Honda Cars : New Honda NSX Eco Concept on the Cards for Production in 2013 | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

After years of delays, concepts and U-turns, Honda is adamant it really is replacing the original NSX – the chief executive even confirmed it would be launched within three years.
The new NSX has a big name to live up to – during the 80s, the original had an enormous impact on the supercar world, offering a stable and easy-to-handle car compared to the upper ranks of the sports car market. You could even argue that today’s Audi R8 and Ferrari 458 Italia wouldn’t be so road stable if the Honda NSX hadn’t been born.

2013NSX

The 2013 NSX focuses just as much on high-tech as the original – NSX then and still does stand for New Sports Experimental and Honda is equipping its new version with a hybrid powertrain.
In the next few years, the big boys at McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini are all in the hunt for building the most competitive part-electrified (hybrid) sports cars. Of course, now you can add giant killers Honda to the list.
The new NSX will feature its mid-engined application of its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, meaning the NSX will be 4WD, although the accurate workings of the petrol/electric motors on the production car have yet to be finalised. Honda will use one of its petrol engines from elsewhere in its global range, which leads to either their 3.0 or 3.5-litre petrol engine with direct injection to provide the motive power.

New Batteries

Although the European hybrid road car range use nickel metal hydride batteries, Honda will likely use lithium-ion batteries, as they bought into a Japanese specialist in lithium ion technology.
The hybrid setup consists of mid-mounted V6, sending power to the rear wheels and is augmented by an electric motor. The SH-AWD integrates one electric motor with a dual-clutch transmission. Two more motors can send negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering for improved handling. Honda claims the new AWD system will offer super car acceleration whilst providing improved efficiency. Honda haven’t as yet disclosed how much horsepower its engine and three electric motors will produce, but I’m guessing it’ll be 450+.

When can we drive this Eco Beast?

So when will the all-new NSX be hitting the streets? Well, this is no longer a pie-in-the-sky concept, and Honda has confirmed the NSX is now a live project – they will want to regain their reputation for cutting-edge engineering after the demise (in Europe) of the S2000, and Type R models. Car Sales for this Honda have been predicted to hit an all-time high when this super electric model hits the streets in an estimated late 2013.

Source;
http://www.greenerideal.com/vehicles/1204-honda-nsx-eco-concept/

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 : USA Today Previews the 2014 Honda FIT Electric Vehicle | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

By James R. Healey, USA TODay

Honda's Fit is a terrific small car, and turning it into an electric makes it better.

It's quieter. It's smoother. A different suspension improves its ride and handling.

But you can't buy one; lease only, Honda says. Lease is $389 per month for 36 months, no money down, and includes maintenance, collision coverage, navi updates and roadside aid.

You also likely can't get one. Available since July 20, but only in California and Oregon. Some East Coast markets will get a few next spring. Honda plans only 1,100 total 2013 and 2014 models.

Honda explains: "By carefully controlling the lease volumes and regions at this stage, we can assure the successful EV experience while continuing to develop the technology, lower costs and learn about our customers' electric-vehicle needs and desires."

It's a "compliance car," made to meet rules in some states for sale of a minimum number of EVs. More's the pity. The size, style and feisty persona of Fit seem just the thing to elevate battery power from a good deed to a mass-market good deal.

Government rates it 82 miles on a charge; 118 miles per gallon-equivalent in combined city/highway driving. We could only get the range gauge to about 70 after long charge on 120 volts. But, reassuringly, it seemed to drop one mile in range for each mile driven, even using lots of full throttle.

Three mode settings vary the electric motor's horsepower: 123 in Sport, 101 in Normal, 63 in Economy. We used normal, mostly.

The only significant practical drawback in Fit's conversion to an EV: battery placement eliminates the spiffy flip-up articulation of the rear seats (still fold down), so no huge open space in the middle of the for tall or bulky cargo.

Very nice machine. Drives even better than the gasoline version. Quieter, rides smoother, seems to handle at least as well despite what's presumably extra weight.

