Home Green Cars 7 : Battery Powered Cars 7.9 : Japan 7.9.2 Honda Honda: Environmentally Friendly / Green Cars 7.9.2. Honda Between 1997 and 1999 Honda produced about 300 of their 66hp “EV Plus” cars. The car was fitted with 24 12V NiMh batteries and had a maximum range of about 110 miles (180 km). Its top speed was about 80 mph (130 kph) and could accelerate from 0-30 mph in 4.9 secs.  It was the first  production EV to use Nickel Metal Hydride batteries and the first EV to have a range of over 100 miles. Work ceased on the EV Plus in 1999 when Honda decided to start work on its hybrid electric vehicles.    [ Back ]