AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Honda will start Fit (Jazz) Hybrid production in Thailand this summer]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/honda-fit-jazz-hybrid-will-start-production-in-thailand-this-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/honda-fit-jazz-hybrid-will-start-production-in-thailand-this-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/honda-fit-jazz-hybrid-will-start-production-in-thailand-this-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Honda will start making a hybrid version of its Fit compact in Thailand this summer, according to the Japanese publication the Nikkei. Production will mark the first time Honda will be making any of its hybrids in Asia outside of Japan. Sales of the Jazz Hybrid - Honda substitutes the name Jazz for Fit outside of the U.S. - will start as soon as next summer.

The reason for the increased production is so Honda can keep up with increased sales of its most popular hybrid. Last year, Honda sold 86,000 units of the hybrid worldwide. Honda first unveiled a version of the Jazz Hybrid for the Japanese and European markets at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. That model uses the same powertrain as the CR-Z and Insight hybrids.

The Jazz Hybrid production would mark yet another victory for the Thail automotive industry, The country is the world's 12th-largest but was staggered in the wake of a flood last fall that killed 815 people and ground auto production to a halt. Honda and Toyota plants there suffered, but both have since restarted production

When or if Fit Hybrid sales reach the U.S. is anyone's guess. Honda unveiled a battery-electric Fit at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November and said it would start leasing the Fit EV to a limited number of customers in the U.S. later this summer.

Honda will start Fit (Jazz) Hybrid production in Thailand this summer originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 22 May 2012 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fitfit hybridhonda fithonda hybridjazzjazz hybridmanufacturingproductionthailandTue, 22 May 2012 08:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20241930/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20241930/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/22/honda-fit-jazz-hybrid-will-start-production-in-thailand-this-s/20241930/article-detail.xml 20241930 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/fithybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/fithybrid.jpg <![CDATA[California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Heather Peters 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid

There is safety in numbers, and not the kind put out by the EPA.

That's what one California-based attorney representing class-action claimants against General Motors and Hyundai is saying in the wake of Heather Peters' now-unsuccessful attempt to sue Honda over allegedly overstating fuel economy figures for the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Redlands, Calif.-based McCuneWright LLP principal Richard McCune, fishing for business, obviously, notes that, among other things, plaintiffs lose both the right for attorney representation and the right to appeal, both of which class-action members have.

"If you are filing against a big company, you are already at a disadvantage when you enter the small claims courtroom," McCune said in a statement last week.

Of course, McCuneWright has skin in this particular game, as it's representing a number of plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits against General Motors and Hyundai over - you guessed it - fuel-economy claims.

That said, TheDetroitBureau.com publisher Paul A. Eisenstein, in an AutoblogGreen editorial last week, essentially said the same, noting that class-action plaintiffs have a better record of success than those taking on large companies in small claims court.

Peters won a small-claims case worth almost $10,000 against Honda in February after a judge ruled in favor of her claim that Honda overstated the fuel-economy of her 2006 Civic Hybrid. Last week, a superior court judge reversed that ruling. The automaker had already agreed to pay out members of a larger class-action claim from $100 to $200 each and as much as a $1,500 discount on a new Honda purchase, an offer that about 1,700 Honda owners had accepted, according to the Detroit News.

Continue reading California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling

California lawyer pitches class-action services in wake of overturned Honda fuel-economy ruling originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacivic hybridclass action lawsuitheather petershonda civic hybridlawsuitlegalmpgsmall claims courtsuperior courtThu, 17 May 2012 07:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239592/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20239592/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/17/california-lawyer-pitches-class-action-services-in-wake-of-overt/20239592/article-detail.xml 20239592 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heatherpeters0516_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heatherpeters0516.jpg <![CDATA[Honda finds a way to make the Segway look elegant [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/honda-finds-a-way-to-make-the-segway-look-elegant/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/honda-finds-a-way-to-make-the-segway-look-elegant/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/honda-finds-a-way-to-make-the-segway-look-elegant/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Honda Uni-Cub Personal Mobility Device

Honda is jumping into the personal-mobility vehicle market associated with the Segway, and the Japanese automaker even has a cute name for the device.

Honda will start demonstration tests for its UNI-CUB vehicle in June of 2012 with Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Honda, which has been working on a plan for personal mobility devices since 2009, says the vehicle will offer firm balance and all-directional capabilities, similar to the Segway, though the person will be sitting lower on the device, allowing for "eye-level" stature, the company said.

No specifics as far as sales and price have been disclosed, but Honda says the UNI-CUB sits about 29 inches tall, has a maximum speed of about three and a half miles per hour and a single-charge range of about three and a half miles. Read all about it in the press release below, along with a video of the machine in action.

