Honda Introduces Solar Hydrogen Station on Saitama Prefectural Office Grounds

FCX Clarity Used in Electric Vehicle Testing Program to Serve as Mobile Electric Generator

TOKYO, Japan, March 27, 2012 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled a Solar Hydrogen Station on the grounds of the Saitama Prefectural Office. The initiative is part of the Electric Vehicle Testing Program for Honda’s next-generation personal mobility products with Saitama Prefecture, in which Honda, Iwatani and Saitama Prefecture collaborate to build. In a further initiative, Honda has equipped the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle with an outlet to function as a 9kW power source. Since the FCX Clarity uses a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to produce power with zero CO2 emissions, with its new outlet, the vehicle will be able to serve as a zero-emission mobile electric generator.

This is the first installation in Japan of a total system to produce, store and dispense hydrogen with ZERO CO2 emissions. A high pressure water electrolysis system, uniquely developed by Honda, produces hydrogen. With no mechanical compressor, the system is nearly silent and highly energy efficient. Using Solar and grid power, the system is capable of producing 1.5kg of hydrogen within 24 hours which enables an FCX Clarity to run approximately 150km or 90 miles. Honda aims to further develop the system to offer clean energy sources for the home in the future.

Source;

http://world.honda.com/news/2012/4120327Solar-Hydrogen-Station/index.html

Honda designs car without steering wheel

Alot of people are speculating that this will be the DNA of the next Honda S2000....

By David Millward, Transport Editor, Geneva

Instead of the steering wheel, this car is controlled with the aid of two levers.
The EV-Steer is intended to give the motorist the same experience as somebody riding a motor bike, who uses the handlebars to turn.
Instead of turning the wheel, the driver pulls and pushes the levers according to the direction of travel.

"It's fun, it is very tactile and it is very accurate," a Honda spokesman insisted.
"The car keeps the driver alert, because it is very sensitive to movement. Your whole body is kept moving.
"In fact it is a mini-cross trainer," the spokesman added, without the slightest note of irony.
While the car may lack a steering wheel, it is not short of dashboards. In fact it has three.
The middle one would normally display the routine information such as speed.
Then on either side, just above each of the levers are two more dashboards, which can be configured according to the driverﾒs wishes.
One, for example, can be dedicated for the satellite navigation system, while the other could be used to control the audio system or car temperature.
The car. which has a top speed of just under 100 mph, has already been driven thousands of miles on a Japanese test track.
Fitted with an electric engine, the car can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge. Charging the battery takes around three hours.
A mid-range sports, Honda expects to go into full production of the EV-Steer within the next three years. and will have a price tag between £30,000 and £35,000.

Source;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9126441/Honda-designs-car-without-steering-wheel.html

Honda's Earth Dreams Tech Making Fuel Efficiency a Reality

By Stephan Edlestein

New technology will give Honda what it needs to compete with its rivals, and will power everything from the Accord sedan to the NSX supercar.

At the Geneva Motor Show, Honda revealed details about its new, more fuel-efficient powertrains. These new engines, collectively known as Earth Dreams, will power most Honda vehicles in the near future, including the next NSX sports car. “We aim to be number one in fuel economy in each sector within three years,” said Honda’s European CEO, Manabu Nishimae. “Through Earth Dreams Technology, Honda will continue to minimize our environmental footprint.”

Like Ford’s EcoBoost and Mazda’s Skyactiv, Earth Dreams is a brand name for engines upgraded with new technology. Honda will add VTC (Variable Timing Control), direct injection, and will build conventional gasoline-powered cars with Atkinson-cycle engines, even though that setup is usually found in hybrids. Adding direct injection, which shoots a precise amount of fuel into the combustion chamber, is an important step if Honda wants to compete with Ford and Mazda, let alone Hyundai and Kia.

