Honda E Living with the little electric car is harder than you think

[@stefanobakara]

Perfect car for me. I don’t have kids, I do 40 km a day to go to work, 5 days a week, and a few others in the city surroundings. I can charge it at home and also at work. I go on the highway 4-5 times a year and practically never for trips over 200 km. For that I use the train. I have the opportunity to recharge it at home and also at work, saving a lot of money.

[@dVb9]

The camera for the central rear-view 'mirror' is mounted directly inside the rear screen (within the swept area), so if the image is obscured it's because the rear screen is either misted up or dirty. Solution: use the rear wiper and/or the rear screen heater.

[@Will-dq4vh]

Like he said, cars like this are obviously intended to be bought by people to do short journeys, preferably with home charging. It’d be really easy to live with if you used it as intended. It’s a bit like saying a potato peeler isn’t easy to live with if you try to use it as an egg whisk.

[@piglet5287]

Except that ICE cars are so much more flexible and multi-purpose

[@gerrycollins2335]

There's no point owning an EV unless you can charge at home, and have time to do so.

[@zagan1]

But they'll start upping the night time rate making ev chargers cheaper but they'll go up as well. That is happening in Europe

[@02semiata]

@@zagan1 even if the cost to run a ev was the same as a gas car the ev is still less maintenance and no trips to the gas station :) plus most of them are quicker then their gas counter part and road tax is cheaper as well. Not sure why everyone is so hung up on EV savings there are only reasons to buy a EV beside how much cheaper it is or isn't then a gas car.

[@mikeselectricstuff]

Charge rates are rather dependent on temperature and state of charge. If the Honda claims to be able to do 100kW, that will only be at just the right temperature, low state of charge, and only for a fairly short time

[@zagan1]

That's what current ev fans will put up with. Every day drivers won't give 2 fs if the can't charge properly at any temp. They'll just see it as an lemon car

[@02semiata]

@@zagan1 if you're buying a honda e and you don't have a home charger I would say you're crazy lol and that you know a good bit about EVs to take the risk of only using public chargers. Point being very few if any buyers of this car won't know about charge rates. But who knows

[@JohnStapleton1]

The Green party would do well to sit down and chat to you about the real world .

[@w1p30ut9]

As a prospective buyer, I am very appreciative of balanced review after living with the car for a while.

[@DeRen179]

Bob I'm confused... Are you saying that the car which received the car of the year award isn't really that good?

[@12alocin]

Exactly who gave the award?

[@EVMYT]

Its limited by 75 mile range, it has less range than an old 2011 leaf 24kwh with a bigger battery pack.

[@EVMYT]

@Wooly Chewbakker I love the internet, full of people with so much wisdom. The EV in EVMYT is a clue. I've been driving them since 2011, I already know that. Thanks for enlightening me.

[@AdrianMcDaid]

This is not designed as motorway cursing car. Its suited for large city, its great looking quirky car. But yes your right about chargers .

[@pauldunneska]

You stop swearing and cursing 🤬 🤣

[@26DR715]

Im full electric and have no problems at all, put the BMW i3 on change every second day for 3 hours when home. Saved me a small fortune being person who came down from a Range Rover Vogue 3ltr

[@lukemurray8767]

7:17 “I’ve ridden that bicycle” - Bob admitting that he had previously stolen that mans bike 😂

[@davidwynn-davies252]

@lukemurray Well at least he must have given it back!!🤪

[@simonalexandercritchley439]

Thanks,Bob for the concise and informative review.The issue with the battery is because only 28kw or so is available of 35. Honda could fix this with software upgrade,so it is probably to extend the battery life.If you could tell us more about the battery management and any problems this would help.These real world tests show a lot more than many a "glamour" review.

[@SortItOotMan]

Switch the cameras off for a ten mile range boostage. No really. The rattle is the 13amp plug dragging along the ground behind you, Bob.

[@thetar999]

I hope I never get stuck talking to you in the pub. Lose the will to live. The range is clearly labelled. If that's not enough don't buy it. No point moaning on and on and on about it.

[@williamfence566]

I own a Honda CRZ and have done for 5 years . Best compromise at present, instant torque when you need it and 5 minute fill up when you need it . Hybrids will only become irrelevant when the infrastructure catches up

[@stevencampbell1150]

I'm afraid due to the short range, long charging times, and huge price it's not for me. I totally agree with you regarding the charging infrastructure which even in the North where I live still isn't there yet. Until my diesel is too expensive to run I'll be sticking with it.

[@stevencampbell1150]

@@MrPaddydan True but the range of most of the electric cars is compared to their combustion brethren woeful. Yes they're cheaper to run but the outright price is mental.

