Honda's Prius-killer will be a NiMH hybrid
New hybrid will use Clarity design cuesEarly next year, when Honda launches its new dedicated hybrid vehicle, it will use a NiMH battery pack.
"In terms of reliability and durability, I must say there still remain some concerns [re: lithium]," Honda President Takeo Fukui said according to AutoWeek.. "I don't think they are necessarily best suited for mass-produced vehicles." Nonetheless, Fukui also stated that lithium could replace NiMH if the technology matured enough for Honda.
Honda is hoping to sell as many as 200,000 hybrid vehicles by next year, and by 2012, Honda intends for hybrids to make up 10 percent of sales by 2012.
Labels: Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
7:59 AM
5 Comments:
Very nice looking car!
I believe that Honda has validated my opinion that NiMH batteries are proven, reliable, durable and sufficient for use in EV's and hybrid vehicles. I wish that GM would have launched the Volt with a NiMH pack thuse reducing the time needed to bring the car to market AND reducing its initial cost because there was no need for extensive battery R&D. I just read an article where the Volt will initially be offered at 40K and maybe as high as 48K all because of this Li ion research and development.
I wonder if this Honda hybrid will come with a plug?
Shoot. I wish GM would have just developed a small NiMH hybrid to compete with the Prius for starters.
I don't think NiMH is dead yet, but for the Volt it certainly seems dead.
In terms of Volt pricing, GM has already admitted that they will subsidize the cost to some extent, at least for the first few years. Still, I don't see how GM could sell it for that much less than $40,000 - a price that they will still loose money, at least at first.
In terms of Honda, I don't anticipate a plug-in option anytime soon. I think Honda believes as-cheap-as-possible conventional hybrids are the best short-to-mid term solution. And, quite honestly, I think its hard to argue against that logic.
Unfortunately I'm holding my breath until Honda actually does such a thing.
All this talk from all these manufacturers but NOT ONE OF THEM has come up with a hybrid for the true masses...e.g. Honda Fit Hybrid.
I have no idea why they don't do this...it's beyond logic.
Noz-
The reason they haven't is the major problem facing automakers, I believe. Automakers are like big giant dinosaurs - they aren't nimble enough to react to a changing world. If they don't change, they'll end up just like most dinosaurs.
Anyway, this Honda hybrid seems to be the real deal. Likewise, I think Toyota will quickly follow suit with a smaller, cheaper Prius-like hybrid as well.
Yes, it's taking ridiculously long, but I think automakers are ready to turn the corner to better fuel economy - at least the ones that plan on being around 10 years from now.
This is excellent news that Honda is entering a competitor against the Prius. Toyota made an incredible product, but the competition will drive them to make what they have better, i.e. more affordable or more economical.
Truck/SUV sales this first quarter were down 28%, small car sales were up 32%! Those are incredible numbers, and the only way we're going to fight high oil prices is to curb demand! Who wants to see their money go to Venezuela and the Middle-East anyway?
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