Honda, one of the last EV holdouts, plans to develop an electric car that will hit U.S. markets by 2015.

Honda has repeatedly stated that they intend to stick with hybrids and fuel cell technology while ignoring the current crop of EVs coming our way.  But that didn't last for long as the Nikkei newspaper in Japan is now reporting that Honda will release of prototype of their first EV at the Tokyo Motor Show in October with the production vehicle scheduled for release around 2015.

The company did confirm that they are developing an electric car, but has not yet decided when they will launch the vehicle.  They also would not confirm if the prototype would be on display in Tokyo.

According to the Nikkei report, the vehicle will be a minicar size maybe along the lines of the i-MiEV.

With Nissan nearing production on the LEAF EV and Toyota recently announcing plans for an EV by 2012, Honda simply could not hold out any longer.

According to Honda, the plans to produce an electric car comes directly from tighter environmental regulations that have increased demand for zero emission vehicles on the road in the near future.

Source:  Nikkei (subscription required), GM-Volt.com