Honda is to start selling electric cars in the US and Japan in 2012.
True test'
Honda's Japanese rival Nissan is already taking orders for its Leaf electric car - due in Japan and the US later this year.
Meanwhile, Toyota is planning an electric vehicle model for 2012. Honda Motor president Takanobu Ito said: "The next 10 years will be true test for Honda's survival.
"Honda has no future unless we achieve significant reduction in CO2 emissions."
From : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10696095
Honda Phuket Bt50m renovation complete
PHUKET: Anticipating continued strength in local auto sales, Honda of Phuket has invested some 50 million baht to renovate its dealership on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket TownThe new facility's service bays enable maintenance of up to 40 vehicles per day.
Montri Hongyok, managing director of Anuphas Wiwitgarn Co Ltd, said: "Renovation of the showroom and service center are complete after investment of 50 million baht. The showroom is now larger and can conveniently display up to five vehicles, while the increased capacity at our service center allows maintenance and repair of 40 cars per day."
The company, authorized dealer for Honda cars in Phuket and Phang Nga, expects sales to top 1,600 cars from its three dealerships.
Anuphas Wiwitgarn Co Ltd also operates a large showroom on Chao Fa West Road in Wichit and a third dealership in Phang Nga's Takua Thung District, just across the Sarasin Bridge from Phuket.
"The car market in Phuket remains strong. Some 700 to 800 new cars are registered each month here, roughly 180 of which are Hondas. We sold more than 1,000 cars during the first six months of this year, and our target for the year is 1,600," Mr Monti said.
Sales are chiefly of smaller models like the Jazz, City and CRV.
The stumbling economy, however, has resulted in fewer car sales overall in Thailand, Mr Montri said.
This has forced leading car makers "to reduce investment in line with the shrinking market," he added.
To ensure customer satisfaction in the increasingly competitive market, Mr Montri said Honda Phuket has implemented a booking system whereby those needing service can telephone the service center, which then appoints a date and time for repairs.
"Our new facilities are much more modern," he explained. "The showroom has been redesigned to make customers feel at home. We've installed a Tiny Coffee branch, a reading area, cable TV, Internet and a children's play area. We've also created an 'Accessories Corner' so that customers can inspect custom parts close up."
The Honda dealerships are but one of the Hongyok clan's many business interests on the island, which include investment in property development, hospitals, Shell petrol stations, coffee shops, the 1,600-rai Chao Fah City in Wichit, and the Phuket Country Club golf course in Kathu.
They also operate Ford and Mazda car dealerships on the island.
From : http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2010/article8927.html
Honda plant faces four-month layoff
There's no abating the credit crunch at the moment, and now it's hit the second biggest carmaker in Japan. Honda announced operating profits of £795m for October-December - yet that's down from a massive £2.14bn for the same period in 2007.Honda is still looking to a rosy future, however, having just launched the Insight hybrid - which should hit UK showrooms in spring this year. But in the meantime, 4,200 staff will be affected - though it is understood none will be laid off, with all receiving full pay for the first two months, reduced to 60 percent until production resumes.
It is also reported that the Honda F1 racing team could get a Government bailout - after Honda controversially withdrew funding at the end of last season. Talks have already been held between team bosses and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. A cash injection could save hundreds of jobs.
It's not all doom and gloom in the market, though, as MINI has announced its 2008 sales were up by four percent despite the slump. The maker hopes to continue that pattern through 2009 with the release of the new MINI Convertible, which it expects will boost UK sales by 25 percent.
From : http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/30012009/36/honda-plant-faces-four-month-layoff-0.html
Honda Solar Hydrogen Station Introduced to Green Car Market
Honda has totally changed the components of the unit and eliminated the need for the compressor and this new slim model is the result. The unit is also “smart grid friendly” and will not require any hydrogen storage for the fuel cell to recharge. Because of this, the Honda Solar Hydrogen Station will lower CO2 emissions even further and allow the car owner to use off peak electricity to recharge the car. This makes everything more cost effective all the way around.
The Honda Solar Hydrogen Station is built to recharge the car on an overnight 8-hour fill. The power that was replenished would typically power the car for a full day of average driving. In most cases, that single fill will be able to get just about anyone through their day and back home without having to worry about a recharge.
However, the design of this new station also has talked of setting up an actual string of charging stations that would enable someone to travel much longer distances. The station was built with fast fill capabilities and any car that has this technology would be able to benefit from the public charging stations.
The Honda FCX is just such a car and can travel 240 miles on a single fill and has the capability to do a fast fill in about five minutes. This dramatically increases the travel range of a car and if the traveler was able to find a location that would allow the car to have a slow 8-hour overnight fill, there would literally be no limitation to the distance that the car could travel.
