Honda Cars : Honda CEO Ito believes Chinese market not ripe for hybrid cars yet | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By  John Hofilena

This year’s Shanghai auto show display spaces were filled with numerous models of hybrid and electric cars – which maybe is a sign that the global auto market is moving in that general direction. It may also be a loud signal to China to consider greener automobile solutions, what with the massive clouds of smog that covered the cities these past few months. But Honda Motor Co. CEO Takanobu Ito believes that the Chinese market might not be quite into hybrid cars yet. 


Of the four new concept and production cars displayed by the Japanese carmaker at the Shanghai auto show on Saturday, none were hybrids or electric. Honda put out three hybrid vehicles available to the Chinese market last year – the CR-Z, Insight and Fit Hybrid – but the automaker revealed that it only sold 542 hybrid units in China in the whole of 2012. “Overall, we have high hopes for hybrid technology. In terms of how important it is to the Chinese market we are slowly releasing products and looking at how they do,” Mr. Ito said in Shanghai on Saturday. “But we think there are still more Chinese consumers who want to simply buy a car that fits their needs rather than buy a hybrid. By needs I mean a good-quality car with an affordable price that doesn’t break down. At present, we think these take higher priority.” The current atmosphere regarding hybrids could eventually change, Ito allowed. He said that the hybrid mentality needs a push from the Chinese government, by incorporating higher fuel-economy standards and the government’s overall backing for a green-car industry. Honda is even making plans to produce hybrid components and parts in the country in 2014.

Ito admitted that hybrid car technology would cost a bit more no matter what, and at this point this is something that Chinese consumers are not yet willing to pay. If, like in Japan, the Chinese government gives incentives and subsidies towards green car purchases, the mentality could start changing in that direction. Ito pledged that Honda will continue to offer hybrid vehicles to the Chinese market, and gradually grow its list of available models more and more, if the Chinese government makes good on enacting policies that would make hybrids the more attractive option for Chinese car buyers.

Source;
http://japandailypress.com/honda-ceo-ito-believes-chinese-market-not-ripe-for-hybrid-cars-yet-2327527

Honda Cars : Honda Recycling Rare Earth Materials From Used EV Batteries | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Joshua S. Hill of www.cleantechnica.com

Electric vehicles are becoming more and more important to the future of a green planet Earth, with production and sales increasing worldwide. Vehicle manufacturers the world over are making electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles a priority, and adjunct companies focusing on recharging and distance calculations are popping up all over the place.

Arguably the key component for any electric vehicle is its battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery in many cases.

However, batteries have also proved to be a sticking point when it comes to the ‘actual’ greenness of an electric vehicle; battery creation is an intensive process, and then — at the end of a battery’s lifespan — there is the question of how to dispose of it.

One of these issues may be on the way out, however, according to Honda, which has announced on its website that it has established the world’s first process (according to Honda internal research) that reuses rare earth metals extracted from nickel-metal hydride batteries in the creation of new nickel-metal hydride batteries.

One of the key elements of a nickel-metal hydride battery is the use of rare earth metals like Lanthanum. Honda has now managed to extract an oxide containing rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries at the Japan Metals & Chemicals company (JMC).

The process involves applying molten salt electrolysis to the oxide from the battery, allowing them to extract metallised rare earth that can be used directly as negative-electrode materials for nickel-metal hydride batteries.

The rare earth metals extracted have a purity of more than 99%, which is as high as that of ordinarily traded and newly mined rare earth metals. On top of that, the new process enables the extraction of as much as 80% of rare earth metals contained in a nickel-metal hydride battery.

Honda isn’t just leaving this in the laboratory, either. Honda plans to use the extracted rare earth metals from JMC in new batteries as early as this month, as negative-electrode materials.

The current batch of rare earth metals were harvested from 386 Honda hybrid vehicles, which were stored prior to being on sale, but which were subsequently damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Minus a handy supply of unused and damaged hybrids sitting in a warehouse somewhere, Honda plans to begin using the new process on batteries collected by Honda dealers through battery replacements. The company also hopes to extract rare earth materials from various used parts to further how much it is recycling.


Source;
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/03/04/honda-recycling-rare-earth-materials-from-used-ev-batteries/

Honda Cars : Edmunds: 2014 Honda Accord Plug in Hybrid | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Pros

Plug-in hybrid technology; high fuel economy; premium feel interior; loaded with standard safety and convenience features; quick recharging times.

Cons

Considerably more expensive than the typical hybrid sedan; no folding rear seat.

What's New for 2014

The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid is an all-new model.