Continue reading Honda finds a way to make the Segway look elegant [w/video]

Honda finds a way to make the Segway look elegant [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclehondajapanpersonal mobilitysegwayuni-cubTue, 15 May 2012 18:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238406/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20238406/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/15/honda-finds-a-way-to-make-the-segway-look-elegant/20238406/article-detail.xml 20238406 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/honda-uni-cub-001-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/honda-uni-cub-001-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Honda wins appeal in Civic Hybrid fuel mileage case]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/honda-wins-appeal-in-civic-hybrid-fuel-mileage-case/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/honda-wins-appeal-in-civic-hybrid-fuel-mileage-case/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/09/honda-wins-appeal-in-civic-hybrid-fuel-mileage-case/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Heather Peters Honda Civic Hybrid lawsuit

A judge has reversed a lower court ruling against Honda over the automaker's fuel economy claims. Heather Peters successfully sued Honda in small-claims court in February, claiming her 2006 Civic Hybrid didn't return the advertised 50 miles per gallon Environmental Protection Agency rating. Peters was awarded $9,867 in damages in the lawsuit, but now Judge Dudley W. Gray II of the state Superior Court in Torrence, California, has reversed the lower court's ruling.

Honda has offered owners a settlement in a larger class-action suit, paying out either $100 or $200 depending on the vehicle and as much as $1,500 toward the purchase of a new Honda. According to The Detroit News, around 1,700 Honda owners have declined to participate in the class-action suit.

Continue reading Honda wins appeal in Civic Hybrid fuel mileage case

Honda wins appeal in Civic Hybrid fuel mileage case originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 09 May 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civic hybridcivic hybrid lawsuitcivic hybrid mileageheather petershondahonda civic hybridhonda lawsuithonda small claims suithybridsmall claimsWed, 09 May 2012 20:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20234944/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20234944/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/09/honda-wins-appeal-in-civic-hybrid-fuel-mileage-case/20234944/article-detail.xml 20234944 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heather-peters-honda-civic-hybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/heather-peters-honda-civic-hybrid.jpg <![CDATA[Honda says new driving-monitoring system cuts traffic jams, boosts fuel economy]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/honda-says-new-driving-monitoring-system-cuts-traffic-jams-boos/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/honda-says-new-driving-monitoring-system-cuts-traffic-jams-boos/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/honda-says-new-driving-monitoring-system-cuts-traffic-jams-boos/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Many of us have seen the bumper sticker featuring a gun-toting Yosemite Sam and the words "Back Off." Turns out Honda wants to make them obsolete.

The Japanese automaker said it has developed the first-ever vehicle communications system geared to cut both traffic jams and fuel use by monitoring a driver's acceleration and braking habits and providing information that Honda says will encourage smoother driving.

Honda, along with the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, has developed on-board terminals that connect to cloud-based computing systems that allow communications between cars on the same road and provide information designed to encourage the driver to maintain a relatively constant driving distance between the vehicles in front. In other words, tail-gating is bad for both traffic and fuel economy, and Honda's system discourages it. Honda will conduct the first public-road tests of the product in Italy and Indonesia starting next month.

The system differs from traffic monitoring systems that have been part of other vehicles' communication systems in that it provides color-coded displays to indicate whether the driver needs to drive smoother and make his or her acceleration and deceleration more gradual. Honda says its system, when tested in a group of cars, boosted average speed by 23 percent and increased fuel economy of trailing vehicles by eight percent. Not bad for some cloud computing.

Continue reading Honda says new driving-monitoring system cuts traffic jams, boosts fuel economy

Honda says new driving-monitoring system cuts traffic jams, boosts fuel economy originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudcolor-codedhondampgsystemtelematicstrafficUniversity of TokyoFri, 27 Apr 2012 19:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20225415/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20225415/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/honda-says-new-driving-monitoring-system-cuts-traffic-jams-boos/20225415/article-detail.xml 20225415 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/hondatraffic_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/hondatraffic.jpg <![CDATA[SAE Congress: Honda CR-Z Racer asks to move]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/sae-congress-honda-cr-z-racer/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/sae-congress-honda-cr-z-racer/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/sae-congress-honda-cr-z-racer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SAE World Congress 2012: Honda CR-Z Racer

The Honda CR-Z Racer is not a new car - a version of it took to Le Mans last summer - but we got to see it for the first time at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit and realized this thing is indeed ready for the track.

Compared to the street version of the CR-Z, the Racer has an improved powertrain that pairs an in-line, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine - 6,300 rpm redline - with an electric powertrain that uses nickel-cobalt magnesium batteries. The engine and the electric motor put out 200 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Oh, and the Racer also needs to burn high-octane unleaded racing fuel.