Honda will also improve its diesel range under the Earth Dreams banner, reducing its engines’ displacement and weight to cut emissions and improve fuel economy. Honda will also replace its mild-hybrid IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), with a new system that features lithium-ion batteries and plug-in capabilities. Because IMA only allows drivers to use electric power for brief periods, Honda’s hybrids have never been able to compete with the Toyota Prius on fuel economy. The new system should remedy that.

To put its engines’ green power to the road, Honda will rely more on Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). Enthusiasts may not like the CVT’s eerily linear power delivery, but some kind of transmission upgrade was necessary. Honda offers a five-speed transmissions in the Accord, while most of the competition offers six.

The U.S. Will get its first Earth Dreams engine, a 2.4-liter inline-four, in the 2013 Accord. Europe will get a 1.6-liter diesel in the Civic. Honda says the diesel is the lightest of its kind and produces an extremely low 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

Earth Dreams technology will also be incorporated into the new Honda/Acura NSX’s V6. That engine, combined with the NSX’s three electric motors, will provide “supercar acceleration and outstanding efficiency,” Honda says. The NSX will go on sale in Europe by 2015, badged as a Honda. There was no update on the car’s U.S. launch.

“The NSX is the ultimate top-line sports model,” Nishimae said, “could we develop a smaller one?” He noted the EV-STER, an electric roadster concept making its European debut at Geneva, as an example of how green powertrain technology could be applied to a small, fun-to-drive package. Such a car would make a great replacement for the S2000.

With Earth Dreams, Honda is making a concerted effort to upgrade its basic engines and transmissions, something it will need to do to remain competitive. By starting from the bottom, Honda hopes to see improvements across its entire lineup, everything from sedans to sports cars.

Source;
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/will-hondas-earth-dreams-engines-make-fuel-efficiency-more-than-a-dream/

Honda delivers first electric Fit

Torrance, California – Honda has delivered a 2013 Fit EV electric vehicle to the city of Torrance. The delivery is one of the first major steps in the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program and a prelude to the retail market launch of the Fit EV to customers in California and Oregon this summer.

The Fit was delivered in a ceremony to Torrance mayor Frank Scotto by Steve Center, vice-president of the environmental business development office at American Honda.

“This is an exciting day as we take another important step toward Honda’s comprehensive vision for reducing CO2 emissions, while at the same time advancing our relationship with the city of Torrance,” Center said. “Honda has a long history with electric vehicles starting with the introduction of our first battery electric car, the EV Plus, nearly 15 years ago.”

Honda and the city have worked together over the past year to gather input from residents about potential recharging station locations and have jointly participated in several public awareness events. The two will continue these initiatives and also study local government fleet usage of an electrified vehicle. The city will also receive a Honda plug-in hybrid for additional testing at a later date.

Honda unveiled the 2013 Fit EV at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and plans to lease vehicles to its U.S. customers in the summer of 2012. Honda will also test the Fit EV with Google Inc. and Stanford University as part of its demonstration program.

Source;
http://www.autos.ca/general-news/honda-delivers-first-electric-fit

Honda President Sees Limited Role for Electric Cars

Very interesting read....
By Brad Berman
onda’s display at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show is full of electric car concepts. Earlier this week, international journalists were given the opportunity to drive its impressive Fit EV pure battery electric car. So, when given the opportunity to ask a single question at yesterday’s press conference with Honda President Takanobu Ito at the Tokyo show, I tried to determine if the company’s man at the top has a vision for electric cars.

I’ll let Mr. Ito speak for himself in this unedited transcript of my question and his answer.
In your earlier comments, you identified the need for Honda to be ahead of your competitors on technology, especially hybrid and electric. Nissan is projecting to have 1.5 million cumulative sales of electric cars by 2015. What do you think of this forecast, and Honda’s ability to compete with pure electric vehicles?

First of all, just because Nissan is saying it’s going to sell some 1.5 million pure EVs, Honda is not going to say that [we are] as well. Instead, our way of thinking is, for us to contribute to sustainable society, we have to think about total sales of Honda vehicles, and thereby through our products, contribute to society.

