By Masahiro Takedagawa, For The Calgary HeraldBased on our commitment to innovation and original technology creation, Honda is working to help address the world's environmental challenges, such as global climate change, emissions reduction and energy sustainability.
Honda is taking a comprehensive portfolio approach that involves advanced powertrain and energy technologies for the near and longer terms.
Honda's unique strategy also includes further improvements to gasoline-engine fuel efficiency, including the expanding use of gasoline-electric hybrid technology; the development of viable alternatives to gasoline, including compressed natural gas, non-food-based biofuels, electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric cars; and advanced energy production and distribution technologies including solar cells, co-generation systems and more efficient means of producing renewable biofuels.
IMPROVING FUEL EFFICIENCY
Ever since the company was founded, we have focused on meeting the mobility needs of our customers as well as concern for the environment, including leadership in fuel efficiency and emission-reduction technologies.
In the 1960s, Honda reinforced its commitment by establishing its Blue Skies for Our Children philosophy, and has maintained its position as a fuel-efficiency leader.
Honda is committed to further advancements in internal combustion engine efficiency, with a focus on the broad application of technologies such as VTEC and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), and with the expanded application of pinnacle technologies such as Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system.
-As one of the most affordable hybrids available on the road today, the five-passenger Honda Insight, utilizes an interactive Ecological Drive Assist System to help enhance customers' fuel-efficient driving capabilities.
-Our new two-seat CR-Z sports hybrid expands Honda's line of hybrid vehicles by offering good fuel economy with sporty characteristics.
-Second-generation VCM technology is being used in theAccord V-6 sedan and coupe, Pilot SUV, Accord Crosstour and Odyssey minivan.
-Extensive use of advanced materials that improve fuel economy while allowing engineers to meet other critical targets such as vehicle safety.
REDUCING EMISSIONS
Honda has led all automakers in the introduction of vehicles that meet or exceed increasingly stringent exhaust emissions regulation:
-First gasoline-powered vehicles to meet American LEV, ULEV, SU-LEV, and AT-PZEV certifications.
-For model year 2011, all Honda and Acura vehicles meet or exceed Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards on an individual model basis, without the use of fleet averaging.
-Honda has been a leader in the application of overhead valve four-stroke engines to its power sports and power equipment product lines. All 2008 and newer Honda motorcycles, including competition models, and all Honda power equipment lines use OHV four-stroke engine technology.
FUEL-CELL TECHNOLOGY
Honda has paced the industry in the development and deployment of fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) technology as well as the refuelling infrastructure that will be required to take it to the mass market.
-Honda introduced the world's first production fuel-cell vehicle, the Honda FCX, in the U.S. and Japan in October 2002.
-Honda's FCX Clarity, the successor to the FCX, was the world's first purpose-built fuel-cell electric vehicle and the first to be manufactured on a dedicated production line.
-The FCX Clarity, with Honda's compact and efficient V Flow fuel-cell stack, achieves performance on par with a four-cylinder, five-passenger, gasoline-powered sedan but with three times the fuel efficiency.
CLEANER-ENERGY RESEARCH
Honda's efforts have gone beyond developing new vehicle technologies.
Honda has also focused its research and development resources on the creation of new sources of cleaner power.
-Solar cells: Honda-developed photovoltaic solar cells significantly reduce the energy and carbon-dioxide emissions in the manufacturing phase. Honda subsidiary Soltec Ltd. began mass production of Honda solar cells at its new Kumamoto, Japan, factory in October 2008. We will also be using these solar cells at our new Honda headquarters in Markham, Ont.
-Flexible fuel: Honda has developed a flexible-fuel system that enables engines to operate on either 100 per cent ethanol or a wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures.
-Biofuel: To address the need for more efficient means of producing bio-ethanol in other areas of the world, Honda R&D and the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) are researching new technology to produce ethanol from soft-biomass, a renewable resource of plant-derived material.
There are numerous environmental challenges, and there are also numerous potential solutions to meet issues. That is why we have adopted a portfolio approach instead of only focusing on one specific technology.
In the near term, however, we believe optimum benefits will come from further advancements to fuel-efficient gasoline engines as well as gas-electric hybrid technology to help reduce our products' greenhouse gas emissions.
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