Honda's environmental strategy includes diesels, affordable hybrid
Honda's senior vice president acknowledges that the gasoline internal combustion engine will be the primary source of automotive power for the next 15 to 20 years. In a speech at a Center for Automotive Research seminar (transcribed on AutoSpectator.com),
Some critics have questioned Honda's environmental sincerity because the company hasn't promised to build a gazillion hybrids by the end of the decade. Honda is taking a more patient if not calculated approach to hybrids. Mendel said there will be a new "affordable" hybrid coming in 2009 with projected annual sales of 100,000 units. He also touted a new 4-cylinder clean diesel engine that will not need urea or other add-on technology to meet federal emissions standards.
If you want a snapshot of Honda's environmental strategy, just look at the Civic. You can find conventional gasoline, diesel, gas-electric or natural gas powertrains under the hood somewhere in the world. Mendel's comments are blunt, effective and promising.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 5:51PM (8/24/2006)
"Some critics have questioned Honda's environmental sincerity because the company hasn't promised to build a gazillion hybrids by the end of the decade."
Mendel deserves kudos for pointing out Honda's focus on efficiency. A lot of so-called "environmentalists" seem to lose track of the fact that it's MUCH more important to burn less of whatever we are using to power our cars than it is to burn the Politically Correct fuel du jour.
Reply
Schneegz 7:42AM (8/25/2006)
Howard Lee Harkness wrote: "A lot of so-called "environmentalists" seem to lose track of the fact that it's MUCH more important to burn less of whatever we are using to power our cars than it is to burn the Politically Correct fuel du jour."
Actually, what most environmentalists - "so called" and otherwise - appear to loose sight of is a little thing called ECONOMICS.
They don't seem to realize that everything costs someone something. Developing new technology costs manufacturers millions, sometimes billions, of dollars. If that technology doesn't sell at a great enough profit, the manufacturer goes out of business.
Honda and other successful manufacturers succeed by developing products that consumers want to own and can afford to buy. Judging from Mr. Mendel's comments, it seems to me that Honda is focusing on continuing to do just that.
Reply
DT 9:55AM (8/25/2006)
Actually....what "so-called environmentalists" have a great understanding of is "that everything costs someone something". It's this understanding that everything we buy/sell/do in our lives does have a cost either on someone else or on the planet that differenciates them from those who are indifferent.
It doesn't take a genoius to realize large companies work on a profit margin. No matter how much Honda or any car manufacturer totes the virtues of it's environmental program the bottom line is they wouldn't make it if it didn't sell. What the "so-called environmentalists" will suggest is that realizing companies must make a profit to survive, we need gov'ts to make the laws, provide tax incentives, and educate buyers to demand greener products (and create a market) because, if they don't, the "costs" for us all will be much larger than the R&D involved designing a fuel efficient car.
Reply
SpinDaddy 10:02AM (8/25/2006)
I have a few of questions.
Question one, in a press release dated 8JAN of this year (click on SpinDaddy link above) Honda states that they will begin producing the FCX hydrogen fuel cell car within three-four years.
" Signaling a rapid advancement in its fuel cell vehicle technology, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced that it will begin production in Japan of its next generation FCX hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in three to four years. "
What do they mean by "production". Does this mean more trial programs in which various local California city bureaucrats get to drive the cars and then make inane statements to the press?
Question two, do they mean by "production" that in three to four years I can go to my Honda store and BUY an FCX, and the home refueling station or will this be a lease-crush-you-can-only-drive-one-of-these-cars-if-you-skew-to-a-certain-demographic type program?
Question three, how soon (or at all) can we expect to see the nifty Honda diesel Accords and Civics currently on sale in the european market here? Everybody keeps talking big about diesels but the few there are available are from questionable manufacturers or are too expensive. Where are the diesels?
I will jump all over a Honda diesel if they will make it available to the US market. I'm quite sure I'm not the only one either. -SpinDaddy
Reply