Honda says: “The exterior dimensions of the Fit EV are identical to the petrol-powered Fit with the addition of a higher hip point. The car will launch in one exclusive colour, Reflection Blue Pearl.”

Spec sheet: A full-electric version of the well-known and well-established petrol-powered Honda Fit (or Jazz in Europe) minus the tailpipe emissions.

The Honda Fit EV will be no cheaper than the Coda EV when it launches in the US mid-2012. In fact, at $38,675 it could be more expensive depending on grants and subsidies but the big difference between the two is quality. Taking an already very well regarded package – the supermini offers outstanding levels of interior room, quality and flexibility and still regularly tops group tests for its class – the Fit EV packs a battery underfloor and an electric motor to offer zero tailpipe emissions between 76 miles in mixed use to 123 city-based miles before needing a re-charge. It also has a clever interactive keyfob that allows the user to monitor the car’s state of charge, and start or stop charging remotely without a smart phone or Internet connection. The petrol-powered version starts at less than half the price and offers a greater range and low emissions, but if you want to live the EV dream and have the money to pay for it, the Fit EV will certainly fit the bill in a way the compromised Coda never could.