive anywhere on a trip unless you have a second vehicle. I can t afford one car for commuting and another for taking trips, and I m pretty sure the average American is in the same boat. Give me a plug in hybrid with a decent range on electric and I might be interested.
I don t think that is a fair assessment. It s not only if you live in the city or have a short commute. travel discount 80 miles on a single charge, and I doubt you live 40 miles away from your work! And many people don t take long road trips. You could always rent a car for a road trip and I would assume most households have at least 2 cars. So yeah maybe not great for single person households who often take trips, but otherwise travel discount I don t see the problem. Not to mention when infrastructure starts to improve you could take a road trip then just park somewhere for lunch/dinner and charge your car.
I only live 20 miles from my office so I could make my daily commute. That said, I don t think my driving habits are terribly unusual and I make at least 1 trip a month that this car couldn t make without stopping to recharge. Perhaps if you re married and have 2 vehicles you could make it work, but Americans are all about convenience and the current EVs aren t great in that category.