Honda captured the "triple crown" that is the Contractor, Rider and Team Championships in this year's MotoGP. I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the support and enthusiasm of Honda fans around the world.Motorsports is at the origin of Honda and is part of our DNA. After watching the MotoGP races all year, I wanted to experience for myself the overwhelming acceleration of the actual MotoGP machine which took our riders to the podium. So I went to test ride it, and I felt so thrilled and excited by the riding performance of this machine.Since its establishment, Honda has been committed to the development of personal mobility products which realize the joy and freedom of mobility. What we mean by the joy of mobility obviously includes the joy of operating the vehicle on our own. But it also includes the joy of discovering all kinds of new dreams and inspiring experiences and getting excited by new thrills that can be realized only through personal mobility.
On the other hand, in order to realize a "sustainable society where people can enjoy life", the reduction of CO2 emissions will be one of the most important challenges. In order for Honda to continue delivering environmentally-responsible, exciting and thrilling products, ever since I was appointed as the president of the company I have been prompting systems and capabilities which enable us to develop "edgy products" just like pushpins. By edgy products I mean products which have environmental and safety performance as the solid base, but also a sharp point that creates a distinctive "edge".
Today, I will introduce some models that symbolize this direction which were realized with our electromotive technologies. First, is an EV version of a super sports bike, the RC-E. RC-E was designed after the image of Honda's classic racing machine, the RC series, pursuing the joy of riding.
Next, we are exhibiting the world premiere of our small sports EV Concept model, the EV-STER. The EV-STER is a completely new next-generation EV sports model Honda is proposing. With this model, we embodied the joy of driving to the maximum extent. Starting from here at the Tokyo Motor Show, we will sequentially introduce multiple new models including a high-performance sports model which is currently under development toward market introduction in the near future.
As for EVs, we are currently conducting demonstration testing with the Fit EV in Japan, the U.S. and China. The Fit EV is scheduled to go on sale in Japan and the U.S. in summer of 2012. With the Fit EV, we achieved the world's top-class, most highly efficient electricity consumption rate. Further, while it is an EV, you can still experience sporty acceleration unique to Honda.
Now, let me introduce Honda's unique concept models of motorcycle and automobile electric mobility.
The MICRO COMMUTER CONCEPT, a four-wheel EV commuter, and the MOTOR COMPO, a two-wheel EV commuter, were created for mobility in a metropolitan area. These models are developed with new ideas and through collaboration between our motorcycle and automobile R&D centers.Honda will continue proposing the potential of a wide range of electromotive mobility products including the AC-X mid-to-long range plug-in hybrid and the FCX Clarity electric fuel cell vehicle.
In addition to the development of electromotive mobility products, Honda also has been focusing on the creation of clean energy using a solar photovoltaic system and a cogeneration system independently developed by Honda.
As of today, Honda is the industry leader in installing solar power generation systems to our factories and offices in Japan. Next year, we will be installing a mega solar power generation system to our Yorii Plant, which will be the largest solar power system to be installed to an automobile production plant. Furthermore, we will accelerate our effort to install solar power systems to our dealership locations as well.Based on these initiatives we will strive to achieve the "Triple Zero" - which means "zero" CO2 emissions well-to-wheel (from the point of creating electricity until it is used to power the vehicle) through our own renewable energy technologies; "zero" energy risk through our energy management technologies; and "zero" waste through our effort to reduce, reuse and recycle, the 3Rs.
Under this "Triple Zero" concept, Honda will address climate change and energy/resource issues with our own technologies and business activities. With these efforts, Honda envisions a future with "zero environmental burden society".
For such a future, the most important challenge we need to address right now is the improvement of the efficiency of gasoline and diesel-powered internal combustion engines.Under the name "EARTH DREAMS TECHNOLOGY," Honda has created a new next-generation engine and transmission series, which we will apply to our products to realize both "fun" and "environmental" values at a high level.
This EARTH DREAMS TECHNOLOGY will be applied first to the N BOX, a new mini-vehicle model we are announcing today, and then we will gradually expand the applications. By combining it not only with gasoline engines, but also with diesel engines, and the new CVT series, we will strive to be number one in fuel economy in each category within the next 3 years.Accelerating these initiatives, Honda will set a goal to reduce future CO2 emissions from our motorcycles, automobiles and power products sold around the world by 30% compared to the level of the year 2000. And we will strive to attain this goal by the year 2020.
Now, I would like to talk about the mini-vehicle business in Japan.Honda originally entered the automobile business with mini-vehicles. We made a fundamental review of our origin, that is to say mini-vehicles, and will largely renew our product lineup. I would like you to have high expectations toward the N BOX and the N Concept Series. We put our huge passion into the small body of those vehicles.
Finally, I would like to introduce our all-new ASIMO humanoid robot which is now equipped with the world's first autonomous behavior control technologies.
With improved physical capability and autonomy, this all-new ASIMO was further advanced so that it can now continue moving without being controlled by an operator.
In addition to further improvement of the physical capability of its legs, we advanced the capability of ASIMO's fingers so that each finger now moves independently. These changes were made so that ASIMO can coexist with and be useful for people.
We are utilizing the technologies we have amassed through ASIMO and humanoid robotics research for our mobility products such as motorcycles and automobiles.
In addition, we will apply such technologies to other devices such as the task-performing robot arm which performs tasks in places where people cannot access and the walking-assist device which supports walking for people with weakened leg muscles. We will continue our R&D activities to put those technologies into practical use so that we can offer more technologies that are useful for people.
The motivation behind our ASIMO research and, the development of mobility products in the areas of motorcycles, automobiles and power products is our passion to create products that are useful to people and that utilize technologies to make people happy. That is Honda's philosophy as a manufacturing company which has remained unchanged since the establishment of the company.
Honda will remain true to its origin - manufacturing for people - and continue creating "edgy products" that move people's hearts, so please keep your expectations high!
Source;
http://www.hondanews.info/news/en/corporate/c111130aeng
11/07/2011 - TOKYO, Japan