The simple EV info screen tells you plenty and doesn't bombard you with gratuitous graphics and extraneous data. Probably won't suit those who need repeated validation of their decision to buy an EV, but more than plenty for most drivers.

Front seats have too much lumbar bulge so might get uncomfy on longer trips; depends on your physique.

Honda Cars : Inside Line Reviews the 2013 Honda FIT Electric Vehicle | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Sadly, not for the Canadian market just yet....

Honda Fits the EV Puzzle Pieces Together

By Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing | Published Jul 3, 2012

One could argue that Honda's reputation is largely based on the various clean air and fuel economy technologies it has promoted over the years. From CVCC to HF to VTEC, NGV to IMA to FCEV, Honda can usually be found tinkering away at or near the top of the mpg charts.

Accordingly, the new 2013 Honda Fit EV looks mighty impressive in terms of EV efficiency. It beats the rival Ford Focus Electric, Mitsubishi i and Nissan Leaf in every consumption and range metric found on a typical EV window sticker, from its low consumption rate of 29 kWh per 100 miles to its stellar combined rating of 118 MPGe to its class-leading range of 82 miles.

But one curious fact stops us in our tracks: You can't buy a 2013 Honda Fit EV. And you may never see one because, all told, Honda expects to produce just 1,100 Fit EVs over the next three years. By contrast, Nissan is close to selling that many Leaf EVs in a month.

What's more, the 2013 Honda Fit EV is a lease-only proposition ($389 per month for 36 months; the tax credit is baked in) that is confined to coastal Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland, Oregon. Next spring Honda plans to expand into Boston; New York; Hartford, Connecticut; Baltimore; and Washington, D.C.

A La Mode
The heart of the Fit EV is a permanent magnet electric motor that's rated at 92 kW (123 horsepower). It drives the front wheels through a coaxial single-speed gearbox, in which the differential is bolted directly to one end of the electric motor, not offset in the usual way with drive flanges positioned behind. This works because the motor's main shaft is hollow, allowing the driveshaft that feeds the opposite tire to run straight through the middle.

Full power is only available by pressing a dash-mounted Sport button. The Fit EV's rated efficiency and range comes in Normal mode, the start-up default that produces 75 kW (101 hp). Honda says Sport is 10 percent less efficient than Normal, but a third option, Econ mode, can boost efficiency by 17 percent if you're willing to tolerate 47 kW (63 hp), a deliberately recalcitrant throttle pedal and "optimized" air-conditioning performance.

Moving Out
From rest, Normal and Sport are equally proficient at chirping the Michelin Energy Saver low-rolling-resistance tires thanks to instant-on peak torque. Once under way, Normal feels entirely reasonable for everyday use, even up hills and onto freeway onramps. It's never lightning fast, but there's no problem keeping up.

As expected, the Sport button makes passing and merging easier, and in that mode the Fit EV's power-to-weight ratio is 19 percent better than the Leaf's. We figure 0-60-mph acceleration could register below 9.5 seconds — perhaps a half second better than the Nissan.

There are two shift positions as well: the familiar "D," and a "B" setting that simulates low gear engine braking through the regenerative system. Intended for downgrades, it adds a new dimension of fun in daily use (with no efficiency penalty) à la Mini E, although the effect is less pronounced.

As for the regular brakes, the EV's system of blending electric braking with conventional friction braking produces a firm and consistent pedal that comes across as notably more satisfying than the Leaf.

Battery Pack
Electricity comes from an air-cooled 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that's 4 kWh smaller than that of a Leaf. Even so, the Fit EV's range bests the Nissan by 9 miles. Low comparative weight accounts for some of this, as the 3,252-pound Fit EV weighs 123 pounds less than the Nissan.

But the chemistry of the Fit EV's Toshiba-made SCiB (super-charge ion battery) battery modules has more to do with it. Typical lithium-ion battery cells feature a carbon anode, but SCiB cells employ a Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) anode instead that can charge and discharge more quickly, allowing the Fit's battery to gobble up and recover energy more readily under braking.

