Plugged-in: New Honda hybrids in 2012
Integrated Motor Assist hybrids until 2010
Honda ready to plug-in
While Honda is still focused on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as the future of the auto industry, the company is now a little less bearish on plug-in vehicles.
For some time we’ve known that Honda was working on both a full hybrid powertrain and even a Volt-like range extended plug-in vehicle, and now we know that Honda will bring two plug-in vehicles to market in 2012. One, a battery-powered electric vehicle, the other some kind of plug-in hybrid that is reportedly capable of achieving 136 mpg.
Until 2012, Integrated Motor Assisted mild hybrids, such as the Insight, will make up Honda’s hybrid portfolio.
I think Honda has been right there all along, I just think they’ve been much more pragmatic, as has Toyota for instance. Most of the studies suggest the plug-ins are more about marketing than effective change at least through the next decade. Even then it’ll probably take a decade or more to really get the ball rolling. So, what’s the rush?
Today, the government is almost requiring automakers to greenwash us, to pretend they are actually changing because they are going to covert a percent or two of their fleet into plug-ins in the next decade. Certainly, that’s good because it keeps development going into batteries, etc. Nevertheless, it accomplishes almost nothing. Automakers know this.
Nonetheless, you still have to play the game, especially when the government is rolling out so many incentives to do so. Why not let them help cover costs?
I’m surprised when Honda talks about 2012. They are much more advanced than I thought, if they’re only 2 years before bringing their plug-in hybrid model to market.