Honda is continuing its development of this concept and the coast to coast fueling stations will likely become a reality before long. It is a matter of getting investors onboard to support the stations and then there is no telling what will happen.
From : http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/honda-solar-hydrogen-station/
Honda says new hybrid system for big cars in sight
TOKYO: Honda Motor Co has taken a big step towards developing a new hybrid system for larger cars, its head of automobile research and development said on Friday, indicating a finished product could be about three years away.
"We've left the research stage and entered the field of development," Tomohiko Kawanabe, chief operating officer of automobile R&D at Japan's No.2 automaker, told Reuters in an interview.
Honda's gasoline-electric cars such as the Insight and the CR-Z, to be launched next week, use a single electric motor, unlike Toyota Motor Corp's two-motor Prius. Honda's hybrid system has the advantage of being simple and cheaper but trails Toyota's "full" hybrid system in fuel efficiency.
Honda had originally planned to raise fuel efficiency in its bigger cars by using clean diesel technology, but abandoned that strategy in late 2008, instead switching to developing a hybrid system that can be mounted on larger cars such as the Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV.
Kawanabe declined to specify when the new hybrid system would be ready, but said it would be "roughly the same time frame" as the three years it takes on average on develop a new vehicle.
Kawanabe said Honda was also studying development of a small diesel engine, seen as crucial to sell cars in some emerging markets including India, as well as in Europe, where more than half the vehicles sold are diesel. "If you want to compete in markets like India, and also Europe, (a small diesel engine) is necessary," he said. Honda only has a 2.2 litre diesel engine mounted on the Accord and other models in Europe.
From : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/automobiles/Honda-says-new-hybrid-system-for-big-cars-in-sight/articleshow/5592448.cms
Honda FCX Clarity Named 2009 World Green Car
Prestigious award chosen by jurors from 25 different countries
Recognizing Honda's commitment to environmental leadership in the area of alternative fuels and hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology, the Honda FCX Clarity was declared the 2009 World Green Car, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.
At a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show and Mobil 1 at the Jacob Javits Center in, New York, the Honda FCX Clarity was named the 2009 World Green Car. The FCX Clarity was chosen from an initial entry list of 22 contenders nominated by 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries worldwide.
"The FCX Clarity is a symbol of the progress we have made with fuel cell vehicles and our commitment to developing vehicles that promote renewable energy supplies and zero-emissions transportation," said Steve Center, vice president, national Marketing Operations for American Honda.
The FCX Clarity, a sleekly styled hydrogen fuel cell-powered sedan currently available on a limited lease-basis, is propelled by an electric motor that runs on electricity generated by an on-board fuel cell stack. The vehicle's only emission is water, and its fuel efficiency is up to three times that of a modern gasoline-powered automobile and two times that of a gasoline-powered hybrid vehicle.
The World Green Car awards were inaugurated in 2003, and officially launched in January 2004, to reflect the reality of the global marketplace, as well as to recognize and reward automotive excellence on an international scale.
The awards are administered by a non-profit association, under the guidance of a Steering Committee of pre-eminent automotive journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America. There is no affiliation with, nor are the awards in any way influenced by any publication, auto show, automaker, or other commercial enterprise.
From : http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?g=environment&id=4986
Honda Adds 360 Look at ASIMO Robot's Technology Online
Honda today added a new feature to asimo.honda.com to give visitors a 360 degree view of the technology behind its ASIMO humanoid robot at http://asimo.honda.com/InsideAsimo. ASIMO's form, function, movement and intelligence are detailed in the new Web site module which uses a 3D computer-generated model of the robot to provide visitors with a more informative and interactive look at ASIMO's capabilities and how it operates.
About ASIMO
ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, is being developed to help people and someday assist the elderly and disabled in their homes. But while Honda continues to develop and enhance ASIMO's capabilities, the robot is being used today to encourage and inspire young students to consider studies in math and science. Honda engineers began developing a humanoid robot in 1986 with the dream of creating a new dimension in mobility. By having a robot provide assistance to people, they envisioned that this could enable those people to be more mobile to pursue other activities. After years of research and development, they created an advanced humanoid robot able to function in real-world environments. ASIMO continues to be a popular part of Disneyland's Innoventions attraction where the live 15-minute Say 'Hello' to Honda's ASIMO demonstration take places several times daily in the Honda ASIMO Theatre.