With this in mind, compared to the year 2000, we need to reduce our CO2 emissions by 2020 by 30 percent. Pure battery EVs, of course, would be one means of trying to reduce CO2. I think there is no mistake about that.

I think the way people use cars is not the same across the board in all countries, so I cannot generalize. If you think about the concept EVs introduced by Honda at this Tokyo Motor Show, you see that electric cars are important. I will not deny that. But when you consider the performance of batteries, the charging times, plus the cost of batteries, I think pure EVs would be best for compact, very small cars.

I feel confident in saying that they could be a fit for very small vehicles. That is why last year we launched the motorcycle EV. We think we should expand on this and for mini-vehicles, an even smaller size category—the commuter car we introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show, which would be well suited for a pure EV.

Will this be acceptable in the United States? This is a question. Therefore, we are thinking of the Fit EV for the United States. But for Japan, Europe, and other parts of Asia—especially the urban areas, we think the smaller category would be an option that could be considered, if it could be easily charged and has good maneuverability. In this category, pure EVs would be appropriate.

So, we’ll start with the very small cars for the pure battery EVs. But when you think about other segments—compact cars and large vehicles—in order to contribute to sustainable society, fuel economy and reduction of CO2, I believe hybrids would be the best.

When I say hybrids, there are different types of hybrids. Honda has to think about what would be best for each of the categories. For example, we have strength in the one-motor system—a very simple IMA (Integrated Motor Assist). This is one thing that we feel is fit for this purpose. We think we can increase the number of sales, and we are preparing the next version of the IMA, trying to improve the performance.

For vehicles in the United States, say the Accord class, we have to secure sufficient motor performance. We have to further work on this to generate enough power during the driving. For this, we have to have a separate dedicated system for the Accord class and above.

If you’re talking about high-end expensive vehicles, fuel economy is not enough. It also has to be fun to drive. For that we have the SH-AWD [Honda’s new hybrid system primarily dedicated to enhancing driving dynamics]. For each class of car, there are different types of hybrids. We believe we already have the technology in our hands, and for the next 10 to 20 years, I think in order to reduce CO2, we would have to use these different technologies, of which pure battery cars are one. But proportion-wise, I think hybrids will be the largest.

What Gets His Motor Going
In the final question of the session, an American journalist followed up on the idea of Honda adding “more fun” to its vehicles—a notion that was frequently discussed in presentations to journalists in the past few days in Tokyo. The journalist mentioned Honda’s electric sports car concept on display.

“I would love to have an electric sports car, but I live in an apartment complex, so I’d have to run an extension cord across my parking lot in order to recharge it,” he said. “[Honda] used to have affordable sports coupes that were iconic around the world, the CRX, the Integra, Prelude, those cars that every man could afford that actually ran on gas. Is a car like that on the table, or does every future sports car need to have some sort of advanced powertrain. It seems like a gas powertrain might be more affordable to the masses.”

Mr. Ito broke into a smile and, for the first time in the one-hour conference, delivered his response in English—a single line: “I completely agree with you.”

Source;
http://www.plugincars.com/honda-president-sees-limited-role-electric-cars-110639.html

Preview: 2013 Honda Fit EV/Plug-In Hybrid

By Graeme Fletcher
Motegi, Japan • Honda is set to introduce a new plug-in hybrid and an all-electric version of the Fit. The two are part of an exercise that falls under the company’s Earth Dreams Technology umbrella. Both will be launched in the United States next year. At this point, Honda Canada is still evaluating the viability of bringing one or both to Canada. Put my vote in the bring box!

The new plug-in hybrid uses an entirely new drivetrain — a gasoline-powered engine that is teamed with not one but two electric motors. This is a significant move that vaults Honda into the full-on hybrid league. As such, the plug-in hybrid can run on electric power, a combination of the gasoline and electric power sources or on the gasoline engine alone.

The new 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine uses direct injection along with i-VTEC and variable cam phasing. The combination boosts torque and horsepower considerably while reducing fuel consumption by five per cent compared with the current 1.5L engine used in the Civic Hybrid.

As it stands, the gasoline engine produces 134 horsepower and 111 pound-feet of torque (although one should expect slightly better numbers in the production car). The main electric motor chips in with another 161 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The second electric motor plays the role of a generator.

Where this system differs from others is that the plug-in hybrid is designed to run on the electricity stored in the six-kilowatt/hour battery — which requires 1.5 hours to recharge using 220 volts — for the first 24 kilometres of the drive. When it’s depleted, the gasoline engine kicks in and drives the generator, which then provides the electricity consumed by the main electric motor.

At highway speeds, the plug-in decouples the electric side and runs on the gasoline engine alone. The interesting part is that, in each case, the motor and engine drive the wheels directly as there is no multi-speed gearbox.

It sounds complicated, but the system is remarkably seamless in the manner in which it operates. Launch is strong thanks to the motor’s low-end torque, and the delivery of power remains linear through the mid-range. Push on a little harder and the gasoline engine fires up and keeps things rolling along nicely.

The test drive of the new hybrid system was conducted in the current Accord sedan — which model will see the production version of the plug-in hybrid system is still up in the air (although my money says Accord).

Outwardly, the Honda Fit EV looks (graphics aside) exactly like its gasoline-powered sibling. In fact, it is only when climbing behind the wheel does one find the first big difference — step-in height is taller because the car has been raised to accommodate the 20-kWh main battery beneath the floor, where it is protected as well as provides a lower centre of gravity. Recharging the battery is done through an onboard charger. The 6.6-kW unit is capable of fully recharging the battery in three hours when using a 220-volt outlet. The downside is the 18 hours it takes to accomplish the same with a regular 110-volt outlet.

In lieu of the 1.5L four-cylinder engine, the EV adopts a derivative of the electric motor that currently sees duty in the fuel cell-powered Clarity. In this instance, it delivers 123 hp and 189 lb-ft of torque. The output is such that the Fit EV enjoys the same sort of acceleration as its regular compactsized counterpart equipped a 2.0L gasoline engine — credit the early arrival of the torque and the fact it stays with the program through the mid-range and on to the top end.

The Fit EV has the potential of delivering a city driving range of 195 km and a highway rating of 150 km. The difference in the distances is due to the lack of regenerative braking when the Fit is driven at a constant speed.

However, Honda is up front and admits that these are ideal distances. As such it takes the ideal and multiplies it by 0.7 to arrive at a real-world number. The multiplier takes into account the power needed to drive the electric air conditioner and power steering, provide heat in winter and supply the power requirements for everything from the radio to the wipers and heated seats. In the end, the Fit EV can provide 125 km of everyday real-world fun.

The EV also features a three-mode drive system similar to the one found in the CR-Z. In economy mode the throttle is much softer (actually too soft for most situations). The caveat to this is that if the distance to empty is getting tight, selecting the eco mode might just be the difference between getting home and not.Selecting the sport mode sharpens things appreciably, but it does so at the expense of driving range (it reduces the driving distance by up to 25% when compared with the economy mode). As such, normal mode is the best, as it balances the desire for performance with the need for a usable driving range.

As for the rest of it, the EV is every bit a Fit. It does not suffer because of the additional mass added by the battery, nor is there any compromise in the utility aspects.

The all-too-brief test drives proved both plug-in hybrid and Fit EV are road ready. Both offer surprising performance and have a ton to offer in terms of reducing the toll the automobile places on the planet.

Source;
http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/11/30/preview-2013-honda-fit-evplug-in-hybrid/

Honda Reinvents Regenerative Braking for Fit EV

By Brad Berman
As we discussed in October, the secret sauce of a good electric car is not how it accelerates, but how it brakes. Yesterday, I had two short rides in the Honda Fit EV at the company’s Twin Ring Motegi complex north of Tokyo—prior to my visit to the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show today. My driving impressions from behind the wheel are embargoed until Dec. 5—but I’m free to report on my discussion with Kunimichi Hatano, the engineer who created Honda’s new regenerative braking system.

