Honda just hit the brakes on its big EV dreams and stomped the gas on hybrids. In a move that would make any gearhead raise an eyebrow, the brand says only 20% of its sales will be full EVs by 2030 (down from 30%).
Instead, HEVs, those clever gas-electric middleweights, will rule the roost. The upshot? Think of your future Honda models as turbo-charged hybrids sipping fuel far better than today’s versions.
Thirteen New Hybrids on the Horizon
Got hybrid fever? Good news: 13 new Honda hybrid cars are joining the lineup between 2027 and 2031. That’s a whole garage of fresh models!
These aren’t just rebadged Camrys – we’re talking all kinds of cars, from slick sedans to family-friendly SUVs, getting Honda’s next-gen hybrid powertrains. Honda even hints these will pack new platforms and tech, meaning lighter bodies and sharper handling.
The 61:39 Future — Hybrids in the Lead
By 2030 Honda forecasts about 61% of sales will be hybrids vs. 39% EVs. In other words, nearly two out of every three Hondas sold at decade’s end will have some gasoline in the tank.
Honda figures they’ll hit over 2.2 million hybrid sales on their 3.6 million target. It’s a hybrid-heavy party, and even that sharp new electric “H” logo unveiled for EVs will start showing up on hybrids too – a style crossover we didn’t see coming.
Three Hybrid Flavors for Every Driver
What’s under the hood of these new hybrids? Three different systems! Two are tuned for efficiency (think small-car and midsize-car hybrid setups), and one is a muscle-bound version for big trucks and SUVs that need towing power.
Every system is Honda’s latest “e:HEV” tech: multi-speed transmissions with electric motors on board. They’re combining these with ultra-light platforms and a nifty electric AWD unit that shaves energy losses.
North America & India: Hybrid Specials
Honda knows hybrids are already a hit in North America, so it’s cooking up a third setup just for here. Expect a high-performance hybrid for the big stuff: think trucks or large SUVs that can tow, haul, and still switch seamlessly between gas and electric oo mph. It’s the best of both worlds – grunt when you need it, economy when you don’t.
A new global platform (PF2) arriving in 2027–28 will spawn a 7-seater SUV (2027) and a next-gen City (2028), both offered with strong-hybrid power. In short, hybrids are headed everywhere — from US freeways to Indian highways — with tweaks for each market.
The H Logo Goes Hybrid (& EV Dreams Alive)
Remember Honda’s new boxy “H” badge from 2024? It was billed as an EV logo, but surprise! It’ll deck out hybrids too. So the line between slick electric Hondas and their hybrid cousins is blurring.
These will run on big 90 kWh batteries for around 482 km (300 miles) of range, and even pack Level 3 ADAS (hands-off-the-wheel driving in certain conditions). So, while hybrids grab the limelight now, Honda’s electric future (with a badge) is still charging ahead.
Slashing Costs: Batteries and Motors
To sweeten the deal, Honda isn’t just tossing tech at the problem – it’s cutting costs too. By teaming up with suppliers and cranking out hybrids in high volumes, Honda expects battery and motor prices to fall by over 50% compared to the systems in 2018 and 2023 models.
Toyota & Hyundai: The Hybrid Highway
Honda isn’t alone on the hybrid highway. Toyota’s been leading the hybrid pack for decades and is still all-in. Toyota’s newest moves include making classics like the Camry and RAV4 hybrid-only in many markets, and even rolling out fuel-cell options.
Hyundai, too, is pumping up its hybrid game. Its plan (the “Hyundai Way”) is going big on hybrids: from 7 hybrid models now to 14 soon, and aiming for well over a million hybrid sales by the end of this decade (690,000 hybrids just in North America by 2030!). Hyundai’s also experimenting with extended-range EVs – a blend of EV and gas – and loosening the purse strings for batteries and ADAS tech.
So Honda’s pivot to hybrids is very much in step with its rivals. All the big players see hybrids as the practical bridge: they tick the efficiency boxes today while the EV charging infrastructure and batteries keep catching up.
For car lovers, it means more fun tech, better efficiency, and plenty of choices. Honda is dialing back EV hype a bit, but that means more hybrid rides to geek out over.
Also Read: