Honda Awaiting New "Super" Lithium-Ion Battery for Next-Generation Hybrids
Honda's Integrated Motor Assist mild hybrid system (right) would get a boost from new high-power lithium-ion batteries the company could start using for 2010 models.
By Bill Visnic, Senior Editor
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Honda Motor Co. is preparing for an all-new, advanced lithium-ion battery
that will allow its engineers to extend Honda's Integrated Motor Assist
hybrid-electric technology to larger vehicles, a senior company executive told Green Car Advisor during an annual auto-industry conference frequented by heavy-hitters from carmakers' management ranks.
Honda has in the past been non-committal about lithium-ion, but that posture apparently is changing. And Honda recently was linked in lithium-ion talk with Japanese electronics giant and battery developer Sanyo Electric Co.
John German, American Honda's manager of environmental and energy analysis, said the coming lithium-ion battery formula -- the developer of which he wouldn't name -- does not enjoy extra capacity compared with known lithium-ion characteristics. Instead, the new chemistry is targeted at allowing the batteries to charge much more quickly.
This, in turn, will allow for an increased amount of battery capacity that can be assigned to actually powering the motor. And more power means the IMA system can be employed for larger, heavier vehicles.
In addition, German says the new batteries will be markedly cheaper.
Apart from potential for vehicles such as the Ridgeline midsized pickup
or the Odyssey minivan, the extra IMA performance could mean a return
of the Accord Hybrid - this time using a 4-cylinder engine instead of
the first-generation Accord Hybrid's V6.
German says the new butt-kicker lithium-ion chemistry should be ready
in about the same timeframe as GM's lithium-ion-dependent Chevrolet
Volt "extended-range" electric vehicle, the car that put lithium-ion
development on the hot seat.
That means sometime around 2010 for low-volume application, says
German, but perhaps as much a five years or more from now for
"large-scale" production runs. The timing could make the batteries
possible for a production version of the sport-oriented, and presumably
low-volume, CR-Z coupe.
German says the two issues with Honda's current IMA system - which uses
nickel-metal hydride batteries - are space constraints and
comparatively low power, limiting its "scalability" for larger, heavier
models.
And while Honda brags about the slenderness of IMA's engine-enhancing
electric motor - which is wedged between the engine and transmission -
German says underhood space has become so valuable that even the
currently required 1.5 inches or so is tough to engineer.
But Honda's advanced lithium-ion battery's potential for the midsize
Accord must be tempting, as the company is no doubt anxious to get back
in the game against Toyota's Camry Hybrid, of which Toyota reputedly
has just a five-day inventory.
Honda's first Accord Hybrid was designed for performance enhancement,
coupling the IMA system with the company's thrusty 3-liter V6.
Accord's loyal buyers didn't respond, however, and Honda dropped the
Accord Hybrid after the '07 model year and before the next-generation
model was introduced for '08.
While Toyota's hybrids keep selling well, German told Green Car
Advisor, that he thinks Toyota invested in the wrong technology by
opting for the "full" hybrid design instead of Honda's IMA mild hybrid
system.
"We get 80 percent of the (full-hybrid) benefit at 60 percent of the cost," German insists.
Visnic is a senior editor for Edmunds Auto Observer.
- Posted by
- John O'Dell August 13, 2008, 2:47 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Batteries, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Toyota
- Technorati Tags:
- Honda, Hybrid, Lithium-Ion, Sanyo Electric Co., Traverse City
Can Honda's mild hybrid power the vehicle on its own? Sounds like GM's system is still the best all-around, though it needs to be shrunk down for smaller vehicles (essentially the opposite of what Honda's working toward).
Do not know if CR-V is considered as a heavy vehicle, they had a hybrid Accord, why couldn't they have done the same for CR-V instead of hybridizing an Accord?
I wonder who has been advising Honda with regards to size, shape, weight of new automobiles, I wonder if it is the same people who advise GM & Ford. Honda in more recent years adopted for larger and bigger engine sizes with lower MPGs, now they are trying desperately to increase MPGs with hybrids.
I cannot fathom why they would not think of a Hybrid CR-V, that would attract so many buyers. Although Current CR-V is best in it's class as far as MPG, it is not good enough to buy at $4-$5/gallon of gas. Any car/SUV that does not give at least 32 MPG will consume good part of your paycheck.
I like the idea of GM's Volt system, from what I understand the engine is used to charge batteries only; it's like the Air car of India, a small engine is used for compressor to fill the air tank. This concept should reduce maintenance costs also.