Honda’s strategy rests somewhere between what Ford will do with the Focus Electric—make it feel like any conventional car without special modes or gears—and BMW’s strategy. Electric Bimmers will brake in an aggressive and distinct way, according to Aaron Singer, BMW product strategy manager. The Fit EV's braking is perhaps most similar to the one found in the Nissan LEAF, with a couple of key exceptions. Honda’s Mr. Hatano explained that the goal is to make the brake feel comfortable and familiar—yet the Fit EV will have a “B” gear, providing the driver the choice to engage an aggressive motor-only regen setting, as well as an “Econ” mode that removes regenerative braking in a coasting-type function. The current LEAF lacks such driver-managed controls.

Again, I can’t speak yet about the relative level of performance achieved when toggling between Normal, Sport and Econ modes. But what’s important here is the role that Honda’s new electro-servo brake system—the first of its kind—in yielding about 75 miles of real-world range, and123 miles of range (in the forgiving LA4 cycle). The Fit combines a 94 kW motor and 20 kWh battery pack. (Honda is not yet sharing details about the weight of the Fit EV, but it's bound to be lighter than the LEAF.)

So far, the Fit EV is the only Honda car that has been (ahem) fitted with the new system, but it is also slated to go into Honda’s upcoming Accord-sized plug-in hybrid—which I also was able to drive yesterday.

Here’s an excerpt from my conversation with Mr. Hatano.

Many EV drivers like very aggressive regenerative braking. Why not give a unique aggressive feel to regen braking in your electric vehicles?
Honda does not intend to reduce the amount of regenerative braking to achieve satisfactory brake feeling. Obviously, we want to recuperate as much energy as possible. But if you try to recuperate too much energy, you might destabilize the vehicle. The question is how much energy can we recuperate without going over the threshold of losing stability. You have to bear in mind that vehicles are driven under bad weather, in snow, and rain, and when the road surface might not be good. You have to make sure the regenerative braking doesn’t go beyond what is reasonable.

But it can feel different and still be safe, right?
Sure, some prefer a different feeling. Whatever kind of brake feel you want—whether it’s like normal gasoline-powered cars or different—that’s one subject. And the limit of regenerative braking is another subject. The limit is more about preserving stability. Because this is an electric braking system, you can fine-tune the taste in many different ways.

How is the electro-servo braking system different than its predecessors?
In our system, you have two different main parts. In the first part, you create the brake feel. This is quite common with other carmakers. The way our brakes feel might be different, but the system is not very different. However, what is different is the part that actuates the brakes. Traditional hydraulic brakes use a vacuum to activate the brake system, and then pump oil to press the pads against the rotor. A hybrid system may use solenoids. Our new system is different because the medium to apply the brakes is using an electric motor to directly drive the pump that serves the brake fluid.

What’s the advantage?
This system has very high accuracy. This means more efficiency. It’s more faithful to the brake input from the driver. [Honda estimates that the servo-based system increasing efficiency by at least 5 percent.]

When you take your foot off the accelerator, you immediately have a little bit of regenerative braking. Then, you put your foot on the brake—and if you look at the curve on the hydraulic system, it goes up very sharply. But if you look at the yellow zone in the graph, [in the old system] the regeneration doesn’t go up as sharply and it’s delayed. The idea of the new system is to bring the regenerative yellow zone closer to the hydraulic response.

The first part of the slope is very similar to the hydraulic. Then, as you start reaching the regeneration limit, the slope gradually slows down a little and reaches the limit after what the hydraulic system can do. After that, you can keep regeneration system at the highest level longer than the current system. And just before you stop, the drop is even sharper than the old regeneration system.

All of this is possible because of the servo system? Could you have done this just with calibration?
No, you need the accuracy to achieve it.