Introduction

Honda recently redesigned the Accord for its ninth generation, improving the sedan's interior and exterior styling. For 2014, the Honda Accord gains a new model, the Accord Plug-In Hybrid. With this new addition to the lineup, Honda becomes one of the few automakers to offer a midsize family sedan in a plug-in hybrid configuration.
Unlike Honda's other hybrids such as the Insight, the Plug-In has an all-new hybrid system that's capable of accelerating the car using pure electric power. And as its name implies, the Plug-In can be recharged externally, thereby minimizing gas usage. Honda says the Accord Plug-In provides about 10-15 miles of pure electric range, after which point it switches over to normal hybrid operation. In regular hybrid mode, this Accord earns EPA estimates of 47 mpg city/46 mpg highway and 46 mpg combined.
Like the standard Accord, the plug-in hybrid offers similar features and comes in one well-appointed trim level based on the standard Accord Touring trim. That includes LED headlights, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a navigation system and monitoring of vitals like charge status, charging stations and even enabled remote charging controlled by smartphone apps. Honda says a full battery charge on a 120-volt outlet will take three hours, while charging on a 240-volt outlet takes less than one hour.
The family sedan segment is packed with more great choices than ever before, but the field is wide open for plug-in hybrids. For now, the Accord competes directly with the 2013 Ford Fusion Energi, which, like the Accord, bundles a lengthy list of winning features into a plug-in package. One could also consider the 2013 Chevrolet Volt. It offers approximately three times the electric-only range, though it only seats four and those in back will find cramped quarters compared to the Honda.
For now Honda will only sell the Accord Plug-In Hybrid in California and New York, so consider yourself lucky if you're interested in the car and happen to live in one of those states. We've yet to fully test the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In, but check back for a complete evaluation in the coming months.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid comes in one well-equipped trim level.
Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, foglamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, special "bio-fabric" upholstery, heated front and rear seats, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar), driver memory settings and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Electronic features include Bluetooth connectivity, an 8-inch touchscreen interface, voice recognition, a navigation system and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio, an iPod/USB interface and smartphone app integration (HondaLink). Adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and a blind-spot monitor are also standard.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor. Together, they send a total of 196 horsepower to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A 6.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack powers the electric motor.
The Accord Plug-In Hybrid offers three driving modes: full electric, gas/electric (switches when battery capacity depletes to a specific threshold) and gasoline (for higher speeds or under high demand for acceleration). Additionally, two sub-modes tailor the Accord Plug-In's hybrid mode. "HV" acts as a conventional hybrid, blending gasoline and electric power for optimum fuel efficiency, while "HV Charge" does the same, while feeding energy back into the battery.
The EPA estimates stand at 47 mpg city/46 mpg highway and 46 mpg combined.

Safety

The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid comes with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems are also standard.
Of note is the LaneWatch blind-spot system, which instantly switches the 8-inch screen's display to a low and expansive view of the passenger side of the car when the right turn signal is engaged. A camera in the right-side mirror dedicated to this function provides a confidence-inspiring view, and acclimating to catching the view in the center-dash display is quick and natural.

Interior Design and Special Features

With a few exceptions, the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid features an elegant and well-constructed cabin trimmed with high-quality materials that you could almost mistake for an Acura. The center stack embraces the spirit of legibility with an effective three-tier layout, capped at the top with an 8-inch display.
Despite the new Accord's slightly smaller exterior dimensions compared to the previous generation, its interior room remains impressive. There is plenty of leg and shoulder space for front occupants, and rear-seat passengers should be quite comfortable and happy. Road and tire noise -- often among Honda's traditional weaknesses -- are noticeably reduced in the 2014 Accord thanks in part to two active noise-cancellation systems plus improved aerodynamics.
We're also fond of the visibility afforded by the Accord cabin, which offers a lower beltline, slimmer roof pillars and a generous amount of glass. Unfortunately, the presence of the plug-in hybrid's battery pack means the rear seat does not fold down, thus limiting the Accord's cargo usefulness. The trunk, at 8.6 cubic feet, is also considerably smaller than the regular Accord's.

Driving Impressions

We've yet to test the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid, so check back for impressions on the car's new plug-in hybrid powertrain and handling capabilities.

Source;
http://www.edmunds.com/honda/accord-plug-in-hybrid/2014/

Honda Cars : SolarCity and Honda Partner to Provide Solar Power to Honda and Acura Customers and Dealerships, for Less than the Cost of Utility-Supplied Power | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Partnership seeks to broaden efforts to address climate change by giving Honda and Acura customers an opportunity to save money with solar power

 

SAN MATEO, Calif. & TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SolarCity® (Nasdaq: SCTY) and American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced a partnership to make solar power more affordable and available to Honda and Acura customers in the U.S., providing a cleaner source of electricity at a lower cost than utility-supplied power. The partnership, which is aimed at addressing global climate change by reducing CO₂ emissions from home, business, and transportation energy use, establishes an investment fund to finance $65 million in solar projects to assist Honda and Acura customers with the initial cost of solar power installation. Millions of Honda and Acura customers and hundreds of dealerships in SolarCity’s 14-state service area may be eligible for the special offer, and SolarCity and Honda expect to be able to accommodate thousands of interested homeowners in the fund.*

“This is an unprecedented partnership—few companies have made a more substantive or comprehensive commitment to environmental responsibility than Honda.”

Honda and Acura dealerships in SolarCity’s service territory may also be able to take advantage of the offer to install affordable solar power through the partnership. Additionally, Honda and SolarCity will explore opportunities to integrate solar power and electric vehicle recharging, envisioning a future in which Fit EV and Accord Plug-In Hybrid owners will be able to charge their cars from the power of the sun, thereby reducing household CO₂ emissions to nearly zero.

