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Who Needs a Steering Wheel? Not the Honda EV-STER Concept! At the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, Honda showed off their version of an all-electric sports car. Apparently, designers love to sketch sports cars. One guy's rendition of a small lightweight sports car found its way into reality as this concept: the tiny EV-STER.
In response to critics who decry Honda's boring vehicles, the goal here was to design something that maximizes fun and minimizes environmental impact. The version on display was missing a roof -- minor detail -- but that hardly detracted from the car's sleek, forward styling and ability to draw attention.
This two-seat roadster, smaller than even the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Honda S2000, uses a little electric motor with 10 kWh lithium-ion batteries to send 78 horsepower to the rear wheels. To minimize weight, the body is made of carbon composites. The car's range is nearly 100 miles on a single charge, and acceleration from zero to 37 mph takes 5.0 seconds. Speed maxes out at 99 mph. Charging time depends on the type of charger used and ranges from three to six hours.
With this car, Honda has managed to build a completely customizable driving experience: the driver can adjust settings such as motor output and suspension to match his/her driving style.
The interior presents a truly futuristic design: instead of a steering wheel, it uses "Twin Lever Steering" to reduce pressure on the driver from fighting cornering forces when making turns. How does this work? According to one Honda executive, when turning the car left, the driver must turn the wheel to the left while resisting cornering forces that push his/her body to the right. Honda's system of levers encourages the driver to move with the cornering forces; the driver simply pushes the right lever while pulling the left. This reduces strain on the body.
But the innovative interior design doesn't stop with the new steering mechanism. The dashboard is covered with solar panels to help power accessories and climate control, and the gauges and gadgets on the dash are centered on the driver. On either side of the center readout, side displays invoke the feel of a motorcycle's wing mirrors.
Whether the EV-STER will ever make it to production is anybody's guess. If it does hit the big time, it would probably wear a fabric roof. Given that the automotive press has been singing its praises regardless of the electric propulsion, the all-electric powertrain might be switched out for a traditional gasoline engine. The steering levers would likely be ditched -- too weird -- for the reassuring comfort of the ol' steering wheel.