Inside, the Racer has only one seat (which leads to reduced mass, of course) and it has 17-inch racing tires at the corners. Thanks to an overall lower center of gravity and that spoiler, when we see this sporty hybrid, we just want to see what the car can do when it's moving.

SAE Congress: Honda CR-Z Racer asks to move originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cr-zcr-z hybridcr-z racercrzcrz hybridhonda cr-zhonda crzhonda racersaesae congress 2012sae world congressFri, 27 Apr 2012 08:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20224338/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20224338/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/sae-congress-honda-cr-z-racer/20224338/article-detail.xml 20224338 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/sae-world-congress-2012-honda-crz-racer-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/sae-world-congress-2012-honda-crz-racer-628.jpg <![CDATA[Honda surprises with wild Concept C and Concept S showcars in China]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/honda-shows-concept-c-and-concept-s-in-china/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/honda-shows-concept-c-and-concept-s-in-china/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/honda-shows-concept-c-and-concept-s-in-china/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Honda Concept C - front three-quarter view

Honda has used the 2012 Beijing Motor Show to launch two new concept cars that it says "show the direction of mass-production models Honda will introduce to the market next year."

First up is the imaginatively named Concept C. According to the automaker, 'C' stands for "Cool, "Challenge" and "China." As much as we wish we were making that up, we aren't. The car itself, though, looks pretty bold, with striking character lines down each side and a fascia that would look right at home on the next Battlestar Gallactica spinoff. We're curious to see how much of the C's conceptual styling makes it into production when a mass-market version hits the Chinese market in 2013 - if it were toned down just a bit, we think Honda could do worse than inject some of this boldness in its American lineup, though some might suggest the grille has overtones of the controversial styling decisions seen at Acura.

Honda Concept S - front three-quarter viewMoving along, we have the Concept S, which supposedly stands for "Stylish," "Smart" and "Surprise." Like the Concept C, Honda says Concept S will spawn a production model that will debut in China in 2013, with global sales following thereafter. Honda isn't saying exactly what is powering the S other than mentioning it's a hybrid.

Scroll down below for the complete press blast from Honda, but not before perusing our two high-res image galleries of the Concept C and Concept S.

Continue reading Honda surprises with wild Concept C and Concept S showcars in China

Honda surprises with wild Concept C and Concept S showcars in China originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beijingbeijing 2012beijing motor showconcept cconcept shondahonda concept chonda concept sMon, 23 Apr 2012 15:20:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20222151/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20222151/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/23/honda-shows-concept-c-and-concept-s-in-china/20222151/article-detail.xml 20222151 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/honda-concept-c-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/honda-concept-c-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Honda will offer IMA hybrid technology to Chinese automakers]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/honda-will-offer-ima-hybrid-technology-to-chinese-automakers/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/honda-will-offer-ima-hybrid-technology-to-chinese-automakers/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/honda-will-offer-ima-hybrid-technology-to-chinese-automakers/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Honda has already announced it will bring its gas-electric hybrid vehicles to the Chinese market. Those include the CR-Z, Insight, Fit Hybrid and the Acura NSX as part of a big-picture shift to China that also includes Honda's potential plans to move some design and component sourcing to that country. There's one more piece to the puzzle. With the Beijing Motor Show taking place this week, Honda is announcing it will offer up its hybrid technology to domestic automakers

The Nikkei reports the most likely first recipients of Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid technologies will be its joint venture partners Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Guangzhou Automobile Group. As in other markets, Honda's hybrid sales have fallen behind other automakers in China, and Nikkei says this technology move is a way to try and "orchestrate a turnaround." As one unnamed Honda executive told the Nikkei, "We hope that other automakers will use our IMA technologies. We want to set industry standards for hybrid technologies in the world's biggest car market."

Honda will offer IMA hybrid technology to Chinese automakers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20221740/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20221740/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/23/honda-will-offer-ima-hybrid-technology-to-chinese-automakers/20221740/article-detail.xml 20221740 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/acuransx_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/acuransx.jpg <![CDATA[Honda will recycle rare earth metals from old hybrid batteries]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/honda-to-reuse-rare-earths-from-recycling-effort/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/honda-to-reuse-rare-earths-from-recycling-effort/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/honda-to-reuse-rare-earths-from-recycling-effort/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Honda rare earth recycle program flow chart

The supply of rare earth metals used in the manufacture of nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and permanent magnet motors that are found in most hybrids has been somewhat uncertain the past few years, what with China's lock on the supply and its recent policy of limiting exports. While there are a number of possible solutions and workarounds, Honda is tackling the problem using an approach we can heartily endorse: recycling.