[@stevencampbell1150]

@@MrPaddydan if I was spending 30k sod the electric thing I'd be going for a Renaultsport Mégane.

[@curmudgeon_OG]

@@stevencampbell1150 I just got one of these and I promise I'd be at the next set of lights long before you. The acceleration is bonkers.

[@stevencampbell1150]

@@curmudgeon_OG aye but whilst your waiting hours to charge up I'll be away down the road ahead of you!

[@curmudgeon_OG]

@@stevencampbell1150 True, but I'll be at home with the bbq lit and a beer in my hand while it charges for free at Portrush Landsdowne.

[@global_nomad.]

thanks for providing the sunshine.....have been missing it here in London...

[@markscars1069]

As I’ve said elsewhere, having an EV as a city tool is all well and good (although even then, only if you can charge at home) but they don’t work as weekend, longer-distance options.

[@nickieredshaw7835]

Great video thanks what efficiency did you get ? Would you buy one ?

[@craiglawlor2749]

I purchased a 2014 24kwh Nissan Leaf in 2017 with 130,000 on the clock for 9k. The car now has 191,500km on the clock and is still able to drive 80-100km from 100% down to 10% with the heater on, heated seats and heated steering wheel. The car gets me to the office, my wife to work, my child to a creche and fits my weekly shopping. I am lucky to live in North Dublin where there are 4 rapid chargers and 16 slow chargers close by that are very rarely used since the charges have been brought in. It costs me approximately €4 to add 80km to the range if I need it. I have spent €326 on maintenance in 3 years (4 tyres and a battery for the key) and passed 2 NCT's. We need to take the what ifs out of driving and look at what we actually need. If I need to drive to Dingle I can hire a Tesla or a Hyundai Kona. In the meantime I will keep driving this nippy little comfy car for what I actually need it for. I recently enquired about trading it in for an ID3 and a Tesla Model 3 and received a trade in quote of close to 5k. Its the best car I have ever owned and I have come from a BMW 320.

[@stephendoherty8291]

If I was building a new house, I'd get 3 phase fitted and then I'd have a 22KW charger at home! I see so many new build homes and they don't even have an outside charger and its only 7KW! AS for public charging, I see lots more chargers in supermarkets so you can shop in Ikea or Tesco and charge in the meantime. Could the slow charging you are seeing be the fact that currently (incl tesla) all EV cars slow down charging in the last 10-20% of the "tank". Like a fuel pump that would suddenly slow working as your tank neared full no matter how fast you pulled the fuel pump trigger. As for EV charging stations - search Gridserve on youtube. It was on the BBC news as well (as if charging was a new thing).

[@sib4897]

Stephen, there aren’t many EVs that can take 22 kW AC, off the top of my head the Zoe can, not sure about other makes, the majority are limited to 7 kW AC.

[@conorhanley9009]

How much does it actually cost to fill the batteries to fully charged at a public charge station ? Also at home ?

[@drfisheye]

I almost bought a used Honda E. But then I discovered this car can only charge on 1 phase. So you plug it in a 3-phase 11kw charger and it will only charge at 3.7kw, which is like 11 miles per hour. On a 22kw charger it will charge at 6.6kw at most. Compare that to a Twingo that will charge at the full 22kw. This probably also explains why it sometimes charges slower: if other cars are also charging at the station, the max available power might go down, but at 3 phases combined you could still reach the max 6.6kw of the car, but not if the car only uses one of the phases.

[@PicmipPixel]

but doesnt it charge 40 kw in them fast chargers? O.o confused

[@drfisheye]

@@PicmipPixel fast chargers are DC. It will do 40 kw (peak) on a DC fast charger. But only 3.7 kw on a 11 kw AC charger. Most chargers in the streets are 11 kw AC three phase chargers.

[@johnmull59]

This may sound like a daft question, but is there any chance of the charging cable getting frozen to the socket in freezing weather, or filling with water on a rainy day?

[@BobFlavinVideo]

Yes to both although the fast 100+ cables have to be liquid cooled so you can imagine how hot they get! If you left them plugged in they can freeze together

[@wassiswallylokhankin191]

What happens to those rear-view camera mirrors in the rain or winter slush?

[@simonnelson7770]

Great review again Bob, love your style 👊🏻

[@BobFlavinVideo]

Thanks Simon

[@StephenButlerOne]

3 years on, and ive never seen one of these irl. Its a shame as it look brilliant. Now that charging is much better, maybe it may of had a chance.