Honda, recognized for its leadership in producing fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles, and SolarCity, America’s leading full-service solar power provider, have established the $65 million investment fund to remove a pervasive obstacle to the broader adoption of solar power: the high initial investment associated with installing solar power. Through the partnership, the first for any automaker, Honda and Acura customers and dealerships will be able to install solar power with little or no upfront cost, depending on the customer’s choice of plans. Customers will be given a choice to pre-pay for their solar electricity or pay a monthly payment that will be lower than the cost of their current utility bill, with insurance, repairs and monitoring service included.

SolarCity has developed a proprietary system that has greatly simplified the process by which homeowners can go solar. From an initial phone call or Web consultation, SolarCity can quickly assess whether a homeowner is a good candidate for solar, and can design a custom solar system to meet a customer’s specific energy needs. In addition to offering affordable solar power, the partnership will enable owners of Honda and Acura products to make energy-efficiency upgrades—such as weatherization and more efficient heating and cooling—that can further reduce their home energy consumption.

SolarCity offers service in all or parts of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. Honda and Acura customers interested in these new clean energy options can find more information at www.hondasolarcity.com.

Executive Quotes
“At Honda, we are always looking at ways to improve the lives of our customers while reducing our environmental footprint,” said Steven Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We believe Honda and Acura customers are going to be very interested in going solar once they find out that they can install solar at their home with little or no upfront cost, can lower their monthly utility bill, and can make a positive contribution to protecting the environment.”

“By making it easier and more affordable for its customers to use clean power, Honda is reinforcing the fact that solar is the new normal,” said SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive. “This is an unprecedented partnership—few companies have made a more substantive or comprehensive commitment to environmental responsibility than Honda.”

About Honda
Honda is a leader in the development of leading-edge technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Honda has led the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) rankings of overall vehicle environmental performance since 2000, and a Honda vehicle has topped the list of America's greenest vehicles from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) for eleven out of the past twelve years. The company leads all automakers with twelve LEED-Certified "Green Buildings" in North America, and 10 of its 14 North American manufacturing facilities are zero-waste to landfill.

Honda has developed numerous technologies to improve the fuel efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions from its products, including the just released 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid, the Fit EV, Civic Natural Gas and the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle.

In 2006, Honda became the first automaker to announce voluntary CO2 emissions reduction targets for its global fleet of automobile, power sports and power equipment products and its global network of manufacturing plants. In 2011, the company set a new CO2 emission reduction targets for 2020, including a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions from its products compared with 2000 levels.

Honda established operations in America in 1959, and now employs more than 26,000 associates in its U.S. sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with a capital investment of more than $12.5 billion. Over 90% of Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. are produced in North America, using globally and locally sourced parts.

About SolarCity
SolarCity® (NASDAQ: SCTY) provides clean energy. The company has disrupted the century-old energy industry by providing renewable electricity directly to homeowners, businesses and government organizations for less than they spend on utility bills. SolarCity gives customers control of their energy costs to protect them from rising rates. The company offers solar power, energy efficiency and electric vehicle services, and makes clean energy easy by taking care of everything from design and permitting to monitoring and maintenance. SolarCity currently serves 14 states and signs a new customer every five minutes. Visit the company online at www.solarcity.com and follow the company on Facebook & Twitter.

Source;
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130220005571/en/SolarCity-Honda-Partner-Provide-Solar-Power-Honda

Honda Cars : Honda Uses Wind Turbines to Manufacture Cars in Ohio | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Leigha Kim of www.greenoptimistic.com

In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, experts predict the turbines will produce 10,000 megawatt hours per year. Honda will have the distinction of having the first automotive manufacturing facility in the United States to derive a huge portion of its electricity directly from wind turbines placed strategically on its property.

Honda’s wind turbines in Russell’s Point have blades approximately 160 feet long and are on 260 foot towers. Juhl Wind is installing and managing the turbines and will provide the power to Logan County Electric Cooperative and Buckeye Power, Inc.

Honda has taken it upon itself to establish and meet voluntary goals to reduce energy use and waste from manufacturing operations by 2020. Reducing CO2 emissions by 30% from 2000 levels and creating 12 LEED-Certified “green buildings” in North American are just a couple of the ways Honda is at the forefront of greening the automotive industry.

In a similar move, in January, Volkswagen began operating the largest solar power installation at its Chattanooga, Tennessee manufacturing plant where the Passat is produced.

10 of Honda’s 14 manufacturing facilities are zero-waste landfills. Subaru, Ford, and General Motors are all going landfill free as well.

For the past 15 years, a Honda vehicle has been near the top of the America Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) list of America’s greenest vehicles.

Source;
http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2013/02/12/honda-uses-wind-turbines-to-manufacture-cars-in-ohio-factory/#.URpUHfJZPQ

Honda Cars : Car and Driver: 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

I am very interested to see how this does....

