REPORT: Honda considering electric car launch in major markets, CEO says
Honda EV-N Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Hybrids and fuel cells. That's where Honda seems to have put the vast majority of its engineering resources over the last decade or so, first with the two-seat Insight – the first hybrid sold here in the States, beating the much more successful Toyota Prius to market by a few months – and later the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. According to company CEO Takanobu Ito, though, a new wind may be blowing into a town near you, and it's electric.
While the Japanese automaker sees hydrogen as the real solution to our dependence on petroleum, the fact that it's taking so long for a real hydrogen infrastructure to be built up around the world means that Honda is considering launching a fully electric automobile in major markets in Europe, Japan and the United States. Whether or not it will look anything like the EV-N concept from the Tokyo Motor Show remains to be seen... but we're hoping.
Gallery: 2009 Honda EV-N Concept
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 6:51PM (10/20/2009)
Over Greg Blancoes dead body!...
They are going to need some bigger tires and a little more ground clearance.
Reply
wincros 6:55PM (10/20/2009)
It looks a bit lighter and more basic than the Honda EV+ which was the first 4 passenger EV. Not much progress on the range and speed on proposed new cars since 1988. Hmm. 21 years.
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/hondaxx.htm
Reply
AutoCritical 9:24PM (10/20/2009)
I'm thinking the future will be a mix of all these technologies, perhaps certain countries/areas will have a specific technology type.... About this Honda specifically, this design is an obvious one (small light weight car) more at: http://bit.ly/sMBB5
polo 10:18PM (10/20/2009)
The future will not be a mix if the mix you're talking about is hydrogen. Its going to take enough time and ingenuity to get EV batteries down in price, to suggest we should mix that with hydrogen tech easily puts a zero (or two) behind that price, and raises the infrastructure development costs astronomically, for little additional benefit. You'll see electric/gas hybrids for another decade before EVs take over. Thats about all the mixing their will be.
Chris M 11:22PM (10/20/2009)
Wincros, the Honda EV+ started sales in 1998, not 1988, you're 10 years off.
The EV-N concept is smaller but cuter than the EV+, but I have doubts that concept will come to market. Maybe if the smart EV does well, Honda might go for it.
3PeaceSweet 7:09PM (10/20/2009)
PHEV-20 Jazz / Fit would be a good vehicle.
100 miles worth of battery power would save more fuel split across 5-10 vehicles than it would in a single vehicle. It wouldn't cost anymore than the a few $k on top of the purchase price of the vehicle, and especially in Japan and Europe it would be pay itself off and act as a cataylst to roll out electric charging stations.
Reply
EV-1 8:02PM (10/20/2009)
Now, I'm serious :
This is the cutest little fella I've ever seen!
Had me laugh out loud for several minutes ! =D
I'd just *Love* to have these ones zooming around silently in our
towns !
"Dear Honda!
May I humby ask that you start producing this wonderfully designed
Electric car... "
And it is obvious that it takes advantage of its diminutive
measurments to the fullest :
also a practical and really useful car in spite of the size.
( This is the cutest car since the classic Fiat 500 Nuova )
Gimme gimme !
:)
Reply
B_E_N 8:05PM (10/20/2009)
@"xuchaoxio212 "
Get out of here.
You can stuff your T-shirts ...
Reply
Serge 8:12PM (10/20/2009)
"But Honda has recently said that slow progress in setting up hydrogen fuelling stations could limit the sale of its fuel-cell vehicles, and that it may need pure electric cars to meet tough regulations in California. "
Wait, did I miss the news that FCX Clarity is available *for purchase* at a 5 digit price at any U.S. dealer? Please, Honda, stop with the bullsh&t already. Mama Tomato says: "Ketch up!"
Reply
Chris M 11:33PM (10/20/2009)
They're not selling the FCX-Clarity, it's lease only. Honda originally planned for 200 Claritys for lease, but apparently have scaled way back, last I heard there were only 10 in California and a few in Germany and Japan.
I suspect their planned 2015 H2FCV rollout will be delayed a few more years, they know it, so they're whipping up some EVs and maybe PHEVs to match the competition.
Mike!!ekiM 8:37PM (10/20/2009)
I'll just say, I'm love'n my Electric Lawn Mower. From May and into October, not one drop of gas needed, instant on, instant off, listen to my ipod, plug the battery in when I'm done. Now using it to lawn bag leaves.
I'm looking forward to an electric car.
Reply
jpm 8:45PM (10/20/2009)
"... the fact that it's taking so long for a real hydrogen infrastructure to be built up around the world means that Honda is considering launching a fully electric automobile in major markets"
Ummm, did you leave out any other facts that make hydrogen FCV a bad idea??
Reply
Chris M 11:36PM (10/20/2009)
That could have made the article waaaay too long!
Honda needed an excuse for delaying their H2 rollout, and sometimes, the best excuse is the shortest one.
jpm 11:39PM (10/20/2009)
lol, yup!
lazybones 11:07PM (10/20/2009)
Shoot the designer first, then ask questions!
Reply
EV-1 4:36AM (10/21/2009)
I'm still laughing !!!
=D !!!!!!!!!!!
OmG!
Is that one real !?
XD !
I'll even mount a low-speed engine-noise substitute
with a speaker sounding like a kid voice , going:
"Drrr-nn , drr-nnnnn , drrrrr-nnnn !"
... to accompany that silence, and make it 100% irresistible !
:)
Reply
Yanquetino 2:05PM (10/21/2009)
Well... that'll sure convince consumers that EVs aren't "punishment cars." Methinks that's what Honda is really trying to accomplish with this gremlin. I mean, who would gravitate toward one of these in a showroom?
Reply
Matthew7-12 7:08PM (10/21/2009)
You know, in a distant world, far far away . .
from the usual prestigue-hunting, pubertal, power-pervert, omnipotent, pretentious, arrogant and irresponsible boasting by machines,
. . there are people who are truly free and they have the wealth of eternal treasures.
The JOY of open-minded fearlessness might be hard to concieve :
in an environment severely polluted with commercial greed and
indoctrinating peoples minds that human dignity depends on materialistic manifestation.
Mockery is the weaklings substitute for reason.
Yanquetino 7:36PM (10/21/2009)
Wha...???!