This trait is a boon to plug-in charging, too, and the Fit EV's charging system runs at 6.6 kilowatts instead of the 3.3-kilowatt charge rate of the Leaf. And so it takes 3 hours — less than dinner and a movie — to fully recharge a depleted Fit EV using a standard 240-volt charger. A 7-hour commitment is needed to fill an empty Leaf at the same charging station.

Similar battery technology is found in the 2012 Focus Electric, which can also charge at 6.6 kW. But 372 pounds more Ford leads to a larger 23 kWh battery and 4 hours of 240-volt charge time.

Recharging on 120 volts is less impressive because the typical home garage circuit is the limiting factor. Still, 15 hours is far better than the 21 hours it takes to refill an empty Leaf — different enough to make the need for a 240-volt home charger far less certain.

Adaptation
Significant alterations were needed to slip a battery pack underneath the middle of a Fit. The driver still sits in the same spot, but a recontoured floor positions rear occupants 1.4 inches higher and 3.3 inches farther back. Rear headroom is down, but 37.3 inches of the stuff still feels like a goodly amount. However, fans of the Fit's magic seat will be saddened to learn that it did not survive the reconstructive surgery.

Still more room was needed to keep the battery case from dragging on speed bumps, so the entire body was raised 1.6 inches on its suspension. Taller springs and a new aluminum subframe do the trick up front, but the battery intrudes into space claimed by the Fit's standard-issue twist-beam rear axle. Oh, and there are 675 more pounds to cart around.

As a result, the Honda Fit EV has sprouted a far more sophisticated multilink rear suspension.

The end result is a Fit EV that rides with significantly more smoothness — and quietness — on the broken concrete surfaces and jointed freeways we're driving today. We're talking Accord levels of refinement here.

And the Fit EV is stable when barreling into corners, too, thanks to revised spring and roll stiffness tuning to handle the extra mass. Helping greatly in this regard is a center of gravity that is actually lower because much of the added weight sits below floor level.

Inside
Access to cargo is still good despite the raised body; 25.4 inches of liftover height is still an enviable number. But the rear-shifted seat shrinks rear cargo space from 20.6 to 12 cubic feet. There are 49.4 cubic feet available with the new 60/40 seat folded, but the load floor is no longer flat.

Rear doors that open 80 degrees are still present and they're even more appreciated with the new rear-set seat. The height-adjustable front seat and telescoping wheel still accommodate a wide range of drivers.

A navigation system and back-up camera are standard (there are zero options), and the instrument panel has been reconfigured to provide various types of coaching feedback to help get the most out of each kilowatt-hour of electricity.

A remote on the key fob can initiate a charge, check charge progress, verify cabin temperature and turn on the air-conditioning from 100 feet away. The available HondaLink EV smartphone app does all that and more. It can display available driving range, program an overnight charging session to catch low overnight rates or search for EV charging stations along a route.

Summing Up
The 2013 Honda Fit EV looks class-leading on paper and performs well in person, but that just makes its lease-only status all the more perplexing, even if $389 per month for 36 months seems like a competitive deal. A bit more digging reveals a couple of potential reasons.

Honda says that if it sold the Fit EV it would have to charge $37,415 for it — $2,580 less than a Focus Electric but $1,365 more than a Nissan Leaf. Put it that way and it seems like a ton of dough for a Fit near the end of its life cycle.

As a lease-only proposition with no buyout, Honda's Fit EV battery warranty lasts for "the duration of the lease of the vehicle," which is 3 years or 36,000 miles. Makers of for-sale EVs have to stand behind their batteries far longer, so in theory they can't push them to the max. One wonders if an 8-year/100,000-mile Fit EV battery would perform as well. It seems so, but outside of Honda there's no way of knowing.

Still, if a 3-year lease sounds good to you and you happen to live in one of the designated areas, the 2013 Honda Fit EV is a solid electrified choice. It rides, it handles, it charges quickly and it goes farther on less juice than any of its rivals. Interested? Find out more at Honda's official Fit EV Web site.

Source (with more pix!);
http://www.insideline.com/honda/fit/2013/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive.html

Honda Cars : 2013 Honda Fit EV Rated by the EPA at 118 MPGe; Receives Best-Ever Consumption Rating of 29 kWh/100mi The 2013 Honda Fit EV tops all other EV offerings in efficiency ratings, providing the most mileage for your electric dollar | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The 2013 Honda Fit EV tops all other EV offerings in efficiency ratings, providing the most mileage for your electric dollar

06/06/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif.,

The 2013 Honda Fit EV, has received a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe, and an unprecedented low consumption rating of just 29 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles. With an EPA rated annual fuel cost of only $500 , the fun-to-drive 2013 Honda Fit EV can help consumers get more miles for each charging dollar. Full EPA MPGe ratings¹ for the Fit EV are 132/105/118 city/highway/combined.

With such an efficient drivetrain, the Fit EV’s 20-kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery provides the capacity to earn an EPA combined city/highway estimated driving range rating of 82-miles, allowing the Fit EV to surpass the EPA efficiency and range ratings of the Ford Focus Electric (105 MPGe, 76-mile range), Nissan Leaf (99 MPGe, 73-mile range), and Mitsubishi i-MiEV (112 MPGe, 62-mile range). The Fit EV’s exceptionally efficient design – encompassing everything from savvy powertrain design, weight-conscious engineering and effective aerodynamics – makes the most of the Fit EV’s smaller battery. Additionally, the Fit EV battery can be recharged in less than 3 hours from a low charge indicator illumination point when connected to a 240-volt circuit.

“Just as important as the industry-leading fuel-efficiency and fast recharging time, as a Honda, the 2013 Fit EV will be an absolute kick to drive,” said Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office.

The Fit EV’s 92 kilowatt (123 horsepower) coaxial electric motor generates 188 ft-lb of torque, and is teamed to a chassis with a fully-independent suspension and a driver-selectable 3-mode electric drive system adapted from the CR-Z Sport Hybrid.

Honda debuted the 2013 Fit EV at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and announced plans to begin leasing the battery-electric commuter vehicle to customers in select California and Oregon markets during the summer of 2012, followed by an East Coast rollout in 2013. The Fit EV will be offered with three-year $389/month lease².

Honda Environmental Leadership
The Fit EV is a part of Honda’s portfolio approach, which includes the development of battery- electric, fuel cell-electric, natural gas, and gasoline-electric powered vehicles, to improve fuel-efficiency and reduce C02 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 America Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), for eleven consecutive years.

In 2006, Honda became the first automaker to announce voluntary CO2 emissions reduction targets for its global fleet of automobile, powersports and power equipment products and its global network of manufacturing plants. Today, the company is striving for even greater reductions in CO2 emissions that contribute to global climate change, while also working to minimize waste, water use and the total environmental footprint of its operations worldwide.

Honda Fit EV Efficiency Comparison
Model	EPA Combined MPGe Rating	EPA Combined kWh/100ml1	Battery Capacity	EPA Label Range
Honda Fit EV	118	29	20 kWh	82 miles
Mitsubishi i-MiEV	112	30	16 kWh	62 miles
Ford Focus Electric	105	32	23 kWh	76 miles
Nissan Leaf	99	34	24 kWh	73 miles

¹ kWh/100mi (kilowatt hours per 100miles): A lower number represents superior efficiency
¹132/105/118 city/highway/combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) rating; 82 mile combined (city/highway) driving range rating (adjusted).  Ratings determined by US EPA.  Your MPGe and range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors.  For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-electric-label.shtml.

²Subject to limited availability through October 2014 in designated market regions on approved credit through American Honda Finance Corp. Closed end lease for 2013 Honda Fit EV for well-qualified lessees meeting specific use and operation requirements. Not all applicants will qualify. No purchase option at lease end. MSRP $37,415 (includes destination). Excludes tax, title, license, registration, options and insurance. Zero capitalized cost reduction. Total monthly payments $14,004.00. Lessee responsible for non-routine maintenance, excessive wear/tear and up to $0.20/mi. over 12,000 mi./yr. Lease includes collision coverage, routine maintenance, roadside assistance and navigation system updates. Please see your authorized Fit EV dealer for complete details.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/2013-honda-fit-ev-rated-by-the-epa-at-118-mpge-highest-fuel-efficiency-rating-ever-1

Honda Cars : Is the Fit EV for you? --Honda wants to know | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

This is an exciting time in the history of automobiles. From high-mileage hybrids to the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle, the technological advancements are amazing. And now, the opportunity to drive the 100% electric Fit EV has arrived. Fill out this brief EV Readiness Assessment to see if you’d be a good candidate to lease one. By filling out this form you will not only be given the opportunity to submit your name as a possible lessee but you will also help guide the direction of this very new technology.

TAKE THE EV READINESS ASSESSMENT (click on the link below);
http://automobiles.honda.com/fit-ev/ev-readiness-assessment.aspx

Honda Cars : Honda delivers first electric Fit | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Torrance, California – Honda has delivered a 2013 Fit EV electric vehicle to the city of Torrance. The delivery is one of the first major steps in the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program and a prelude to the retail market launch of the Fit EV to customers in California and Oregon this summer.

The Fit was delivered in a ceremony to Torrance mayor Frank Scotto by Steve Center, vice-president of the environmental business development office at American Honda.

“This is an exciting day as we take another important step toward Honda’s comprehensive vision for reducing CO2 emissions, while at the same time advancing our relationship with the city of Torrance,” Center said. “Honda has a long history with electric vehicles starting with the introduction of our first battery electric car, the EV Plus, nearly 15 years ago.”

Honda and the city have worked together over the past year to gather input from residents about potential recharging station locations and have jointly participated in several public awareness events. The two will continue these initiatives and also study local government fleet usage of an electrified vehicle. The city will also receive a Honda plug-in hybrid for additional testing at a later date.

Honda unveiled the 2013 Fit EV at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and plans to lease vehicles to its U.S. customers in the summer of 2012. Honda will also test the Fit EV with Google Inc. and Stanford University as part of its demonstration program.

Source;
http://www.autos.ca/general-news/honda-delivers-first-electric-fit

Honda Cars : Honda Jazz (FIT) EV | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

by Graham Hope
The Honda Jazz has always been a pioneer, and now it’s blazing a new trail in all-electric guise. It was one of the first supermini-MPVs when it was introduced a decade ago, and now finds itself at the cutting edge of technology, with an electric version to be launched in Japan and America next year. This will be badged the Fit, and will initially arrive in California and Oregon before being rolled out to six east coast US states in 2013.

The blanked-off nose distinguishes the model from the standard Jazz, plus our car features Fit EV livery. It also gets new five-spoke alloys, while a unique blue paintjob is available in the US.
Under the floor is a lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 20 kilowatt-hours (less than the Nissan Leaf’s 24kWh). The maximum output is 100 kilowatts. The 92kW coaxial electric motor, meanwhile, is derived from the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity.

Inside, the most obvious additions are the buttons which let you choose which mode to drive in: Normal, Econ and Sport, as seen on the CR-Z.

As with all EVs, what stands out most is the silence at start-up. And with all the power available from a standstill, the car gets off the mark quickly.

Econ, as the name suggests, offers the most energy-efficient driving, with Sport optimistically claiming to deliver “exhilarating performance”. That’s pushing things somewhat, but there is a tangible difference between the modes: in Sport the drive is surprisingly fun, and claimed performance is on par with that of a 2.0-litre engine.

At low city speeds, the EV is very nippy and guaranteed to cause a few surprises when pulling away from the lights. Ride quality is similar to that of the standard model, though, so it doesn’t take much for the little Honda to get unsettled.