[@TheChrysler56]

Oh ffs Bob. Stop fretting.....we’re all doomed mate. I’ve been a lorry driver for 38 years and for once I’ve been looking at an electric car for “she who cracks the whip” this little Honda fits the Bill. In the meantime I’ll be sticking with my oil burning, gas guzzling 4x4’s.

[@thesingingshade7984]

This car would be a good 2nd family run about. Any chance of a Video on your favourite Electrically assisted bicycles Great video again Bob

[@Hell-Hound1]

A great looking city car, perfect for the job intended. Cost wise can only make sense in London, or other cities with a congestion charge. If you can afford to spend more on your city car than on a new BMW3 series, then good luck to you. I sadly can't justify £27k+ for what will only be a second car.

[@marktodd7397]

The main negative about these cars is the price for that sort of milage it shouldn't be more than 15 grand. Especially with the life expectancy of the batteries

[@timscott3027]

The only real problems with this car is that it's got a small boot, the charging networks needs some big investment and it costs too much. For a lot of people this car is nice especially if you don't have kids. I can see this car being a really good second hand buy in a few years time 👍

[@peterkiernan-mccarthy3013]

Public charging in Ireland is a joke. I don’t know whether it’s the ESB just buying cheap chargers or falling to get the software right and working out the bugs once they have been installed. Right now they seem to have a monopoly but once ionity and / or few others companies get going they should find them obsolete

[@stephendoherty8291]

Bob what size does it compare with - Zoe/VW up-E or Fiesta or i3

[@mickdaly6537]

Think it be more fiat 500 lol

[@sib4897]

The Honda e charging is limited by charging capabilities of the vehicle, 56 kW on both 100 kW DC and 150 kW DC.

[@marktoby8113]

Great review Bob, you're about the first person to do a real world review, and therefore are actually able to point out real world flaws! With regards to the charging network, I own a Kona EV and have had to use the network just once this year and the charger didn't work! ECars need a fundamental review of the network here.

[@marks-0-0]

Nice audio Bob. Think i agree, i love the idea of EV ownership but I'm not ready to lay my money down yet.

[@cabwab]

Ohhhh looking forward to this review

[@jonny5777]

I still love it for its looks but practically it’s not there for me. Bring on hydrogen

[@piglet5287]

80 miles range from a Honda electric in 1996, 150km today. That's not particularly impressive progress is it? I'd give Honda 3 out of 10 for effort

[@js-hl5hv]

So if you had to drive a city EV, which would it be? Honda e, or MINI? The MINI is cheaper, lighter, faster, more efficient, better handling, longer range (I get 250km, but in a hot climate), bigger boot, faster charging (same as the i3 basically). The Honda has more tech (including lane keep assist and adaptive cruise), is more distinctive (whether you like the looks or not), probably more comfortable due to the softer suspension, 4 doors for easier back seat access, tighter turning circle which is quite useful in town. I think it boils down to the MINI is the better car, but the Honda makes the better statement. In town, performance may not be as important, same goes for boot space and driver assist functions. That leaves the MINI with being cheaper, better range and faster charging vs the Honda being more comfortable, better turning circle, and easier rear seat access. I have ignored the looks, as that is always subjective. So which do you think is better *in town* (ignoring the performance benefits of the MINI). PS. you only get 150km per charge in the Honda? That really is pretty bad :(

[@SiberianNinja]

Hi Bob I was thinking of buying a dash cam, can you do a quick dash cam top 5, the laws behind them and if they can lower insurance, thanks

[@garryhackett1053]

Does the back seats fold down

[@golddiamond2185]

Bob, who does a months worth of Shopping?

[@nickieredshaw7835]

We do . One months of freezer shopping at a time . Got 180£ worth of shopping for 5 people in a Zoe ,and fitted ok and fitted luggage for family of 4 too. Pity boot is so small and range so small in Honda e as love the look inside and out and love Honda cars but not going to fit our live .

[@devanman7920]

It's a fantastic looking little car but its pretty much useless because of the range. The range is so small you have to own a another car. So if someone is willing to pay the money for an little electric novelty they're probably wealthy so why would they go for a small Honda E in the first place? It's a shame because a bit more range this car really could have cracked the market as the latest popular EV

[@irelandjam]

He pulled out out in front of you because you didn't indicate. You barely used them this whole video.

[@BobFlavinVideo]

Quick get the KZbin indicator police 😂

[@davidmccarthy6061]

This is why I love your channel and others. I can get a composite review and so many of the pros/cons of an auto. Then when I get my 15 minute test drive I know what to focus on that might be a deal killer for me.

