Author | Wang Yunpeng

In the era of electrification, almost every traditional automaker is thinking about how to smoothly achieve the transition to electrification and continue the advantages of the gasoline era.

Some automakers have proposed a solution of “stop all technology research and development related to internal combustion engines, and invest all energy and resources in pure electric vehicles.” Although this approach is efficient and direct, it cannot be called a “transition” because it involves completely discarding past accumulation and starting from scratch.

On the other hand, some automakers are much smarter, that is, they layout early in the field of electrification, first create hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) models that adapt better to the market, and then gradually transition to plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models with higher electric drive. When the market is truly mature, they then build pure electric (EV) products that can adapt to the market.

It’s worth mentioning that the enterprises with such far-sightedness are generally those with profound technological accumulation and the ability to see through market development trends. Guangqi Honda is one of the most representative ones.

On the evening of June 20th, Guangqi Honda, which has been deeply rooted in the Chinese automobile market for 24 years and has achieved impressive results in the traditional gasoline and hybrid markets, officially launched its new electric brand e:NP and the first product, e:NP1. This model offers four versions with two ranges of 420km/510km, and a post-subsidy price ranging from RMB 175,000 to RMB 218,000. As one of Honda’s first batch of new electric models launched in China, e:NP1 embodies Honda’s top-notch technology and is led by young Chinese engineers.

24 years ago, Guangqi Honda’s first globally synchronous vehicle model, the domestically produced Accord, went offline, and the first 4S store opened nationwide, which also ushered in a new era of products and ecology. 24 years later, Guangqi Honda is making a comprehensive effort in the field of electric vehicles, breaking its own boundaries and opening up the road to the era of electrification with extreme integration.

It can be said that from establishing tradition to breaking tradition, Guangqi Honda has practiced a steady and progressive corporate style for 24 years. At the same time, in the author’s opinion, with the official launch of e:NP1, Guangqi Honda will also seize the leading position in the electrification race.

Breaking boundaries and entering new tracks

“In the first quarter, China’s production and sales of new energy vehicles exceeded one million, reaching 1.293 million and 1.257 million, respectively, an increase of 1.4 times year-on-year. In 2022, the production and sales of new energy vehicles are expected to reach 5 million for the whole year, further highlighting the leading role in the world.”The data behind these facts prove that “EV” has become the synonym of this era. Its emergence not only causes the “rising star in a changing time” to happen again in the automotive industry that has been developing for 140 years, but also forces almost all traditional car companies to recognize the opportunities and directions for the future on the path of inertia.

Facing the surging trend of electrification, should we wait passively for opportunities, or take the initiative and attack decisively? As a brand that integrates Honda’s 70 years of car-making wisdom and its own 24-year heritage, GAC Honda chose the latter.

In October 2021, with the release of its electrification strategy, Honda’s electrification promise in China officially began. Six months later, on March 29 of this year, GAC Honda’s new electric brand e:NP “Ji Pai” debuted.

Although the brand new electrification brand just landed this year, GAC Honda has been laying out the electrification field for a long time. From the comprehensive introduction of “Sharp Hybrid” in 2017, to the trial launch of the pure electric SUV model VE-1 in 2019, to the introduction of PHEV’s Haoying and the launch of pure electric sedan EA6 Yile in 2021, it can be said that GAC Honda has been seeking the future in the electrification process.

This time, the official launch of e:NP “Ji Pai” signifies that GAC Honda has entered the era of electrification with the concept of “boundarylessness” innovation, and also indicates that it will achieve a major leap in system capabilities, including R&D, production, channels, and services.

Specifically, in terms of R&D and manufacturing, GAC Honda will integrate Honda’s 70 years of car-making heritage and local resources in China, and continue to empower the e:NP brand with ultimate boundaryless research and development. The GAC Honda’s new electric vehicle factory, which is planned to be completed and put into operation in 2024, will fully apply 5G network technology and introduce multiple “intelligent” innovations to achieve rapid response to product personalization demands.

