Honda announces ‘Total Electrification in Europe by 2025’, but what does it mean?

Honda had a big announcement at the Geneva Auto Show today, the Japanese automaker said that it is committing to a “total electrification in Europe by 2025′.

But what does it mean exactly?

Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President of Honda Motor Europe, said during the announcement:

“…since we made that first pledge in March 2017, the shift towards electrification has gathered pace considerably. Environmental challenges continue to drive demand for cleaner mobility. Technology marches on unrelenting and people are starting to shift their view of the car itself.”

What Honda commit to is to exactly “move 100 per cent of its European sales to electrified powertrains by 2025.”

Historically, automakers have referred to “electrified powertrains” as anything from hybrids (completely gas-powered) to plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles.

With its electric sales commitment in Europe, Honda is also launching new energy services to support its electrification effort.

They wrote:

“Honda intends to build a portfolio of energy management products and services offering a comprehensive solution for both EV customers and service operators in Europe.”

Back in 2017, Honda unveiled a bi-directional charging technology for its electric vehicles and installed the first station at its HQ:

The Japanese automaker said that the charging technology would be part of those new plans in Europe.

Electrek’s Take

To be honest, these kinds of announcements don’t impress me. If you are not breaking down your expected mix of hybrids versus all-electric vehicles, you’re not saying much.

Granted, hybrids are better than regular internal combustion engine vehicles, but they are still completely powered by gasoline.

And it sounds like that’s what Honda is focusing on.

In the release, they wrote that “Honda expects full hybrid technology to play a key role in meeting its aims of 100% electrification by 2025.”

When it comes to all-electric vehicles, it sounds like the Honda E prototype, which should lead to a production urban EV later this year, is currently their only effort.

If Honda is still putting more efforts into developing hybrids than they are developing all-electric vehicles, they are doing it wrong in my opinion.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.