[@raymondgrace7358]

What does the honda e sell for in ireland bob

[@TheTomBobson]

This genuinely is the car that I can see myself buying living just outside a city in the UK. But I live in flats so I need to buy a property where I can install a home charger if I ever want to use something like this. A Zoe always seems more practical but boy if I'm not in love with everything about this damn car.

[@mfitzy100]

Bob, can you charge it at home?

[@peterurquhart7191]

Style over substance ! What a disappoint car for a brand new from the ground up ev from Honda & the price in the uk is ridiculous for a wee city car .

[@hhhhhhh817]

Well Bob, any chance of testing the Polestar 2?

[@BobFlavinVideo]

I’d like to but it’s doubtful as they aren’t making many of them and there’s none in ireland yet

[@hhhhhhh817]

@@BobFlavinVideo keep up the reviews, it's great to see them getting reviewed from an Irish perspective!

[@NaturaPug]

So beautiful, but yet so flawed, a real missed opportunity by honda, will probably still sell like hotcakes, reminds me of the remade beetle vs mini, beetle was flawed but its looks alone made it a successful car, if only the honda was packaged well like the mini of that generation, then they'd have a long term winner.

[@owenmcdonald5922]

Do you remember as a kid, how your mother would wet a tissue and wipe your face? Thats what you need to do with the cameras each time you get into the car.

[@davefroman4700]

By the time you pay off the purchase of a new car today? Owning a car is going to be technologically obsolete.

[@MikeKleinsteuber]

I think a more appropriate title would be 'Living with an Irishman is harder than you think'

[@trustinflames1022]

I had the opportunity to drive one of these earlier this week. I quite liked it, but only if you consider it as a little city car. Certainly not any good as a family hatch or a commuter so certainly not any good for me. I also found the the wing mirror/cameras didn’t like the frost and with the bright sun was behind i couldn’t hardly see anything just a big white smudge on the screen.

[@EinkOLED]

EV cars appeal to those that live far from a petrol station (with extortionate pump prices). And can therefore charge at home.

[@Trevorfoggia]

Hi Bob, nice review as always. 150km then needs charging is a bit crap in my view, and what on earth were Honda thinking in placing the charge port on the top front on the bonnet? That’s bonkers. Rain water will collect in it and imagine plugging the car in over night and it rains / snows heavy - surely there could be a risk of getting shocks. Too many screens are going to be off putting and dangerous in my opinion. I think the Fiat e500 is a much better car although not as spacious and 1 or 2 doors less of course. Stay safe and well, greetings from Cumbria in the U.K.

[@thetar999]

I bet they never thought of a drain hole.

[@daviddenley3512]

Hmm, "Could do better" said the teacher!

[@EVMYT]

I recently tested the car, awesome but crippled by 75 miles range. I will be buying an EV elsewhere.

[@patrickjr11]

I am still totally unconvinced by so many screens in what is supposed to be a city car. A single dial and a phone holder for an apple car play device is a city car. This is just to be seen in, I think. Not a fan

[@marks-0-0]

I think the design of the VW e UP makes a good city car. Shame they have stopped production. Think they're replacing it with a ground up design in the ID1.

[@EoinJones]

Apple Car Play would be no use for the 70% of Irish people who have Android phones though.

[@GrrMeister]

*You have to PLUG it in at home, and await astronomical Electricity Bills Bob. As far a a 'City' Car right as long as a very small City like St Davids in Wales (UK) or Wells in Somerset. Great Filming and editing well done. The delights that 2030 will give to us all*

[@nickieredshaw7835]

Yes when you plug an ev in at home it don’t cost much more our electricity bills gone up only by about 10-15 £ a month and you get a good 1000-1500 miles for that do that in ice car and it will cost you 100-150. £ a month!

[@GrrMeister]

@@nickieredshaw7835*5% VAT and No Road Fund Licence, Subsidies - how long can this go on realistically? Only Fools & Horses comes to Mind, guess you are plugged in **_off Meter By Pass_** as I am charged around 15p per KWh and would cost £19.20 to recharge at a Supercharger with my Tesla Model X an absolute 21st Century Con - get a life - I fortunately kept my 2019 Mercedes B200 CDi AMG (W247) that has a range of over 700 Miles and have achieved over 85 mpg on a run with current fuel costs at around £1.10 per Litre works out at .05p Per Mile*

[@nickieredshaw7835]

@@GrrMeister you must be driving slow to get 85 mpg ! We had hybrid that at best did 95 mpg once but mostly 70-80s mpg in summer but on same route at same ish temperature best had out of ev was about 1600! Mpg equivalent ! And regularly got over 900 mpg e . And even been paid to use electricity this summer. And also I can go to local seaside for free with 22 kw points there so 30 mins charging or while eat etc can come back with lot more than went with so 2000+ mpg ! How much would it cost you to do 6 months average trips in cold and hills and wet roads at speed limits etc to do 8400 miles!!! Try less than 200£ at most more like 180£ !! And our evs isn’t much more than equivalent spec hybrid ice car a lot less when take fuel into account to do 8400 miles in all weather and hills etc and at speed limits must have saved about £700-800 been conservative maybe more if you took all factors into account .

