Honda May Build EVs; Still Thinks Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Cars Are Better Bet
Honda Motor Co. is still high on hydrogen, but now thinks battery-electrics might be the way to go until there's a hydrogen fueling infrastructure to support the fuel-cell electric cars the company prefers.
Honda EV-N electric city car concept being displayed at Tokyo Auto Show.
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The automaker, which made a big splash last year with its ready-for-production FCX Clarity fuel-cell electric car, had been counting on that technology to enable it to catch up with hybrid champion Toyota in the fuel-efficiency sweepstakes to mature.
But ongoing road tests of the Clarity and General Motors' fuel-cell Equinox SUV haven't generated enough interest to spur fuel companies to build hydrogen stations, limiting the potential market for fuel-cell cars to urban areas of California and the New York metropolitan region.
That's not enough to generate the high volume production that would be needed to increase the number of component suppliers and reduce the cost of the highly specialized fuel cell systems.
Honda was one of a coalition of nine major automakers that recently announced they will begin marketing fuel-cell electric cars in 2015, but most of those will be sold in California - where most of the nation's hydrogen fuel pumps are installed -to help satisfy the state's zero emissions vehicle mandate.
Honda's Ito has previously said that in addition to the handful of FCX Clarity hydrogen cars his company will make available in California, it may need battery-electric cars as well to meet the California ZEV quotas.
Honda's FCX Clarity at hydrogen filling station in Los Angeles.
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The company is showing an EV concept, the Honda EV-N city car - at the Toyko Auto Show this week.
"There is no change to my view that hydrogen fuel-cell cars will in the end be proven the best," Ito said in his remarks.
But, he added, "electric vehicles will also be a core option for cars in the future."
- Posted by
- John O'Dell October 20, 2009, 12:49 PM
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- Categories:
- Fuel Cell, Honda, Hydrogen, Plug-ins and Electric
- Technorati Tags:
- EVs, FCX Clarity, Fuel Cell Electric Cars, Hydrogen Cars, ZEV Mandate
Honda also thought the following were better bets:
* A 2-seat hybrid that is all but useless, but gets fantastic gas mileage.
* A V6 hybrid that, instead of getting a mileage boost, gets a power boost.
* An all-around mediocre hybrid with a low price point.
At least they're keeping their options open.
Honda is one of the most successful automakers globally. They were one of the first to build their cars in the U.S. and then went on to build two of the most successful cars ever designed and delivered with excellent performance and quality: the Honda Civic and the Honda Accord. They matched that achievement with building some of the best bikes on the planet. They're not alone in developing fuel cell electric cars, but they are following the tradition of innovation and engineering excellence of the company's founder, Shoichiro Honda. Hats off to them.
Honda is one of the most successful automakers globally. They were one of the first to build their cars in the U.S. and then went on to build two of the most successful cars ever designed and delivered with excellent performance and quality: the Honda Civic and the Honda Accord. They matched that achievement with building some of the best bikes on the planet. They're not alone in developing fuel cell electric cars, but they are following the tradition of innovation and engineering excellence of the company's founder, Shoichiro Honda. Hats off to them.