From : http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?g=innovation&id=4948
Honda Motor Co., Inc. Engineers Receive Safety Awards for Advances in Vehicle Safety
At the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) held in Lyon, France, two Honda development engineers were recognized for their extensive contributions to improving vehicle safety by being chosen as recipients of a United States Government Award for Safety Engineering Excellence.
Honda motorcycle engineer Satoshi Iijima was honored for his extensive efforts of over 30 years in the research of motorcycle crash safety, and the development of new motorcycle safety devices, highlighted by the launch of Honda's specialized airbag system for motorcycles. Mr. Iijima's team began their fundamental research into motorcycle airbag systems in 1990. His research findings on motorcycle airbag technologies have been presented at international conferences such as ESV on many occasions, and his dedicated efforts have made a large contribution to the enhancement and improvement of motorcycle technologies related to the crash safety field.
The highly advanced motorcycle airbag system for which Mr. Iijima was recognized was introduced for the first time ever on a production motorcycle in 2006, and integrated into Honda's flagship luxury touring model, the GL1800 Gold Wing. Already renowned for offering the very latest and finest in comfort, convenience and safety features, the Gold Wing was selected as the first full production motorcycle to be equipped with Honda's first airbag system, subsequently winning worldwide recognition and praise for its effective promotion of rider safety.
Concurrently, Honda R&D Americas Senior Engineer, Douglas C. Longhitano was recognized for his important contribution to automobile safety, particularly in the area of pedestrian impact protection.
For more than a decade, Longhitano has lead research programs to further the understanding of pedestrian impacts with SUVs and light trucks in order to help develop more effective countermeasures against injury, and which have significantly contributed to advances in traffic safety.
ESV is one of the world's leading conferences for discussing vehicle safety in an event that brings together researchers, engineers and government officials from all over the world. Beside cars and other road users, it also includes a dedicated session on motorcycle safety. During the long process of research and development of the motorcycle airbag system, Honda reported its findings in various stages at ESV and discussed them with other experts.
The prestigious Award for Safety Engineering Excellence is presented bi-annually by The United States' National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the highest federal agency for the prevention and control of traffic accidents in the United States, in recognition and appreciation of extraordinary contributions in the field of vehicle safety technology.
Honda is the only company this year to win this esteemed recognition in both automobile and motorcycle safety fields. This year's ESV conference also featured safety-related presentations and papers by no fewer than eight other Honda Associates, covering important research findings such as collision stresses on expectant mothers, pedestrian impact kinematics and innovative lighting systems to improve motorcycle conspicuity. Honda plays a prominent role in the advancement of many aspects of vehicle safety, and the proven results of our efforts frequently find their way to production vehicles, whether car or motorcycle.
From : http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article.aspx?g=safety&id=200707064058
Council backs wind turbines for Swindon's Honda plant
Plans for three 120m (394ft) high wind turbines at Honda's Swindon plant have been given the backing of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council.
Neighbouring South Marston Parish Council has already spoken out against the car manufacturer's proposals.
Stratton council clerk Paul Russell said it wanted to support the big local employer.
But South Marston council has expressed concerns about noise and a possible strobe light effect.
Honda is working on the project to use wind to power its plant with green energy company Ecotricity.
Mr Russell said: "The parish council is very keen to support manufacturing in the locality and Honda is a particularly useful and good employer.
Sunset strobe concern
"Green energy will create much more sustainability and hopefully, with the level of investment Honda are providing into the local community, that will underpin future job security for Honda workers."
But David Manners, who lives in South Marston and would have a view of the turbines, said he could not believe the neighbouring council was supporting the plans.
He said: "It's going to affect so many people in Stratton. All the people living down the side of the A419 will be looking directly at them. There's also the noise issue.
"The people of South Marston are very concerned, we've dropped leaflets through people's doors there."
Colin McEwen, chairman of the parish council, previously said there were concerns about a strobe effect when the sun sets.
The original plans were for four turbines.
From : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-10950077
Honda recalls 384,000 US vehicles
Honda is recalling more than 384,000 vehicles in the US because of problems with the ignition interlock mechanism.The recall involves about 197,000 Accord and 117,000 Civic models from the 2003 model year, as well as 69,000 Element vehicles from 2003 and 2004.
The fault could allow the ignition key to be removed without the vehicle being shifted into "Park" and could cause a car to roll away, Honda said.
A parallel recall in Canada covers a further 44,000 vehicles.
Honda said it had received several complaints about the failure of the ignition interlock mechanism.
It said it was aware of "a small number of incidents, including one that resulted in a minor injury".
Honda said customers would be notified from late September.
This is the third recall Honda has issued over the same problem. The previous two were in 2003 and 2005.
From : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10921161
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