[@nickieredshaw7835]

@@GrrMeister you get electricity at 5 % vat too and big oil get lots of subsidies too so it no difference. No I’m on a 100 % green electricity time of use tariff from OctopusEnergy and over last 8 months we have averaged about 7 p a kWh over the 8 months.

[@nickieredshaw7835]

@@GrrMeister also if you had a same size suv to a model x you do 30 mpg at best I bet . So to do 250-300 miles that would get in the x you would use upto 10 gallon of fuel so upto £50 so that as saving of upto £30 per 300 miles and the x would be good bit cheaper if charging at home around 2-10£ depending on electricity prices

[@fruitcake4t]

surely those screens are a dangerous distraction? in the same way mobile phones are a distraction

[@garethtalbot8950]

Great review. Hard to get someone like me out of golf diesel that is approaching 850km on one tank fill. I couldn't be bothered paying thousands more for that hassle. We've yet to see how these cars depreciate and wear after 5 years. Will 2nd owner face large problems, bills etc..

[@GG-tk8cq]

The range is only suitable for people with home charging ability...

[@phil8437]

Clever little car, but to be successful needs to have a longer range and be cheaper. Also ditch those electronic door mirrors. Great review Bob.

[@ericrochford3134]

Always great to get the honest real world experience 👍.

[@kiernai2]

Excellent real life review Bob!! It's a great little car but as you said at the start its 100% a city car. If you don't have to rely on the public charging network you're laughin! If you do, this ain't for you.

[@stephendoherty8291]

For such a great EV company, this is what they start off with. From the same company that brought you the NSX, F1 engineering prowess, hydrogen fuel cell (a real selling car). Is the issue the infrastructure if the i3 was charged fine. Like to see a second night vision camera for night use. Then again, a normal side mirror is blinding in the dark. Will sell well in Japan and London/Paris. Bob- its a Vanmoof bike.

[@raghavananneboyina6752]

how much this cas is available in india

[@brianfeely9239]

The real world tends to get in the way of the Greens I 🤔

[@bruts82]

A months worth of shopping 🛍?????????????

[@nickieredshaw7835]

Yer we do freezer shopping every month and get 150-180£ worth of shopping in a Zoe but i bet you won’t in this

[@bruts82]

@@nickieredshaw7835 I’ve an A6 estate with a bit of gear in the boot for work and I bearly fit a weeks shopping in it

[@nickieredshaw7835]

@@bruts82 o depending what you buy for weeks shopping?

[@ronvalente65]

I guess you don't like the Honda Ev!

[@rabit818]

Honda premiered hydrogen cell in California. They need to focus with it, I think that’s the future in transportation. I can live with the touchscreen of this Honda. It’s a cool car but practicality is a minus

[@SlapRoundTheChops]

Two thousand and tree 🌲

[@zim3on]

Van Moof?

[@chrisabbott683]

Ridiculously expensive for a car with such limited utility. Great example of style over substance. And they even messed up the styling at the front compared to the great concept car. It now has a permanent surprised face.

[@gib321]

Do the designers of these things not have any imagination when it comes to the exterior? It reminds me of something they made on the far side of the Iron Curtin in the early seventies. I assume the starting price is early 30k net of grants. No thanks.

[@dpfghela]

Not only are EV card awkward to live with, they’re not carbon neutral. They’ve simply shifted the emissions to a different part in the process. Plus I like conventional Combustion engines because it makes Greta Thunburg cry.

[@MarsTV_Cartoons]

Thank you for your brutally honest review. You just saved me 29k 😂🤣

[@TheRussianLondoner]

Thanks, best review of the worse eCar

[@marklola12]

you talk alot of crap lol. you know how many miles this can go on a charge....constantly say its a city car to go to the shops blah blah blah but then moan about how you are eventually going to have to public charge because of the lack of range but then to justify this thought you purposly mention driving further away knowing full well the range will not be enough.

[@rjm1764]

It doesn't appeal to me. The looks don't do It for me, and I wouldn't be much of a fan of the interior either. Too many screens. The charging experience doesn't sound very appealing either.

[@chrispenn715]

An expensive toy for people who don't really need a car - kind of pointless