Japanese carmaker Honda has announced a second electric vehicle testing programme involving plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric cars, electric scooters and electric carts.
The testing programme will take place in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and will be the first time a programme of its type has taken place in the country involving these test vehicles and solar-powered charging stations. It follows on from Honda’s announcement on December 15 that it would carry out a similar programme in the US with a Fit electric vehicle and an Accord with a two-motor plug-in hybrid system.
In the US programme, the city of Torrance, California, as well as Stanford University and Google Inc will each receive a Fit electric vehicle at the start of 2011 while the city of Torrance alone will test the plug-in hybrid. Meanwhile, the Saitama programme will place its focus on motorcycles, automobiles and power products and will use advanced communications and telematics as well as solar-powered charging technologies.
Vehicles involved in the Saitama programme will include a Honda Fit Electric Vehicle, which features a coaxial motor and other electromotive technologies that were developed for the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, as well as a Toshiba-produced lithium-ion battery. It has a driving range in excess of 99miles.
The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle used will be based on the platform of the Inspire mid-size saloon car and includes a 2.0litre i-VTEC engine and two high output electric motors. All-electric mode driving range can achieve up to nine-16miles.
As for the electric scooter, known as the EV-neo, it is designed to make short-range deliveries; while the electric cart, called the Monpal ML200, was actually first launched in 2006 and has four wheels.
