HONDA

has launched its new battery-powered Honda-e hatchback. The four-seater urban electric runaround, above, promises a range of 124 miles and a fast charge that can replenish 80 per cent of its battery in just 30 minutes, making it ‘ideal for commuting’.

Expect to pay £25,000 to £30,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

Built in Japan, the car is spearheading Honda’s electrification drive to have two-thirds of its vehicles battery powered by 2025.

Sadly, this strategy was the main reason it cited for closing its Swindon plant from 2021 with the loss of 3,500 factory jobs.