Honda has revealed plans to introduce a new small diesel engine exclusively for the European market. The carmaker also revealed that it intends to retail a battery electric vehicle in Japan and the US by 2012, with trials set to start this year.
The announcements were made by the carmaker’s CEO and president,Takanobu Ito, has he delivered his mid-year speech, a year after taking control of the firm. As part of his speech, Mr Ito explained how Honda’s future was reliant on the success of new green alternatives. He said the firm’s commitment to cutting CO2 emissions from it products was built upon a “conviction based on the strong sense of crisis that, as a manufacturer of personal mobility, Honda will have no future unless we achieve a significant reduction of CO2 emissions.”
Adding: “Honda is totally committed to provide good products with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions.”
He also outlined plans for the manufacturer to expand the use of its IMA hybrid system, currently used in its CR-Z and Insight models.The firm is planning to introduce multiple models fitted its hybrid system, mainly small-sized vehicles in Japan within approximately one year from now. The first one will be the Fit Hybrid which will be introduced to the Japanese market this autumn.
Meanwhile a new plug-in hybrid system for mid-size to larger vehicles is currently under development. Vehicles equipped with this new system are scheduled to go on sale in 2012 in Japan and the US.
In addition to the currently available 2.2-litre engine, Honda is making progress in the development of a smaller diesel engine. A model equipped with this new smaller diesel engine will be introduced in Europe in 2012.
In the long-term, the carmaker still envisages that fuel-cell electric vehicles will provide the ultimate mobility. Honda will continue working on the technological advancement of the FCX Clarity as well as our hydrogen refuelling systems.
As part of its development of electric vehicles, the carmaker will, starting by the end of this year, begin demonstration testing of prototype battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with participants including Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, California. In Japan, likewise the carmaker intends that to trial electric cars and test supporting infrastructure.