In terms of channels and services, GAC Honda will rely on offline new e-centers, e-spaces, and more than 600 national special stores, as well as online digital platforms such as GAC Honda APP, to create “boundaryless” touchpoints with customers and achieve emotional co-creation and growth with users.It can be said that e:NP1 Jipai 1 is a new starting point for Guangqi Honda to accelerate electrification and also the origin of Guangqi Honda’s renaissance.

Stunning because of subversion

Although the subversive and even destructive attacks of the newly emerging forces in the early stage of electrification development made traditional car companies that have been in the Chinese car market for more than 20 years feel anxious, traditional car companies hold broader customer resources and provide more opportunities and possibilities for new tracks and new starting points.

In other words, when traditional automakers begin to enter the era of full-matrix electrification, the electrification, intelligence, and networking changes they present are also subversive.

Take Guangqi Honda e:NP1 Jipai 1 as an example. Although it is a pure electric vehicle, it has not abandoned Honda’s driving genes. In terms of dynamic level, e:NP1 Jipai 1 adopts a brand-new intelligent and efficient front-wheel-drive pure electric architecture “e:N Architecture F”.

The biggest feature of this architecture is that it is specially developed for electrification, with high integration. The high-efficiency drive motor, large-capacity and high-density battery, and body layout based on a pure electric architecture enable the entire electric drive system to achieve minimum space occupation while also making the weight distribution of the entire body more balanced.

In other words, e:NP1 Jipai 1 born in the “e:N Architecture F” architecture has a naturally balanced weight distribution and a lower center of gravity, combined with excellent performance, making it easier for consumers to experience the driving feeling of “flying close to the ground”.

At the same time, in order to better fit into the daily use scene of Chinese consumers, e:NP1 Jipai 1 also integrates more than 20,000 control scene algorithms in the electronic control program, which can perfectly solve the dizziness problem that is easy to be caused by electric vehicles currently on sale. In terms of driving performance, the vehicle not only can achieve the joy of driving with car and person integrated and freely moving, but also adds the Honda EV Sound acceleration roar, providing drivers with more exciting acceleration experience.

It is worth mentioning that in addition to condensing Honda’s more than 70 years of car-building genes and brand beliefs, e:NP1 Jipai 1 also integrates China’s advanced electrification and intelligence technologies. In terms of power, e:NP1 Jipai 1 is equipped with an excellent three-in-one high-power drive motor in the industry, with a maximum power output of 150 kW and a maximum range of over 500 kilometers.Compared to autonomous driving, e:NP1 Jipai 1 also performs amazingly in intelligentization. According to GAC Honda, the Honda CONNECT 3.0 intelligent navigation and communication system applied in e:NP1 Jipai 1 has undergone self-evolution and upgraded into a pure electric version.

Specifically, the pure electric version of Honda CONNECT 3.0 integrates all the functions of the previous version, and adapts to the unique 10.25-inch color full LCD instrument panel and 15.1-inch high-definition ultra-thin border center control screen of e:NP1 Jipai 1 with a brand-new interface, and corresponds to the energy management function specific to pure electric vehicles (able to plan the trip based on the battery level).

In addition, the intelligence of e:NP1 Jipai 1 is also reflected in the HPA (Honda Personal Assistant) Honda Personal Assistant system. For example, in the DMC driver state perception system, HPA can use its lovely animation character to interact with the driver.

In terms of intelligent safety, Honda SENSING safety ultra-sensing system, which is committed to improving driving safety and convenience, is also undoubtedly equipped on e:NP1 Jipai 1. As a result, the most advanced intelligent and strong interactive car machine ecosystem of GAC Honda, the e:NOS, was born.

“With the preparation to subvert the limits to amaze the world, and the effort to subvert the boundaries to amaze the world,” for e:NP1 Jipai 1 with enough amazing product strength, it is not only a “sword” launched by GAC Honda to attack the 10 million cumulative users but also will bring more possibilities to the Chinese new energy vehicle market.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.