Do the numbers stack up? The US version of the Jazz claims a range of 76 miles in combined city and motorway use, or 123 miles in town alone, with the battery taking three hours to fully recharge when connected to a standard 240V socket.

Will the car come here? Honda bosses remain tight-lipped, but if this happens it won’t be for another three years at least. They do recognise, though, that one thing an electric Jazz would have in its favour is a familiar badge – they believe this would encourage sales.

Source;
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/276067/honda_jazz_ev.html

Honda Cars : Honda Small Sports EV Concept | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Here's another pic of the Honda Sports EV Concept.

Source;
http://visions-autos.sport24.com/668215/Honda-Small-Sports-EV-Concept-2011-et-Coupe-Honda-Design/

Honda Cars : 2011 Honda Micro Commuter Concept Ready for Tokyo | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The formula for the EV market is starting to become clearer by the day. You’ve got the larger sedans and hatchbacks that some manufacturers produces with range extenders, the odd sportscar here and there, some relatively small hatches that are the mainstay of the offering and the really small cars like Audi’s Urban concept and Renault’s Twizy.

Honda has announced it will be bringing three electric vehicles to the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, which will debut November 30th, and the Micro Commuter is obviously their vision of urban travel in the future.

Speaking of the future, the the design has to be one of the most futuristic we’ve seen in a while. There is only one seat that wraps the driver in a world of white and teal tones. Instead of the traditional wheel, you’ve got something that looks like it came out of an airplane.

Looking at the outside, Honda’s designers must have really wanted to design a car that works in sci-fi anime, because it has some very strange fairing for the wheels.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2011-honda-micro-commuter-concept-ready-for-tokyo-40268.html

Honda Cars : Honda Small Sports EV Concept teased ahead of Tokyo debut | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show this year, Honda’s booth will carry a theme of “What makes people feel good?”

“Honda will propose an exciting and thrilling mobility life of the future that it envisions as a company providing personal mobility to people all around the world,” the company said in a statement. “The display will include a lineup of the next-generation electromotive concept models including two-, three- and four-wheeled commuter vehicles designed for easy and fun mobility in future cities, mid-to-long distance commuters designed to enrich life and enhance the freedom and fun of mobility, and sporty models that pursue the joy of driving/riding.”

One of the most exciting vehicles on display will be the Small Sports EV Concept (tentative name). Honda said the study shows a “next-generation EV sports model which maximizes the fun of driving while achieving excellent environmental performance.”

It seems the Japanese automaker is hinting that the Small Sports EV Concept could be a new take on the Beat, a midengine 660cc sports car that was sold in Japan in the early ’90s.

More details will be announced at the show on Nov. 30.
- By: Omar Rana

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/11/09/honda-small-sports-ev-concept-teased-ahead-of-tokyo-debut/

Honda Cars : Honda Jazz EV Concept electric car debuts | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

There was talk about this vehicle coming to north america instead of getting the Honda FIT hybrid, not sure whether or not that's still the plan....
While most other manufacturers participating in the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show, were busy trying to steal the show with their new models sporting glitzy designs and displaying promising concepts, Japanese auto giant Honda seemed to focus on the greener side of things by exhibiting various plug-in hybrid and electric-vehicle concepts, including the yet-to-be-named Jazz-based Honda EV concept.

The EV Concept will be powered by a lithium-ion battery and a high-density coaxial motor which is claimed to hit a top speed of 145 kph while helping to achieve an estimated driving range of 160 kilometres per charge. Aiding efficiency would be a 3-mode electric drive system lifted straight from the Honda CR-Z hybrid, which allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal and Sport modes thereby optimising the vehicle dynamics for optimal efficiency or best performance.

Another highlight of the EV concept is a connectivity system which allows the driver to monitor the vehicle’s state of charge, initiate charging and even turn on the air conditioning system using a personal computer, mobile phone or an interactive remote from Honda. Recharging the battery takes less than 6 hours when using a 240-volt outlet. Other features include a Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System with capability to locate public charging stations, LED headlamps and tail lamps, aerodynamic bumpers and eco-friendly bio-fabric on-seating surfaces.