With its partner Japan Metals & Chemicals, the automaker is about to begin a program that would see the battery packs from its hybrids collected by its dealers around the globe and returned to have the rare earth recovered from the used packs. The company had previously been using a heat process to get nickel back from the batteries, but a new process can help them return about 80 percent of rare earth metals as well. The recycled materials will then be used to make more batteries, along with other parts.

Honda plans to broaden the program to include the recycling of other rare-earth containing parts in the future. Make your way past the break for the official press release.

Continue reading Honda will recycle rare earth metals from old hybrid batteries

Honda will recycle rare earth metals from old hybrid batteries originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery recyclinghondahonda recyclehybrid batteriesnickel metal hydridenickelbacknimhrare earthrare earth metalsrare earth recyclingWed, 18 Apr 2012 19:39:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20217990/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20217990/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/18/honda-to-reuse-rare-earths-from-recycling-effort/20217990/article-detail.xml 20217990 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/honda-rare-earth-recycle-flow-chart-1334704134_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/honda-rare-earth-recycle-flow-chart-1334704134.jpg <![CDATA[Honda asks if a Fit EV is a good, well, fit]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/honda-fit-ev-poll/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/honda-fit-ev-poll/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/honda-fit-ev-poll/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Well, it looks like at least one AutoblogGreen writer is a decent candidate to start leasing the battery-electric powered Honda Fit EV when it debuts this summer.

That's the result of Honda's "EV Readiness Assessment" (available here). Honda asks questions such as where the potential customer lives, the distance of his or her daily commute, residential garage access and whether he or she intends to install either a 120-volt or 240-volt home charging station. This writer gained points for his home base (Los Angeles), short commute and garage access, but he'd be well advised to spring for a station since Honda says that, for the charging-station-deprived, "it might be tough until EV infrastructure grows a bit more."

Honda estimates that the Fit EV will have an "adjusted" single-charge range of 76 miles, about equal to the Nissan Leaf battery-electric. The Japanese automaker unveiled the Fit EV at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November and said it would include a lithium-ion battery and a coaxial electric motor similar to the one used on the Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle.

Honda asks if a Fit EV is a good, well, fit originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclefitfit electric vehiclefit evhondahonda evhonda fithonda fit electrichonda fit evlos angelesTue, 17 Apr 2012 07:44:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20216767/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20216767/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/17/honda-fit-ev-poll/20216767/article-detail.xml 20216767 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/hondafitev_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/hondafitev.jpg <![CDATA[Honda bringing plug-ins, hybrids to Zipcar fleet]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/honda-bringing-plug-ins-hybrids-to-zipcar-fleet/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/honda-bringing-plug-ins-hybrids-to-zipcar-fleet/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/honda-bringing-plug-ins-hybrids-to-zipcar-fleet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

honda insight

Following in Ford's and Chevy's footsteps, Honda today announced a partnership with the car-sharing service Zipcar. The cars that will be added to the use-em-when-you-need-em fleet are going to be Honda's "latest advanced technology vehicles," which in this case means the Insight hybrid, the Fit EV (starting this fall), the Accord Plug-In Hybrid (in early 2013) and the new CR-V. Zipcar's technical name is that Honda is a "preferred vehicle manufacturer" and Honda sees the deal as a way for "urban dwelling tech-savvy drivers to get first-hand experience with the new technology."

Earlier this year, Zipcar announced that the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid would be available in Chicago and Ford has targeted college-age car-sharers with 1,000 vehicles available across the country. It's never been a better time to use a new, fuel-efficient car for just dollars a hour.

Continue reading Honda bringing plug-ins, hybrids to Zipcar fleet

Honda bringing plug-ins, hybrids to Zipcar fleet originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accord plug-in hybridcar-sharingcarsharingfit evhondahonda accordhonda fithonda zipcarzipcarzipcar hybridzipcar plug-inWed, 11 Apr 2012 14:14:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20213143/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20213143/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/11/honda-bringing-plug-ins-hybrids-to-zipcar-fleet/20213143/article-detail.xml 20213143 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/hondainsight_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/hondainsight.jpg <![CDATA[Honda bringing four new hybrids to China, including Acura NSX]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/honda-bringing-four-new-hybrids-to-china-including-acura-nsx/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/honda-bringing-four-new-hybrids-to-china-including-acura-nsx/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/10/honda-bringing-four-new-hybrids-to-china-including-acura-nsx/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Earlier this year, Honda unveiled a concept version of its Acura NSX at the Detroit Auto Show. Now, the Japanese automaker appears to be taking a speedy approach to hybrid sales in China similar to that mid-engined sports car.

