Quick Highlights:
- Honda’s first electric kei car isn’t a concept — the N-ONE e is on sale now in Japan.
- Pricing starts at ¥2.7 million (about $18,300), climbing to roughly $22,000 for higher trims.
- A 29.6-kWh battery under the floor delivers up to 155 miles of WLTP range — more than the Nissan Sakura.
- Plug into a DC fast-charger, and you’ll see 80 percent in around 30 minutes.
Pint-sized electric cars rarely make headlines, but the Honda N-ONE e deserves a spotlight. It’s Honda’s first fully electric kei car, designed specifically for Japan’s urban streets. With a starting price of just $18,300, the N-ONE e arrives as proof that affordable EVs don’t have to be a distant promise. Instead, this boxy hatchback blends retro styling, everyday practicality, and a respectable 155-mile range into a package tailor-made for city life.
Kei Car Roots, EV Future
If the name rings a bell, it’s because the N-ONE gasoline version has long been one of Japan’s best-selling kei cars. Kei cars are a uniquely Japanese category—tiny, box-shaped vehicles that qualify for lower taxes and insurance while fitting perfectly into narrow city streets. Honda has cleverly electrified that formula without losing the charm.
The N-ONE e borrows its boxy silhouette and round-eyed fascia from the gas model but adds EV-specific details. The charging port hides beneath a bezel made of recycled materials, and depending on trim, you’ll find either a single port or dual setup for faster charging.
Range and Charging That Deliver
Tucked under the floor is a 29.6 kWh battery, borrowed from Honda’s N-VAN e but reworked into a thinner pack to keep the cabin roomy. On a full charge, the N-ONE e is good for about 155 miles (WLTP)—a solid figure that actually gives it an edge over the Nissan Sakura, Japan’s best-selling mini EV, rated at just 112 miles.
Charging is built around everyday convenience. A home Level 2 setup will take roughly 4.5 hours for a full recharge, while a stop at a DC fast charger cuts that to 30 minutes for an 80-percent top-up. Honda also added an unexpected bonus: a 1,500-watt external outlet that turns the N-ONE e into a rolling power supply, handy for camping weekends or emergency backup at home.
Inside the Cabin
Slip into the N-ONE e and you feel at home, almost retro in a good sense. Instead of the flashy gimmicks, the entry model will provide you with a HVAC knob, a push-button shifter and a set of 14-inch steel wheels, which leans into the element of utilitarianism.
Take it up to the tall trims though and the small Honda goes show-off. You receive a steering wheel that is wrapped in leather, a touchscreen measuring 9.0 inches, and a digital gauge cluster- the type of small car features that make a miniature kei car seem rather grown-up. Give credit to the skimpy battery that is flat under the floor giving the illusion of space inside; in a car this small, the cabin does not seem crowded. Four adults can get in without complaining, and that is what Honda had to pull off.
Safety Still Counts
Affordable does not imply bare-bones and Honda ensures that the N-ONE e does not feel like an economy car. All models have a robust package of driver-assist technology, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beams. An intelligent safety feature is also present: Sudden Acceleration Prevention, which reduces the occurrence of inadvertent full- throttle launch, which can be a major problem in traffic jams.
It is an impressive kit on a kei car with a starting price of less than twenty grand. It caused the N-ONE e to be elevated beyond the scope of an admittedly urban runabout and into the realm of a technologically advanced city EV.
Price and Positioning
The N-ONE e hits Japanese showrooms at ¥2.7 million (about $18,300), a number that immediately makes it one of the cheapest EVs you can buy anywhere. Even the top trim, at around $22,000, still lands thousands below what most global brands call “entry-level electric.”
The catch? Like all kei cars, it’s a Japan-only affair. That’s a shame, because this is the kind of sub-$20K EV buyers in the U.S. and Europe keep begging for. Still, in its home market—where kei cars make up nearly 40 percent of all new-car sales—Honda knows exactly where to play.
The Bigger Picture
Honda isn’t just building another city runabout here—it’s drawing on a proven formula. The original gasoline N-ONE carved out a cult following in Japan, while the boxier N-Box remains the country’s best-selling kei car. By electrifying the same template, Honda is signaling that it doesn’t plan to surrender ground in a segment that defines daily life for millions of drivers.
Rivals are circling fast—Nissan Sakura, Toyota’s upcoming kei EV, and BYD’s push into Japan all threaten to crowd the micro-EV space. But with its retro design, 155-mile range, and starting price under $20,000, the N-ONE e feels less like a placeholder and more like a benchmark others will have to measure against.
Final Word
The Honda N-ONE e proves that electrification doesn’t have to mean oversized batteries and luxury price tags. It’s small, clever, and priced within reach—exactly what the EV market has been missing. For now, though, it’s a treat reserved for Japan, leaving the rest of the world to wonder why tiny, affordable EVs aren’t crossing borders.
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