Honda has announced a new partnership with smart EV charging company Ohme, which will become its exclusive home charging partner in Australia as the Japanese carmaker prepares to launch its new all-electric Super-One city car.
Under the agreement, Honda will recommend Ohme’s home chargers to customers looking to install a charging solution, with chargers also available to view at selected Honda dealerships across the country.
Ohme will provide a complete home charging package, including the charger and installation, as well as training and support for Honda’s dealer network.
The partnership comes as Honda makes its latest entry into Australia’s increasingly competitive small electric car market with the Super-One priced from $36,900.
The compact electric hatchback features a 29.6 kWh battery and offers up to 202 km of driving range under the WLTP test cycle, making it primarily suited to urban driving and shorter daily commutes.
Ohme says charging the Super-One from empty to full could cost as little as $2.37 using an off-peak electricity plan such as AGL’s Night Saver EV tariff, which offers electricity at 8 cents per kWh between midnight and 6am. That equates to a theoretical electricity cost of around $1.17 per 100 km based on the car’s claimed WLTP range, excluding charging losses and other electricity charges.
Ohme’s smart chargers can automatically schedule charging for periods when electricity prices are lowest, potentially reducing running costs for EV owners on time-of-use electricity tariffs.
The chargers also offer solar integration, allowing households with rooftop solar to make greater use of their own generation when charging their vehicles.
“It’s great to partner with Honda as they bring the Honda Super-ONE to Australia. It’s a fun, exciting car that carries all the heritage of Honda’s ‘joy of driving’ philosophy into the electric era,” said Matthew Evans, Head of Mobility at Ohme Australia.
“We look forward to giving Honda’s customers the best home-charging experience possible and supporting its retailers in every possible way.”
Honda Australia says the partnership is intended to make the transition to electric vehicle ownership easier for customers, particularly those purchasing their first EV.
“With the release of the Honda Super-ONE, we are focused on maintaining our leading ownership experience by helping customers transition to owning a BEV,” said Robert Thorp, Director of Automotive at Honda Australia.
“In working with Ohme, we are confident customers are taken on the journey with a reliable partner that provides ultimate charging peace of mind.”
Ohme is already a major player in the European home charging market, where it has established itself as one of the leading providers of residential EV charging equipment.
In Australia, Ohme is also the official home charging partner of fleet management provider SG Fleet and says it has now signed up 200 dealer partners as it expands its local operations.
The partnership reflects the growing importance of home charging support as more carmakers introduce electric models to Australia, particularly in the affordable end of the market where many buyers will be making the switch from petrol vehicles for the first time.
Honda and Ohme have not yet announced specific charger pricing or installation costs under the new arrangement.