Honda is planning to launch at least four hybrids in China under both its namesake and Acura brands in an effort to double sales there during the next three years. Honda will debut three hybrids - the CR-Z, Insight and Fit Hybrid - this year. The company is also planning to sell its Acura NSX, which will have a hybrid powertrain in its next incarnation, in China. Additionally, Honda is working on mid-size and larger hybrids as well as a plug-in hybrid vehicle for China.

In all, Honda will launch 10 models that will either be new or fully revamped for China by 2015. The company will also produce the cars and their batteries in China in an effort to cut costs.

Honda, which debuted the first version of its Insight hybrid in Japan in 1999, said in January that it had cumulatively sold more than 800,000 hybrids worldwide by the end of last year. By comparison, Toyota's Prius hybrid surpassed the three-million-vehicle mark last March.

Last year, China accounted for more than 646,000 Honda vehicle sales, 22 percent of the company's worldwide total, up from about 19 percent a year earlier. China's December 2011 sales were a record high for that month.

Continue reading Honda bringing four new hybrids to China, including Acura NSX

Honda bringing four new hybrids to China, including Acura NSX originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acuraacura hybridchinachina hybridcr-zcr-z hybridfitfit hybridhondahonda hybridhybridinsightinsight hybridnsxnsx hybridTue, 10 Apr 2012 19:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20212517/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20212517/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/10/honda-bringing-four-new-hybrids-to-china-including-acura-nsx/20212517/article-detail.xml 20212517 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/acuransx_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/acuransx.jpg <![CDATA[Honda opens solar hydrogen station in Japan's Saitama Prefecture]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/08/honda-opens-solar-hydrogen-station-in-japans-saitama-prefecture/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/08/honda-opens-solar-hydrogen-station-in-japans-saitama-prefecture/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/08/honda-opens-solar-hydrogen-station-in-japans-saitama-prefecture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

honda fcx clarity

For those of you who struggled with high school chemistry, this one's a doozy.

Honda has opened up a hydrogen station in Saitama, Japan that converts sunlight into hydrogen that may be used to power fuel-cell electric vehicles such as the Honda FCX Clarity.

The station, which uses both juice from the grid and solar power, can produce 1.5 kilograms of hydrogen in 24 hours. That's enough to power an FCX Clarity for about 90 miles. In addition, Honda also added an electrical outlet to the FCX Clarity so that the car can function as a power source.

For those keeping notes, the station turns sunlight into hydrogen by way of a high-pressure water electrolysis system that was developed by the Japanese automaker. The installation is the latest step in a green-transportation partnership that Honda started with the prefecture in 2009. Saitama is about 20 miles northwest of Tokyo.

Honda became the first automaker to make a hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle available to the public when it started selling the FCX Clarity in Japan in late 2007. The vehicle is also in operation in California, and you can go here to read Autoblog's First Drive review.

Continue reading Honda opens solar hydrogen station in Japan's Saitama Prefecture

Honda opens solar hydrogen station in Japan's Saitama Prefecture originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A class-action lawsuit between American Honda Motor Co. and plaintiffs who claimed the Japanese automaker overstated fuel-economy figures on Honda Civic Hybrids has been approved by a San Diego Superior Court Judge.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the lawsuit involves about 460,000 people who either owned or leased 2003 to 2009 Civic Hybrids. The settlement grants the plaintiffs $100 in cash and a credit towards a new Honda of between $500 and $1,000. Honda may end up paying out more than $460 million, including legal fees of more than $8.1 million, the newspaper said.

The decision was more than four years in the making. The class-action claim stemmed from a 2007 lawsuit by John True, who sued the automaker and alleged that Honda misled him about the Civic Hybrid's fuel economy. Some of the plaintiffs said their Honda Civic Hybrids got as little as 30 miles per gallon, far less than the 50 mpg Honda advertised, and that a software upgrade to the hybrids batteries actually reduced fuel economy further.

American Honda, in a March 16 statement, said it was "pleased" with the court's decision (see the full statement after the jump), and called it a "fair resolution."

Last month, a California woman was awarded almost $10,000 in a California small claims court against Honda. Heather Peters declined to join the class-action claim because she thought the class-action settlement wasn't fair to Honda owners. Last week, the Associated Press reported that Peters used her small-claims award to appeal to the San Diego Superior Court Judge for the class-action settlement to be cancelled. Honda says it is appealing the Peters decision.