BY ALEXANDER STOKLOSA of www.caranddriver.com

GM’s last efforts to put diesel engines in U.S.-market passenger cars in the 1980s were famously—or rather, infamously—half-baked, and turned nearly a generation of American consumers against oil-burners. But in Chevrolet’s new Cruze diesel, which is making its debut at the 2013 Chicago auto show, GM probably doesn’t have to worry about its prior bad-diesel acts. Compression-ignition engines have been gaining mainstream popularity here in the U.S., largely due to their high fuel-economy numbers. That the Cruze diesel is pretty far removed from a smoky ’86 Chevette bodes well, too. 

To pull the Cruze diesel out of its hat, Chevrolet first pulled a 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder out of Opel’s Astra and Insignia and dropped it into the U.S.-market Cruze, albeit with additional exhaust-treatment gear to meet our more-stringent emissions standards. The diesel marks the third engine option for the Cruze range next to the base 1.8-liter four and available 1.4-liter turbo four, and enters the lineup as an alternative to the fuel-efficient and lightweight Cruze Eco. 

Chevy is positioning the Cruze diesel as a competitor to the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, and unsurprisingly, the sedan’s 2.0-liter diesel offers similar specs to the VW’s 2.0-liter oil-burner. The Cruze puts out 148 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque (an overboost function brings peak twist to 280 lb-ft for up to ten seconds at a time), numbers that compare favorably to the 140 hp and 236 lb-ft produced by the VW. Less favorable is the Cruze’s lack of a manual-transmission option; unlike the (rather sporty) Cruze Eco, which can be had with a six-speed manual, the diesel arrives only with a six-speed slushbox. It may not be sport, but Chevrolet estimates that the diesel will run from 0–60 mph in 8.6 seconds, a figure it says betters that of the Jetta TDI with its optional dual-clutch automatic. 

Differentiating the diesel from regular Cruzes are a set of 17-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in low rolling-resistance tires, a taller 3.20:1 final-drive ratio, unique sound-deadening gear, standard leather seating, and an aerodynamics package cribbed from the Eco. Curiously, the Cruze diesel forgoes the Eco’s lowered sport suspension and lightweighting measures. In fact, between the 408-pound diesel engine and the addition of the exhaust-recirculation gear and 4.5-gallon urea tank (for the eponymous exhaust after-treatment fluid), the Cruze diesel’s quoted curb weight is more than 300 pounds heavier than that of the non-Eco Cruze turbo automatic. 

The car’s porky weight penalty probably has a lot to do with its underwhelming fuel-economy parity with the lighter, gas-powered Eco. Chevy estimates the diesel will return an impressive 42 mpg on the highway, but—yes, there’s a giant “but” here—that figure is just three mpg higher than the auto-equipped Cruze Eco’s highway rating and matches the performance of the manual Cruze Eco. (However, we expect that in real-world use, the oil-burner will come closer to those EPA estimates than the turbocharged Eco.) At least the Cruze also matches the Jetta TDI’s highway performance, which is the same regardless of which transmission is doing the shifting. 

Although any automaker likely would welcome having the problem of offering multiple 40-plus-mpg trim levels of the same model, we’re thinking the diesel’s Eco-matching efficiency might pose something of a problem. That’s because when the diesel’s $25,695 price is factored in, buyers will find that it costs $4010 more than the similarly efficient 2013 Cruze Eco automatic and $5205 more than the Eco manual. The gas-powered, 1.4-liter turbo Cruze 2LT, the trim level on which the diesel is based, costs $2560 less—but that’s still a steep premium for just a few extra mpg. Or no extra mpg, in the case of the Eco. 

For its part, Chevrolet seems unperturbed by the diesel’s fuzzy value proposition relative to other Cruze models. The automaker prefers buyers instead compare the diesel Cruze to its key competitor, the Jetta TDI automatic, which costs $810 less but isn’t as well-equipped. Chevy also is pretty specific about who those buyers are—it’s hoping the same diesel-receptive folks flocking to VW dealerships to plunk down the extra cash for diesel models will give the oil-burning Cruze a look. We’ll have to wait until the Cruze goes on sale later this spring to see just how Chevy-receptive those buyers turn out to be.
Source;
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2014-chevrolet-cruze-diesel-photos-and-info-news

Honda Cars : Toyota, BMW working on new auto-battery technology, sports vehicle, fuel-cells, composites | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW Group are working together on next-generation batteries for green vehicles called “lithium-air” as their collaboration, first announced in late 2011, moves ahead in fuel cells, sports vehicles and other fields.

But both sides said Thursday the partnership will not involve a capital alliance while spanning a wide range of technologies for green vehicles.

The Japanese and German automakers aim to complete a fuel-cell vehicle system by 2020, and a concept for a mid-size sports vehicle by the end of this year. They will also work together on developing lightweight technologies such as composites, which will help make cars greener.

Joint research will be started to develop a lithium-air battery, which will be more powerful than the current lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, they said. The technology, which other automakers are also working on, will allow a major part of the battery’s energy-making process to come from the oxygen in air.
BMW AG board member Herbert Diess told reporters the co-operation will help both companies boost competitiveness in new technologies.

“We really share the same vision,” he said at a news conference in Nagoya, central Japan, live-streamed at Toyota’s Tokyo office.

Toyota Vice Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada said working with BMW will allow for a much faster development as they pool their resources.