Does the increased regenerative braking mean slowing down faster?
The braking distance itself is not shortened by this alone. The braking distance is determined by the weight of the vehicle, the speed, and the amount of energy you take out either by regenerative braking or traditional braking, and the tire grip. This system doesn’t mean that you’ll shorten the braking distance. That depends on the caliper or other brake operations.
How does the “B” gear mode affect regenerative braking?

B is for higher regeneration only when the throttle is off. If you are in B mode, it's only regenerating energy through negative torque at the motor level. [There’s no use of the brakes.]

And what’s the effect of Econ mode?
In the econ mode, on the contrary, it reduces the engine brake effect so the car can coast. The idea is to reduce the up and down demands on the engine—by having less engine braking, which means you don’t lose as much as speed.

The B mode is made to suit certain driving situations, like when you’re going down a slope and you see a red light at the end. You put it in B to recuperate energy, so you slow down, which is fine. And if you see the light changes to green, you just put it back into D. It’s a question of responding to all possible driving situations.

Postscript
I can guess that many PluginCars.com readers will like the sound of Honda’s approach—but the nagging question remains: Why is the company only producing 1,100 Fit EVs over the next three years, and not allowing customers who might fall in love with the car the ability to keep it beyond the lease period? Company officials here repeated the same “one step at a time” message—that they want to learn as much as possible from the first customers in order to refine the car into the best possible EV.

I spoke with multiple high-ranking executives to encourage them to reconsider—especially if it looks like the Fit EV is a winner. It’s too early to know, but I have a glimmer of hope that Honda could reconsider its lease-only approach and/or increase production. If indeed the Fit EV represents an improvement in electric car braking, along with controls for higher regen and coasting, it will only be a matter of time before competitors offer similar features in their battery-powered cars. Honda's apparent technology and feature advantage could evaporate in three years, just as the company is collecting and processing feedback from the 1,100 Fit EV leaseholders who have the distinction of driving the car. That would be a shame.

Source;
http://www.plugincars.com/honda-reinvents-regenerative-braking-fit-ev-110596.htmlource;
http://www.plugincars.com/honda-reinvents-regenerative-braking-fit-ev-110596.html

Honda Exhibits World Premiere of EV-STER the next-generation electric small sports concept

TOKYO, Japan, November 30, 2011 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will exhibit the world premiere of the EV-STER, the next-generation electric small sports concept model, at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011, which will take place at Tokyo Big Sight from Saturday, December 3 through Sunday, December 11, 2011.

Featuring a dynamic and innovative styling design and excellent environmental performance, the EV-STER, an electric rear-wheel-drive two-seater convertible sports car, will propose a new way to enjoy a sports type model which is unique to the electromotive mobility. The adoption of carbon materials made it possible to reduce the vehicle weight contributing to the vehicle's high driving performance and range of approximately 160km. The easy-to-operate twin-lever steering was adopted for the thorough pursuit of the joy of driving. Moreover, the new concept model enables the driver to make his/her own adjustments to some vehicle characteristics such as motor output and suspension settings, to embody the joy of maneuvering to the fullest extent.

Furthermore, the instrument panel features not only meters, but also the vehicle information display which enables the driver to enjoy driving as well as the network display used for the audio and navigation systems and also for the internet access. The well-designed layout of the meters and displays enables the driver to concentrate on driving and enjoy the comfortable space.

Honda remains committed to developing sports models beyond the expectations of its customers and offering exciting and thrilling mobility products.

Key specifications of the EV-STER

Vehicle length 3,570mm

Vehicle width 1,500mm

Vehicle height 1,100mm

Wheelbase 2,325mm

Maximum speed 160km/h

Acceleration (0-60km/h) 5.0 sec

Maximum range Approximately 160km (JC08 mode)

Battery 10kWh lithium-ion battery

Maximum battery output 58kW

Charging time

200V: under 3 hours

100V: under 6 hours

Source;

http://www.hondanews.info/news/en/auto/4111130eng

Honda Small Sports EV Concept

Here's another pic of the Honda Sports EV Concept.