Continue reading Class-action settlement over Honda Civic Hybrid mileage claims approved

Class-action settlement over Honda Civic Hybrid mileage claims approved originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civic hybridclass actionclass action lawsuitheather petershondahonda civichonda civic hybridhybridjohn truelawsuitlegalsan diegoWed, 21 Mar 2012 13:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20197499/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20197499/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/21/class-action-settlement-over-honda-civic-hybrid-mileage-claims-a/20197499/article-detail.xml 20197499 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/oldcivichybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/oldcivichybrid.jpg <![CDATA[Honda Civic Hybrid small claims lawsuit winner trying to stop class-action suit *UPDATE]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/honda-civic-hybrid-small-claims-lawsuit-winner-trying-to-stop-cl/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/honda-civic-hybrid-small-claims-lawsuit-winner-trying-to-stop-cl/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/honda-civic-hybrid-small-claims-lawsuit-winner-trying-to-stop-cl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2009 Honda Civic Hybrid front three-quarter view

Heather Peters really, really doesn't want anyone to settle with Honda. Peters is the woman who went her own way earlier this year, suing Honda in small claims court in Torrance, CA instead of joining a class-action lawsuit against the automaker over allegations that the company promoted misleading fuel economy numbers for the Civic Hybrid, model years 2003 to 2009. She was recently awarded $9,867 in damages, significantly more than the $100-$200 the 200,000 Civic Hybrid owners involved in the class action suit are expected to net (their lawyers stand to make $8.5 million). Because of that perceived unfairness, Peters is going in front of Superior Judge Timothy Taylor in San Diego today to ask that the class-action settlement be cancelled.

According to the Associated Press, Peters is using her small claims winnings - which Honda said it will appeal - to prove that the settlement is unfair to the Civic Hybrid owners that had thus far agreed to the deal. Around 1,700 owners decided not to take part in the settlement and there is reason to believe Taylor is at least slightly sympathetic to their cause. He recently extended the deadline for state attorneys general - who called the original settlement deal unfair - to respond to Peters' winnings.

The original Civic Hybrid class action case arose out of the claims of John True, who sued Honda in 2007 because, he said, the automaker misled him about the car's fuel economy. When we interviewed him back in 2007, who knew the turns this story would take?

*Update: It appears that extension mentioned above is not indicative of any leanings either way. In fact, in the judge's tentative rulings, he wrote:

[Peters'] reply papers are remarkable for their silence on the lack of success enjoyed by two other small claims plaintiffs. This leaves the court to conclude that Class Counsel are correct in asserting that Peters' demand for access to the fruits of discovery is actually a thinly disguised effort to use the discovered material to assist Peters in ―begin[ning] a cottage industry of representing consumers or selling her $15 CD to them.

The "two other" plaintiffs the judge mentions there are, as noted by Honda's Chris Martin, other Honda Civic Hybrid small claims cases that have taken place this year. There have been five total since January, and Honda has prevailed in all of them except the Peters case. A final ruling is still forthcoming.

Honda Civic Hybrid small claims lawsuit winner trying to stop class-action suit *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Honda Insight was the only hybrid to make it onto Kelley Blue Book's list of new cars that will cost less than $30,000 to own during the first five years of ownership.

The Insight, which has a base MSRP of $19,120, was joined by 15 other models, all of which are high fuel-economy gas models whose MSRPs range from $11,770 for the Nissan Versa to $16,890 for the Toyota Corolla. The Volkswagen Jetta was the least fuel-efficient of the bunch, with a combined EPA rating of 27 mpg. Read here to see the complete list, which factored in depreciation, refueling costs as well as repair and maintenance expenses.

Last month, Kelley Blue Book compared ownership costs of electric-drive vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in hybrid and the Nissan Leaf battery electric, and concluded that the Volt was about $1,500 "cheaper" to own than the Leaf during the first five years of ownership. The Volt, which Kelley estimated will cost the driver about $40,600 during the first five years, beat out the Leaf in part because of lower insurance and maintenance costs.

Honda could certainly use the help moving the Insight, which was launched as a look-alike competitor to the Toyota Prius. Last year, Honda sold 15,549 Insights in the U.S., which was down 26 percent from 2010 and was about one-ninth of what Toyota sold in Prius hybrids last year.

Continue reading Honda Insight's the lone hybrid on Kelley's cheapest-to-own list

Honda Insight's the lone hybrid on Kelley's cheapest-to-own list originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cost of ownershipdepreciationhondahonda insighthybridinsightkbbkelleykelley blue bookWed, 14 Mar 2012 07:44:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20192375/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20192375/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/14/honda-insights-the-lone-hybrid-on-kelleys-cheapest-to-own-list/20192375/article-detail.xml 20192375 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/hondainsight_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/hondainsight.jpg <![CDATA[Mugen unveils electric superbike to contest 2012 TT Zero, announces John McGuinness as rider [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/mugen-unveils-electric-superbike-to-contest-2012-tt-zero-announ/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/mugen-unveils-electric-superbike-to-contest-2012-tt-zero-announ/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/mugen-unveils-electric-superbike-to-contest-2012-tt-zero-announ/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mugen Shinden, an electric racing motorcycle

The 2012 edition of the TT Zero just got a whole lot more interesting. Mugen, the Japanese performance firm who, rather significantly, lists some of its main clients as Honda Motor Co., Honda R&D Co., and Honda Motorcycle Japan Co., announced they would enter the SES TT Zero Clean Emissions Motorcycle Challenge on the Isle of Man a couple weeks ago. Now, Team Mugen has revealed both its electric superbike and rider.

