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At a news conference yesterday in Japan, Honda chief executive officer Takanobu Ito outlined the company's future plans to roll out advanced technology vehicles. Among the highlights: Ito revealed Honda will introduce both a mid-size plug-in hybrid and an electric commuter vehicle in the U.S. and Japan by the end of 2012. As part of the company's global push to develop more-efficient vehicles, Honda will also introduce a small diesel-powered car in Europe around the same time that its battery-powered vehicles hit our shores.

Honda will also begin testing "next-generation electric personal mobility products, including electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters and electric carts" in the Kumamoto and Saitama regions in Japan before the end of 2010. The purpose of the tests is to verify "the effectiveness of next-generation personal mobility products with electromotive technologies," i.e., plug-in vehicles and how to best use renewable energy (solar) with these vehicles. Honda will test all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the U.S. once the Japan tests are underway. U.S.-based participants include Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, CA. Torrance will get a plug-in hybrid electric test vehicle by the end of this year. Honda said its first hybrid to get a lithium-ion battery will be the next-generation Civic Hybrid, coming in 2011. More details are available in the press releases after the jump.

[Source: Honda, Reuters]

Continue reading Honda announces plans to sell plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle by 2012

Honda announces plans to sell plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle by 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Electric carElectricCarElectricVehiclehondahonda electrichonda electric carhonda electric vehiclehonda evhonda phevhonda plug-inhonda plug-in hybridHondaElectricHondaElectricCarHondaElectricVehicleHondaEvHondaPhevHondaPlug-inHondaPlug-inHybridplug-in hybridplug-in hybridsPlug-inHybridPlug-inHybridsWed, 21 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19563548/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/21/honda-announces-plans-to-sell-plug-in-hybrid-and-electric-vehicl/19563548/article-detail.xml 19563548 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/takanobu-ito-clarity_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/takanobu-ito-clarity.jpg <![CDATA[Honda R&D President says automaker "lacks confidence" in viability of EVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/honda-randd-president-says-automaker-lacks-confidence-in-viabili/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/honda-randd-president-says-automaker-lacks-confidence-in-viabili/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/19/honda-randd-president-says-automaker-lacks-confidence-in-viabili/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Honda EV-N Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Carlos Ghosn and Nissan may be plowing head first into the EV world, but Honda isn't so certain buyers are going to be willing to accept the range and charging woes that go along with driving an all-electric car. Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of research and development for Honda, has been quoted as saying that while his company is currently researching the possibility of an EV, he isn't going so far as to recommend them. We're not sure whether that means he won't recommend his company produce an electric car of its own, or if he just wouldn't tell his mother to cruise on over to the Nissan dealer to pick up a Leaf.

Either way, we'll probably see some form of plug-in hybrid or EV from Honda within a few short years. California has mandated that a certain percentage of vehicle sales must be either plug-in hybrid or EV starting in 2012. Given Kawanabe's chilly assessment of the EV game, though, odds are we won't be seeing anything like the adorable all-electric EV-N Concept on our streets. Chances are cars like the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and Insight will come with a plug-in option and larger batteries instead.


Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept


Gallery: 2009 Honda EV-N Concept


[Source: Bloomberg]

Honda R&D President says automaker "lacks confidence" in viability of EVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Civic HybridCivicHybridCR-ZEVEV-NEV-N ConceptEv-nConceptHodna CR-ZHodnaCr-zHonda Civic HybridHonda EVHonda EV-N ConceptHonda InsightHondaCivicHybridHondaEvHondaEv-nConceptHondaInsightHybridLeaf EVLeafEvNissanNissan LeafNissanLeafPlug-In HybridPlug-inHybridTomohiko KawanabeTomohikoKawanabeWed, 19 May 2010 14:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19483199/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/05/19/honda-randd-president-says-automaker-lacks-confidence-in-viabili/19483199/article-detail.xml 19483199 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/ev-n-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/ev-n-630.jpg <![CDATA[Honda unveils EV-neo, promises Japanese sales in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/honda-unveils-ev-neo-promises-japanese-sales-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/honda-unveils-ev-neo-promises-japanese-sales-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/14/honda-unveils-ev-neo-promises-japanese-sales-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Honda EV-neo electric scooter - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda has announced plans to introduce its first electric scooter in its home market of Japan before the end of the year. The opening salvo in the round of electrified two wheelers will be a production version of the EV-neo Concept, which was first seen at the Tokyo Motor Show late last year. We wish it were the electric Cub instead, but sadly nobody asked for our opinion.

Honda sees the EV-neo primarily as a means for delivery people to get around busy urban areas, but it will sell the vehicle to anyone for both business and personal use. A lithium ion battery of unknown capacity will be supplied by Toshiba and will reportedly allow the EV-neo a range of up to 30 kilometers (18 miles) on a flat road.

A depleted battery can be fully recharged in about four hours. Performance is said to be roughly equivalent to a 50cc gas-powered scooter, so you can probably expect speeds of well under 30 miles per hour from the machine's brushless motor. There isn't much more detail as of yet, but what little there is can be found in the official press release after the break.


Gallery: Honda EV-neo electric scooter


[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda unveils EV-neo, promises Japanese sales in 2010

Honda unveils EV-neo, promises Japanese sales in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda EV-N concept - click above for high-res image gallery

Honda's new CEO Takanobu Ito started off his tenure at the head of the company today by unveiling a new plug-in battery electric concept. The EV-N showcar hides its futuristic electron pumping powertrain in a decidedly retro bodystyle thanks to a design reminiscent of the subcompact 600N of the Sixties.

Honda has yet to reveal much in the way of technical details about the diminutive hatch, but we do know it uses lithium-ion batteries and the electric motor drives the front wheels. The car can be started with a fob called the Loop that incorporates a display showing the driver know the battery pack's state of charge.

Not enough pint-size fun for you? Each of the EV-N's doors features a pocket that holds one of Honda's gyro controlled, omnidirectional U3-X unicycles.


Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept combines future drive with retro style originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

With offerings like the FCX Clarity and the Insight, it's been clear what technologies Honda favors for environmentally-friendly transportation. But a change in strategy conceded by CEO Takanobu Ito could see Honda focusing more energy on plug-in electric vehicles in the near future.

Although Honda takes the standpoint that battery technology has not progressed enough for widespread implementation in passenger vehicles, difficulty setting up hydrogen fueling stations have forced Japan's second largest automaker to reconsider its strategy. With regulations constricting, especially in California, Honda will reportedly be shifting its focus to electric vehicles for the American market as well as for Europe and its own home turf in Japan.


Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX


[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Honda warming up to idea of electric vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda has repeatedly told the world it doesn't see battery electric vehicles as being viable anytime soon. Instead, the company has planned to retain its focus on hydrogen fuel cells. However, the realities of hydrogen distribution (or lack thereof), may be pushing Honda to do something it doesn't necessarily want to.

Honda will reportedly unveil a prototype for a battery powered mini car at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, with a production version expected to hit the streets by 2015. Despite the company's preference for hydrogen fuel cells, a plug-in may be necessary in order to meet the numbers of zero emission vehicles mandated by new California standards in coming years.

The automaker could certainly leverage the work it has done on the electrically driven FCX Clarity in combination with lithium batteries from its joint venture with GS Yuasa.

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Honda to show EV prototype in Tokyo, production in 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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