He said the companies share a corporate culture and they have built trust over the last year. An agreement to work on technologies together was signed in June last year.

BMW, known for its strong design and sporty cars, could be a good match for Toyota, reputed for innovation and solid engineering but sometimes criticized as making dull cars.

Global automakers are forging such partnerships to become more competitive.

French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors Co. of the U.S. have a deal to share in purchases of parts and services to cut costs. Toyota already has a joint venture with Peugeot Citroen to make small cars in Europe.

Source;
http://www.therecord.com/news/business/article/874652--toyota-bmw-working-on-new-auto-battery-technology-sports-vehicle-fuel-cells-composites

Honda Cars : Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid earns the title for being the most fuel-efficient sedan in America | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda has released new details about the 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid.

Described at the "most fuel-efficient sedan in America," the Accord is equipped with a two-motor hybrid system that consists of a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine, a 166 hp (124 kW) electric motor and a 6.7 kWh lithium-ion battery. This setup enables the sedan to travel up to 13 miles (21 km) on electricity alone which earns it an EPA rating of 115 MPGe. When the petrol engine is activated, the Accord returns 47 mpg city / 46 mpg highway / 46 mpg combined (US).

When the battery is depleted, it can be fully replenished in approximately three hours with a 120 volt outlet. With the optional 240 volt charger, the time is reduced to less than an hour.

The Accord Plug-in Hybrid starts at $39,780 and is currently on sale at select dealerships in California and New York.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113012152931/honda-accord-plug-in-hybrid-earns-the-title-for-being-the

Honda Cars : CarBuzz: Cars that Defied the Norm: Honda FCX Clarity Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Jacob Joseph of www.carbuzz.com

Honda's first "production" Clarity rolled off the line in 2008. Like the Turbine Car which appeared earlier in this series, this wasn't an actual production car as such. The Clarity is a research vehicle which is leased to select members of the public as a means of gathering data on how practical the vehicle is in real-world situations. Honda loses a tremendous amount of money on each vehicle, and at least at the beginning of the Clarity program, sales to the general public were cost-prohibitive. It's said that as recently as 2005, a fuel-cell vehicle would cost Honda as much as $1 million to produce.

The cost has come down, but is likely still over $100,000 and that is quite a lot to ask someone to pay for what is essentially a slightly bigger Accord. The Clarity is a simple enough idea, it converts tank-stored hydrogen into electricity via a stack of fuel cells and uses this to power and an electric motor which drives the wheels. The motor produces 134 horsepower and provides smooth, albeit not especially urgent acceleration. Assuming you're one of the very small number of people Honda has decided to lease to, it will cost you $600 per month. The IRS has determined that the Clarity is eligible for a $12,000 tax credit, but since you can't actually buy one, this remains irrelevant.

 

Hydrogen is sold by the kilogram, rather than by the gallon, and it costs slightly more for a kilogram than a gallon of gasoline. But since the Clarity will get a combined 60 miles on one kilogram of hydrogen, this pretty much balances out. It looks pretty normal for a Japanese sedan, in fact, some people have been said to be disappointed by just how normal it looks. It also drives pretty much like any other car, but unlike a battery electric, it can be refilled from a pump and driven for several hundred miles before needing a refill. This brings us, once more, to the subject of politics in the automotive world.

 

Proponents of battery electric vehicles hate hydrogen vehicles, absolutely hate them. Because a hydrogen car is so much more usable than a battery EV, they have at times received more attention from manufacturers. The manufacturing and distribution of hydrogen fuel remains incredibly and impractically inefficient in terms of the amount of energy needed to power the vehicle, but from the point of view of a manufacturer and what is within its control, a hydrogen car makes much more sense as a consumer product. But that didn't stop the conspiracy theorists from howling that the promise of hydrogen cars was simply being used to distract the public from demanding battery electric cars.

 

Of course, automakers still built electric cars for the mass market, people haven't bought them in huge numbers and automakers have continued right on working on hydrogen. This means that this was either the worst conspiracy in history, or these people are full of it, but the presence of actual facts has never discouraged a good conspiracy theory. So perhaps you've heard that hydrogen is a pipe dream, but this brings us to the central point of the Clarity. Honda doesn't know how our energy needs will be met in the future, and neither does anybody else.

 

The current manufacturing techniques for hydrogen make full-scale implementation impossible, but in that way it is absolutely no different from any other alternative energy. Biofuel has its own problems blocking it from larger implementation and the usability problems of battery cars make them something of a joke. A massive breakthrough is needed by each of these before it could conceivably replace gasoline, and for anyone to think that this is possible with one technology and not another is absurd. In researching hydrogen and building the Clarity, Honda is hedging its bets in the event that hydrogen takes off in a big way. Because, like the rest of us, it simply doesn't know.

 

Source;

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2013/1/11/Cars-that-Defied-the-Norm-Honda-FCX-Clarity-7712458/ 

Honda Cars : Carscoop!: Ford Faces Federal Class-Action Lawsuit Over C-MAX and Fusion Hybrids MPG Numbers | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

It was probably a matter of time before someone picked up the Consumer Reports review that accused Ford of misstating the 2013 C-MAX Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid fuel economy numbers and filing a lawsuit.
 