In a land where even simple hybrids have turned out to be epic failures, a sophisticated EV stands no chance. But we do know that the EV concept will be a Jazz on batteries when it finally reaches production stage in no more than a year.

Source;
http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2011/09/29/honda-ev-concept-honda-jazz-electric-debuts/

Honda Cars : Honda says it will make electric cars in China | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda plans to build make electric cars in China starting next year 2012 as part of a plan to raise sales there 10% a year.

Honda, a Japanese automaker, isn't stopping at electrics in the drive to pout China on the forefront of the automotive revolution, Bloomberg News reports. It also will make hybrids eventually, Bloomberg quotes CEO Takanobu Ito as saying at the Shanghai auto show today.

It's not like Honda will have to ship in a lot of parts for the project. The batteries, motors and other core parts are already made by Chinese manufacturers to cut procurement costs, he said. It's unclear which car that Honda would use as a base, but it has announced plans to electrify the small Fit. That's an electric fit in the picture, above.

Honda expects to sell 730,000 vehicles in China this year, a growth rate of about 10%, Ito said.

Source;
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/04/honda-says-it-will-make-electric-cars-in-china/1

Honda Cars : Honda EV retro Sedan? | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

You might remember this vehicle shown as a prototype a few years ago in a Coupe style, well, this looks like a nice close to production ready vehicle.... Not sure what, if anything, will come of this....

Great find www.woodyscarsite.com
Source;
http://www.woodyscarsite.com/2011/02/retro-ev-honda-is-back-and-4-doors.html

Honda Cars : Honda CEO sees potential in electric car market | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Here's another flip flop on the whole Electric Vehicle stance....
(Reuters) - The head of Honda Motor Co said there could be plenty of demand for battery-powered electric cars, making the strongest endorsement yet of the technology that his predecessor had long shunned as impractical and unrealistic.

Japan's second-biggest automaker announced in July plans to launch a plug-in hybrid and pure electric car in 2012, but had stopped short of laying out a roadmap of how they would contribute to its business.

"It's starting to look like there will be a market for electric vehicles (EVs)," Takanobu Ito, who took over as chief executive last year, told a small group of reporters at a test-drive event north of Tokyo.

"We can't keep shooting down their potential, and we can't say there's no business case for it."

Under Takeo Fukui and other former CEOs, Honda had been a strong proponent of hydrogen fuel-cell cars as the best zero-emission alternative to today's combustion engine cars because they have a similar driving range of 500-600 km (310-375 miles), unlike battery EVs' limited reach.

Nissan Motor Co's Leaf, which will become the world's first mass-volume electric car when it goes on sale next month, can only be driven for 160 km (100 miles) on a full charge since packing more batteries to extend the range would make the car prohibitively expensive.

"The thing is, not everybody needs to drive 500 km a day," Ito said, echoing the argument made by Nissan and its partner, Renault SA, to sell battery EVs in big volumes around the world.

Ito stopped short of predicting how big the EV market could be, and how soon.

But he added that pure electric cars made more sense than plug-in hybrids, which are hybrid cars that carry more batteries that can be charged from an outside source.

"Plug-in hybrids are essentially for people who drive short distances, but it has the handicap of having an engine, a motor and a stack of batteries," he said. "Why wouldn't you just drive an EV?"

In a move that could further accelerate the industry's drive toward EVs, Ito is due to take the wraps off a new electric car concept at the Los Angeles auto show on November 17. It would be the first time for a Honda CEO to unveil a new model at the annual show.

California has some of the world's strictest environmental regulations, and Honda had said it would sell battery-run EVs there only to meet the state's zero-emission requirements.

Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp, also a recent EV convert, is planning to unveil the electric RAV4, co-developed with Tesla Motors Inc, at the L.A. auto show. Toyota and the California electric car start-up tied up earlier this year, agreeing to develop battery and EV technology together.

Source;
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A11QH20101102