John McGuinness is the chosen one, and with 17 wins on the famed 37.7-mile Snaefell Mountain Course to his name, clearly has more than just a passing knowledge of the world's most deadly asphalt circuit. When he takes to the saddle of the Mugen machine - named Shinden, meaning god of electricity - he will be aiming to be both win the race and make history by being the first to surpass the 100 mile per hour average speed aboard a battery-powered bike. This mark was just missed by Motoczysz in 2011.

Given the close relationship between Mugen and Honda, it had been widely speculated that the entry would be based on the RC-E concept debuted at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. While that bike was, indeed, quite beautiful, Shinden also has much to recommend it. Under the grasped-lightning-bolt paint lies a 3-phase, 90-kW (120.7-horsepower) DC brushless motor with 162 ft lbs of twist cradled in a lightweight twin-spar carbon fiber frame. Its 573-lb curb weight and 370-volt system suggests that it has a battery somewhere in the 14 kWh neighborhood of its competitors.

The entrance of such a high profile team and rider is sure to elevate and add legitimacy to the electric competition at the IoM Tourist Trophy races. It should also concentrate the minds of their American rivals Lightning Motors and MotoCzysz, making victory for the newcomers anything but certain. Hit the jump for footage of the unveiling of the Mugen Shinden and its race track debut demonstration.

Continue reading Mugen unveils electric superbike to contest 2012 TT Zero, announces John McGuinness as rider [w/video]

Mugen unveils electric superbike to contest 2012 TT Zero, announces John McGuinness as rider [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric motorcycleelectric motorcycle racingelectric superbikehondaisle of manjohn mcguinnessmugentt zeroWed, 07 Mar 2012 17:50:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20186187/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20186187/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/07/mugen-unveils-electric-superbike-to-contest-2012-tt-zero-announ/20186187/article-detail.xml 20186187 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mugen-shinden-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mugen-shinden-628.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota widens U.S. hybrid lead in February sales]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/toyota-widens-u-s-hybrid-lead-in-february/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/toyota-widens-u-s-hybrid-lead-in-february/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/toyota-widens-u-s-hybrid-lead-in-february/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,



Last month, Toyota pitched its hybrid vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show by partnering with Hasbro to make a Monopoly-inspired road course inside McCormick Center's South Hall.

The concept proved prescient as the Japanese automaker appeared to further dominate competitors such as Ford and Honda when it came to U.S. hybrid sales last month. Toyota, which appeared to benefit from both rising U.S. gas prices and what was likely pent-up demand for hybrids that were supply-constrained last year, increased February hybrid vehicle sales by a whopping 60 percent from a year earlier to 27,458 vehicles. Prius sales jumped 52 percent from February 2011 to 20,589 vehicles while the Toyota-branded non-Prius hybrid vehicle sales grew even faster, at an 81 percent clip. The company didn't break out sales figures for its other hybrid models, but with Toyota reporting an overall Camry sales increase of 22 percent, the newly redesigned Camry Hybrid was likely a major factor.

Additionally, Toyota's Lexus division doubled February sales from a year earlier to 2,645 vehicles, with the newer Lexus CT 200h most likely making an impact on those numbers.

Toyota's competitors weren't so fortunate.

Toyota's competitors weren't so fortunate, however, as Ford and Honda buyers appeared to opt for fuel-efficient conventionally powered vehicles over hybrids in an effort to save gas and money. Ford's February hybrid sales dropped 24 percent from a year earlier to, 1,963 units, with the small increase in Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sales more than offset by a 20-percent drop in Ford Fusion Hybrid sales and a 45-percent decline in Ford Escape Hybrid sales. Such results contrasted with Ford's overall performance last month, as vehicle sales rose 14 percent from a year earlier. Ford, which more than doubled unit sales of its fuel-efficient Focus, is hoping for a boost in its alt-fuel demand from the soon-to-debut Ford Focus Electric. That vehicle was just given an EPA rating of 105 miles per gallon equivalent, making it officially more efficient than both the Nissan Leaf battery-electric and the upcoming Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

As bad as Ford fared in hybrid sales last month, Honda fared worse. The Japanese automaker's hybrid sales plunged 41 percent from a year earlier to 1,981 vehicles. While Civic Hybrid sales were up 39 percent, CR-Z and Insight sales both dropped at least 55 percent from February 2011.

