Honda is no stranger to pushing technology boundaries when it comes to powertrains, and the company gave us a brief drive of its new electrified platform, the Honda Zero, which made its debut at CES last year .

For years, Honda has relied on hybrids — not so much EVs — to drive its electrified mission. All of that is about to change with the Honda 0 Series, a portfolio of new electric vehicles that will go into production over the next several years.

CEO Toshihiro Mibe previews Honda's coming line of 0 Series electric vehicles at an all-day briefing and test drive in Japan, revealing new specifications and manufacturing techniques that he says will be key to the carmaker's survival in the EV age.

Honda says that by emphasizing “thin, light, and wise,” it aims to transcend the constraints of having an EV be a “thick and heavy” vehicle. Too often, thick battery packs with bulky cooling systems and body structures intended to meet sedans and SUVs in the middle amount to packaging that doesn’t work so well for anything at the extremes.

We drove an early prototype of Honda's next-generation EV. It looks like an Accord now, but the production model will stick closely to the futuristic styling of the 2024 Saloon concept.

We don’t have any relationship with GM.” These were the words Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe uttered to a room full of journalists shortly before we were to drive a prototype previewing the company’s upcoming “0 Series” of electric cars.

Honda unveiled the first 0 Series concepts in January at CES, showing off the Saloon, a low-slung sedan (think Accord), and the Space-Hub multipurpose vehicle (think futuristic take on an Odyssey or Sienna minivan).