The publication contested the 47 mpg city/highway/combined figure and said that the two Ford hybrids had the “distinction” of recording the greatest difference between the EPA-approved mpg and the ones it achieved during its own tests.
 
The McCuneWright law firm filed a class-action lawsuit in the U.S. District South court in the Eastern District of California Richard Pitkin of Roseville, California, on December 7.
 
Pitkin wants Ford to reimburse both him and other owners the purchase price and rescind sales of both vehicles in California.
 
“We are aware of the matter but cannot discuss pending litigation”, a Ford spokesman told Autonews today. After the CR review, the Blue Oval responded that hybrids are sensitive to driving styles, while the EPA is reviewing the tests’ findings.
 
By Andrew Tsaousis

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/12/ford-faces-federal-class-action-lawsuit.html 

Honda Cars : 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In: Test Drive Review | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Wow, this car looks wayyy better in black....

by Ryan ZumMallen 

Not many people will have the chance to buy a 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In when it goes on sale in California and New York next year, but those that do will find a car that performs the way we were promised gasoline-electric hybrids one day would.

Honda recently announced that pricing for the 2014 Accord Plug-In will start at $37,980 (plus $750 destination), a premium for the segment that includes the Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius plug-in. But the Accord is a leap forward for Honda, and in some ways, plug-in hybrids everywhere.

The 2014 Accord Plug-In is outfitted with the same features as the 2012 Accord Touring, the top-of-the-line Honda sedan, which means that an impressive array of comfort and safety features come standard. The Accord Plug-In feels like a warm and engaging luxury car that just happens to sometimes run on battery power, immediately making it an attractive alternative to the competition.

Inside, the Accord Plug-In sports very comfortable ten-way adjustable seats with adequate room for five. Technology is impressive but not overwhelming, with a large touch-screen interface and seven-speaker audio system tastefully worked into the interior. Soothing lights and sounds welcome you when the car starts, and high-quality glossy materials are pleasing to the eye.

Your experience from the outside may be a different story, however. We’ve discussed the, shall we say, unorthodox appearance of the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In before. In person, the gaping front grille is a little less ghastly, but is still a design that only its mother could love. In an effort to differentiate the plug-in from its Accord brothers, Honda probably went too far with creative freedom.

But that’s not why people will buy the car, anyway. The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In will achieve an estimated 115 MPGe with an all-electric range of 13 miles. The two-motor system is a first for Honda, and in a short drive around downtown Los Angeles, it came off as a refined and smooth powertrain befitting its price tag. Under electric power, the Accord Plug-In will pull mightily when you want it, and then subtly transitions into the gasoline engine as you gain speed. It’s a promising system that Honda should attempt to work into more vehicles, especially as the cost begins to decrease a bit.

Also very impressive is the standard LaneWatch system that shows a live video of your blind spot when attempting to switch lanes. Our own James Flammang wrote an explanation and review of the technology last week, here, and it adds a welcome level of technology and safety to the 2014 Accord Plug-In.

If you can get past its price and design, and consider yourself an early adopter of fuel-efficient technology, the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In is a promising newcomer that deserves your attention. Only if you live in New York or California, though.

Source;
http://www.automedia.com/Blog/post/2014-Honda-Accord-Plug-In-Test-Drive-Review.aspx

Honda Cars : 2014 Honda Accord PHEV priced at $40,570 (USD) | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By Andrew Christian

The 2013 Honda Accord has already started selling and will get two hybrid versions. Honda took the opportunity at the Los Angeles Auto Show to announce the pricing for the 2014 Accord Plug-In. In addition, Honda confirmed that a regular hybrid model will follow next summer. Honda has already confirmed the Plug-In Hybrid awhile back but has revealed that the Accord PHEV will begin to sell in only a few short weeks. By January 15, buyers in New York and California will be able to get their Accord PHEV, priced from $40,570, including destination costs. A hybrid tax credit has yet to be confirmed. For this price, consumers get an Accord with a design that’s slight different for improved aerodynamics. All of the Accord Touring creature comforts and features (such as forward collision and lane departure warnings, as well as a rear-facing LaneWatch camera) can offer up to 115 MPGe, the EPA said. The Accord PHEV has an electric-vehicle-only range of 13 miles.

At this point, the gasoline engine would kick in. It has an overall fuel economy of 47 mpg city, 46 mpg highway, 46 mpg combined. The range is slightly shorter than extended-range electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt but the outcome is that drivers could recharge their Accord plug-ins in shorter than one hour with a 240-volt charger or three hours with the use of a 120-volt outlet. Furthermore, the Accord PHEV is eligible for California’s vaunted “Access OK” carpool-lane-exemption stickers, which permits single commuters to utilize HOV lanes.