Whether the Volt sustains its momentum remains to be seen.

As for electric-drive vehicles, General Motors' Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicle beat out the Leaf in February sales, with the Volt moving 1,023 vehicles - more than tripling February 2011 sales - and Nissan selling 478 Leafs, a sevenfold increase from a year earlier. Whether the Volt sustains its momentum remains to be seen, as General Motors is halting Volt production for five weeks in order for dealers to get some of the plug-ins off of their lots.

With U.S. gas prices jumping about 20 cents a gallon last month to $3.74, Volkswagen boosted its sales of its more fuel-efficient diesel-powered models by 55 percent from a year earlier to 6,513 vehicles. Audi, however, reported a 26 percent drop in its diesel vehicle sales from February 2011 to 390 vehicles.

Finally, Mitsubishi, which debuted its i battery-electric vehicle in the U.S. late last year, moved 44 units, up from 36 in January. See a chart of all these number after the jump.

Continue reading Toyota widens U.S. hybrid lead in February sales

Toyota widens U.S. hybrid lead in February sales originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Honda Civic EX interior

Honda has taken it on the chin for its boring redesign of the Civic, but here's one thing it got really right: reducing the use of toxic chemicals as it manufactured the interiors. According to the Ecology Center's new report on HealthyStuff.org, the 2012 Civic uses the least amount of off-gassing plastics, materials that can lead to emissions of volatile organic compounds. VOCs have been linked to health problems, including cancer and birth defects, according to the report.

"Research shows that vehicle interiors contain a unique cocktail of hundreds of toxic chemicals that off-gas in small, confined spaces," said Jeff Gearhart, Research Director at the Ecology Center, in a statement. "Since these chemicals are not regulated, consumers have no way of knowing the dangers they face. Our testing is intended to expose those dangers and encourage manufacturers to use safer alternatives."

For example, Honda does not use bromine-based flame retardants in the Civic and specs PVC-free interior fabrics and trim, while also eliminating most heavy metals from the interior.

The worst vehicle tested, the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, "contained bromine and antimony-based flame retardants in the seating and center console; chromium treated leather on several components; and over 400 ppm lead in seating materials," according to the report.

The good news is that PVC use is declining overall, with 17 percent of new models boasting PVC-free interiors, up from none in 2006, according to HealthyStuff.org. Some 60 percent of new vehicles do not contain bromine flame retardants. It seems like automakers are getting behind efforts to eliminate these hazardous chemicals from vehicle interiors, with HealthyStuff.org pointing out that Ford and Volvo have adopted voluntary third-party eco labels for some of their vehicles. Ford's average ratings for its vehicles showed a 30 percent improvement from the 2009/2010 study.

Click past the jump for a video and the full press release, including the 10 best and worst vehicles in the study.

Continue reading Honda Civic interior rated least toxic, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport worst [w/video]

Honda Civic interior rated least toxic, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport worst [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The deadline for five states to respond to a settlement stemming from a class-action lawsuit from Honda Civic Hybrid owners was extended by a San Diego County superior court judge, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Judge Timothy Taylor extended the deadline for five state attorneys general - from California, Iowa, Massachusetts, Texas and Washington - to object to the settlement to March 9, the newspaper said. According to the settlement, which stemmed from a claim that the automaker overstated the model's fuel economy figures, Civic owners would be paid up to $200 each or a bit more in coupons that may be used towards buying another Honda, while class-action attorneys are to receive $8.5 million. The court is expected to decide whether the settlement will stand on March 16, according to the Times.

Honda was the subject of a class-action claim relating to its estimates that 2003-07 model-year Civic Hybrids got about 50 miles per gallon which the automaker settled out of court in 2009. Later, 26 state attorneys general said the settlement was unfair because the claimants were paid less from the settlement than their attorneys.

Earlier this month, a California woman was awarded almost $10,000 in damages after a California small claims court upheld her claim that Honda misled her in regards to the Civic Hybrid's fuel economy. The woman, Heather Peters, claimed that her 2006 Civic Hybrid never achieved more than 42 miles per gallon, and that its gas mileage plunged to less than 30 mpg after a software update was performed on the car.

Civic Hybrid class-action deadline for attorneys general's response extended originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiaclass actionfuel economyfuel economy lawsuitheather petershondahonda civic hybridlawsuitSat, 18 Feb 2012 16:34:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20174655/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20174655/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/18/civic-hybrid-class-action-deadline-for-attorneys-generals-respo/20174655/article-detail.xml 20174655 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/civichybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/civichybrid.jpg -1 2