2013 Honda Fit EV: Up Close
The Honda Fit EV is based on the gas-powered Fit, but styling changes give the all-electric hatchback a distinctive appearance. It starts up front, where the regular Fit's grille has been swapped for a solid panel and a chrome bar that gives the car a bit of a grin. Changes to the rear include a hood-like spoiler that's quite a bit larger than the one on the Fit Sport — it's aerodynamic, Honda says — and sharp corners on the sides of the bumper like those on the Toyota Prius.
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The transformation into an electric car has consequences in the cabin, as the Fit EV loses one of the gas model's signature features: the Magic Seat second row.
That seat folds flat with the cargo floor or flips up like the backseat in an extended-cab pickup truck. In the Fit EV, the lithium-ion battery pack is under the front and rear seats, and instead of the Magic Seat there's just a traditional folding backseat that doesn't fold flat with the cargo floor. The spacious cargo area is one of the Fit's standout attributes.
The cockpit is familiar, but there's a new instrument cluster with a digital speedometer centered between a power/charge indicator and a battery gauge in the style of a traditional gas gauge. Choosing between Normal, Sport and Econ modes changes the digital screen's accent color in addition to the driving characteristics.
Despite the loss of versatility, it's good to see another competitor for the Nissan Leaf. Plus, the Fit EV's ability to charge rapidly — Honda says it can recharge in as little as three hours using a 240-volt charging system — chips away at one of the key stumbling blocks to the widespread acceptance of electric cars.
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3 hour charge is better but doesn't really overcome the main obstacle to EV's. Make it less than 30 minutes with charging stations as readily accessible as gas stations and they you will see some EV's sold.
Curious as to why there's a shifter with more than just forward and reverse gears...or maybe I'm not seeing it clearly
There is a picture from an earlier Fit EV post and it is a better resolution picture. There're 4 gears: P, N, D and R. You still need Neutral for towing purposes. P, D & R - that's self-explanatory.