There will be a less expensive hybrid available if the Plug-In costs too much. The 2013 Honda Accord Hybrid will appear more like the Honda Accords with traditional gas engines but it offers 49 mpg city, 45 mpg highway, 47 mpg combined due to its next-generation, two-motor Hybrid system that should offer a performance and economy that’s better than the current Integrated Motor Assist unit. These figures are nearly totally in line with those of the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which claims 47 mpg in the city, on the highway, and in combined driving.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/2014-honda-accord-phev-priced-at-40570/

Honda Cars : Honda FCX Clarity Stars in Fuel Cell Vehicle Program Commercial | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda Cars : Los Angeles 2012: Honda Prices 2014 Accord Plug-In at $40,570, Promises 115 MPGe | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

2013 Honda Accord is already on sale, and it’s spawning not one, but two hybrid variants: Honda announced pricing for the 2014 Accord Plug-In at today’s Los Angeles Auto Show, and confirmed that a regular hybrid model will follow next summer.

The Plug-In Hybrid was officially confirmed long ago, and we’ve already driven it, but Honda announced that the Accord PHEV will go on sale in just a few short weeks. Buyers in New York and California will be able to get their hands on an Accord PHEV as of January 15, at a starting price of $40,570, including destination. (A hybrid tax credit hasn’t yet been confirmed.)

For that price, buyers get an Accord with slightly different exterior design (for better aerodynamics), all of the Accord Touring creature comforts and features (including forward collision and lane departure warnings, as well as a rear-facing LaneWatch camera) and get up to 115 MPGe, according to the EPA. The Accord PHEV’s EV-only range is 13 miles, at which point its gasoline engine kicks in (overall fuel economy is 47 mpg city, 46 mpg highway, 46 mpg combined). While the range is a bit shorter than extended-range electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt, the upshot is that drivers can recharge their Accord plug-ins in less than one hour with a 240-volt charger or three hours using a 120-volt outlet. The Accord PHEV also qualifies for California’s vaunted “Access OK” carpool-lane-exemption stickers, which allow single commuters to use HOV lanes.

If the Plug-In is a bit much for you, Honda promises another, less expensive hybrid. The 2013 Honda Accord Hybrid will look a bit more like the Honda Accords with conventional gas engines, but get 49 mpg city, 45 mpg highway, 47 mpg combined thanks to its next-generation, two-motor Hybrid system that should deliver better performance and economy than the current Integrated Motor Assist unit. Those numbers are almost completely in line with those of the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which promises 47 mpg in the city, on the highway, and in combined driving.

The Accord Hybrid will bow some time in summer 2013, but should be available at all Honda dealers (as opposed to the PHEV’s slow rollout to major markets). Pricing for the Hybrid isn’t yet available.

Source;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/los-angeles-2012-honda-prices-2014-accord-plug-in-at-40570-promises-115-mpge-188599.html#axzz2DvInrsxH

Honda Cars : Honda Micro Commuter prototype previews future city-sized EV | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The 2013 Honda Micro Commuter prototype has been unveiled in Tokyo, symbolising the beginning of a new phase in the Japanese manufacturer’s electric vehicle development.

The second-generation prototype trades many of the futuristic elements of the original Micro Commuter concept from 2011′s Tokyo motor show, replacing them with a more practical, user-friendly design intended to be suitable for use on public roads.

Honda plans to begin testing the pint-sized Micro Commuter in Japan next year, establishing the potential of the short-range EV in a number of different environments and conditions, with a view to launching a new zero-emission production car suitable for Japan and Europe in the coming years.

At 2500mm long, 1250mm wide and 1445mm tall, the Honda Micro Commuter is 195mm shorter, 309mm narrower and 97mm lower than the Smart Fortwo.

A lithium-ion battery positioned under the floor spins a 15kW electric motor, which propels the sub-400kg Micro Commuter to its 80km/h top speed.

Honda says the prototype has a range of approximately 60km and can be recharged in less than three hours.

The Honda Micro Commuter features a McLaren F1-style central driving position, and can be arranged to accommodate either two children or one adult passenger in the rear.

Connecting an iPad or similar tablet device to the dashboard gives the driver access to all of the vehicle’s internal functions, including instruments and meters, audio, navigation and reversing camera display.

Solar cells on the roof recharge the tablet’s battery, and Honda says it is investigating the potential to harness solar energy to enhance the Micro Commuter’s driving performance.

Honda believes low-range EVs like the Micro Commuter have the potential to revolutionise personal transportation for a number of road users, including families with small children, senior citizens, home delivery services and car-share users.

Source;
http://www.caradvice.com.au/200362/honda-micro-commuter-prototype-previews-future-city-sized-ev/

Honda Cars : 2015 Toyota Prius could lose wedge shape - report | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Might be inspired by the NS4 concept

Toyota's U.S. group vice president of strategic planning has revealed some new details about the next-generation Prius that is due in the spring of 2014.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Chris Hostetter said several people are pushing for the model to have a new design that eschews the car's iconic wedge shape. He added that certain circles contend "Maybe our architecture has been a little bit similar for the last two generations."

Hostetter hinted "One of the avenues we're exploring right now is to evolve it and the other is to really evolve it." The vice president also said the company is reviewing clay models of the next-generation Prius and is determined to make a "much different, much better Prius." Hostetter went on to say that some of the prototypes have incorporated styling from the NS4 concept which debuted at the North American International Auto Show earlier this year.