Source;
http://visions-autos.sport24.com/668215/Honda-Small-Sports-EV-Concept-2011-et-Coupe-Honda-Design/

2011 Honda Micro Commuter Concept Ready for Tokyo

The formula for the EV market is starting to become clearer by the day. You’ve got the larger sedans and hatchbacks that some manufacturers produces with range extenders, the odd sportscar here and there, some relatively small hatches that are the mainstay of the offering and the really small cars like Audi’s Urban concept and Renault’s Twizy.

Honda has announced it will be bringing three electric vehicles to the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, which will debut November 30th, and the Micro Commuter is obviously their vision of urban travel in the future.

Speaking of the future, the the design has to be one of the most futuristic we’ve seen in a while. There is only one seat that wraps the driver in a world of white and teal tones. Instead of the traditional wheel, you’ve got something that looks like it came out of an airplane.

Looking at the outside, Honda’s designers must have really wanted to design a car that works in sci-fi anime, because it has some very strange fairing for the wheels.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/2011-honda-micro-commuter-concept-ready-for-tokyo-40268.html

Honda Small Sports EV Concept teased ahead of Tokyo debut

At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show this year, Honda’s booth will carry a theme of “What makes people feel good?”

“Honda will propose an exciting and thrilling mobility life of the future that it envisions as a company providing personal mobility to people all around the world,” the company said in a statement. “The display will include a lineup of the next-generation electromotive concept models including two-, three- and four-wheeled commuter vehicles designed for easy and fun mobility in future cities, mid-to-long distance commuters designed to enrich life and enhance the freedom and fun of mobility, and sporty models that pursue the joy of driving/riding.”

One of the most exciting vehicles on display will be the Small Sports EV Concept (tentative name). Honda said the study shows a “next-generation EV sports model which maximizes the fun of driving while achieving excellent environmental performance.”

It seems the Japanese automaker is hinting that the Small Sports EV Concept could be a new take on the Beat, a midengine 660cc sports car that was sold in Japan in the early ’90s.

More details will be announced at the show on Nov. 30.
- By: Omar Rana

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/11/09/honda-small-sports-ev-concept-teased-ahead-of-tokyo-debut/

Honda Jazz EV Concept electric car debuts

There was talk about this vehicle coming to north america instead of getting the Honda FIT hybrid, not sure whether or not that's still the plan....
While most other manufacturers participating in the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show, were busy trying to steal the show with their new models sporting glitzy designs and displaying promising concepts, Japanese auto giant Honda seemed to focus on the greener side of things by exhibiting various plug-in hybrid and electric-vehicle concepts, including the yet-to-be-named Jazz-based Honda EV concept.

The EV Concept will be powered by a lithium-ion battery and a high-density coaxial motor which is claimed to hit a top speed of 145 kph while helping to achieve an estimated driving range of 160 kilometres per charge. Aiding efficiency would be a 3-mode electric drive system lifted straight from the Honda CR-Z hybrid, which allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal and Sport modes thereby optimising the vehicle dynamics for optimal efficiency or best performance.

Another highlight of the EV concept is a connectivity system which allows the driver to monitor the vehicle’s state of charge, initiate charging and even turn on the air conditioning system using a personal computer, mobile phone or an interactive remote from Honda. Recharging the battery takes less than 6 hours when using a 240-volt outlet. Other features include a Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System with capability to locate public charging stations, LED headlamps and tail lamps, aerodynamic bumpers and eco-friendly bio-fabric on-seating surfaces.

In a land where even simple hybrids have turned out to be epic failures, a sophisticated EV stands no chance. But we do know that the EV concept will be a Jazz on batteries when it finally reaches production stage in no more than a year.

Source;
http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2011/09/29/honda-ev-concept-honda-jazz-electric-debuts/