This is not really a surprise, but now we’ve got
official confirmation: the Honda e will feature rear view cameras as standard. We had already seen it coming as
both development prototypes and the e Prototype pre-production study featured
video cameras instead of rear view mirrors. However, what could be surprising
for some people is that the Side Camera Mirror System will be fitted as
standard to Honda’s electric compact car, marking a first in the segment.
The compact rear view cameras provide live images to
two 6-inch screens positioned inside the vehicle at either end of the
dashboard. Honda says the displays are placed ergonomically “to ensure a
natural feel and vision for the driver.”
According to the company, opting for cameras instead
of mirrors brings several benefits in terms of design, safety, aerodynamics and
refinement. Styling-wise, the cameras give the car a modern, clean and simple
appearance, complementing the stepless A-pillars and flush, “pop out” door
handles.
Furthermore, the cameras are contained within the
width of the Honda e and do not extend beyond the wheel arches. This serves to
improve visibility and reduce aerodynamic drag by around 90 percent compared to
conventional door mirrors; the car’s overall aerodynamic efficiency is improved
by 3.8 percent thanks to the compact cameras alone! The tiny cameras also
produce less wind noise than conventional side mirrors at higher speeds, thus
contributing to a quieter ride.
As for safety, Honda claims the Side Camera Mirror
System derived from the Honda e Prototype brings many advantages, including a
“wide view” mode that extends the field of vision further, therefore reducing
blind spots by approximately 50 percent. Furthermore, when reverse gear is
selected, guidelines appear on the side view screens in addition to an enhanced
camera angle for improved visibility.
But probably the biggest difference is felt in poor
weather, low-light and night-time conditions, when the brightness levels on the
interior displays are automatically adjusted to ensure superior visibility with
no dazzle or glare. Speaking of bad weather, the camera unit housings are
shaped to prevent water drops from forming on the lens, whose surface is
treated with a water-repellent coating to deter any residual water build up.