Regardless of the car's styling, the 2015 Prius is expected to offer best-in-class fuel economy and ride on a new modular platform which will eventually underpin a variety of different vehicles.

Note: Toyota NS4 concept pictured

 
Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/112110550190/2015-toyota-prius-could-lose-wedge-shape---report/lowphotos#1
Source: Bloomberg

Honda Cars : Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai sign MoU for Nordic introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

by Danny Tan

Last week, Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with organisations from the Nordic countries to support the market introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure between 2014 and 2017.

Besides the carmakers, the signing organisations wre hydrogen infrastructure companies HyOP AS (Norway); H2 Logic A/S (Denmark); Copenhagen Hydrogen Network A/S (Denmark) and Nordic NGOs HyNor Norway; Hydrogen Sweden; Icelandic New Energy; Hydrogen Link Denmark Association and Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership (SHHP).

This collaboration follows last month’s announcement by Honda CEO Takanobu Ito of the company’s development of an all-new FCEV for Japan, USA and Europe, to be launched from 2015. It also comes off the back of a month-long and high profile Europe Hydrogen Vehicle Road Tour, organised by H2 Moves Scandanavia. The tour had an event at the UK’s first public-access hydrogen refuelling station based at Honda’s Swindon base.

“In 2002 Honda became the world’s first carmaker to put a fuel cell car on the road with regular customers, delivering the Honda FCX Clarity to fleet users in the United States and Japan. We want to continue to lead the way for fuel cell technology across the world including Europe. This MoU signifies that commitment,” said Ken Kier, Executive VP of Honda Motor Europe.

Hyundai also has such a car, the ix35 FCEV, which has fuel cell tech in a Tucson body.

Source;
 http://paultan.org/2012/10/15/honda-toyota-nissan-and-hyundai-sign-mou-for-nordic-introduction-of-fuel-cell-electric-vehicles/

Honda Cars : Honda Hybrid Sales Reach 1-Million Mark | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda has announced that it has managed to sell one million hybrid vehicles, some 13 years after the first generation Insight went on sale in Japan, which at the time was the world’s most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered vehicle.

They managed to reach 100,000 units sold in April of 2005, following the 2004 launch of the Accord Hybrid, for the North American market. Following the launch of the second generation Insight, in February of 2009, and the CR-Z and Fit Hybrid in 2010, by the end of the year they had totaled 600,000 sold.

The last hybrid to be launched, which made a difference, is the Acura ILX hybrid, which is only available in Canada and the US. Their range of hybrids now totals 8 models, which are sold in some 50 countries around the world, and have a very devoted audience.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-hybrid-sales-reach-1-million-mark-50525.html

Honda Cars : Report: UCSD researches say new lithium-ion battery tech could cut cost, increase charge times | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Researchers from University of California, San Diego say that they have figured out a way to better estimate what goes on inside lithium ion batteries. The breakthrough could lead to lower battery costs and faster charging times for lithium-ion batteries used in electric-vehicles.

An algorithm has been put together by professor Miroslav Krstic and postdoctoral fellow Scott Moura to see what actually goes in the ‘complicated world’ of lithium ion batteries.

“If one could have a better knowledge or better estimation of what’s going on inside, one could [safely] operate closer to the limits of performance, which means that the oversizing and overdesign would be less necessary,” Krstic said. “That translates into savings in costs and in weight.”


Krstic said that right now, engineers have little understanding how lithium-ion behaves in batteries so they build batteries that are too large and heavy. By using the their algorithm, the cost of producing lithium-ion batteries could reduce by 25 percent and could double charge times.

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2012/10/10/report-ucsd-researches-say-new-lithium-ion-battery-tech-could-cut-cost-increase-charge-times/

Honda Cars : Self-Driving Nissan Leaf Finds its Own Parking Spots, Comes When Called | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Written by: Alex Nishimoto
Nissan may soon add a low-cost trim level to the Leaf EV lineup, but those aren’t the only plans the automaker has for its all-electric hybrid car . At this year’s CEATEC Japan technology conference, Nissan is demonstrating an automated version of the Leaf dubbed NSC-2015, which is capable of parking itself and picking you up at the push of a button.

Unlike other self-driving cars that use GPS to get around, the NSC-2015 relies on a remote monitoring system based on an all-around view camera and 4G mobile communications. Nissan says this method provides precise recognition of the vehicle’s surroundings and, perhaps more importantly, works even when communication to the satellite network is interrupted — as is often the case in underground parking structures.

Through a smartphone app, the car can be told to park itself. The EV will then seek out a vacant parking spot and pull itself in. While parked, a security camera system monitors the vehicle’s surrounding environment. If any suspicious activity is detected, a report is automatically sent to the driver’s smartphone. Just as easily as it parked itself, the NSC-2015 can return to pick you up when called.

Nissan says the overall goal of the project was to reduce the chance of human error, which it says is the cause of 90 percent of all accidents, to as close to zero as possible. Another objective, however, was to reduce the time spent looking for parking. As the car’s name implies, the NSC-2015 will be fully viable by 2015, Nissan claims.

Source;
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/self-driving-nissan-leaf-finds-its-own-parking-spots-comes-when-called-175459.html