2010 Detroit Auto Show: Honda Says Acura Hybrids Coming, Clarity FCEV Is Ready
By Scott Doggett January 13, 2010
#NAIAS - Honda Chief Executive Takanobu Ito, speaking before a large crowd at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, announced that its Acura brand would be adding hybrid models to its lineup and that the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle "is ready now."
Last year, because of business conditions and efforts to reduce the CO2 emissions of its vehicles, Honda re-focused some of its product development resources, Ito said.
"Now, I'm pleased to say that we will be adding hybrids to the Acura brand. And based on my history in developing several Acura products," he said, referring to his work on the Acura MDX, Acura NSX and Honda CRX as a young engineer.
Later, Ito said Honda continues to believe that a fuel cell electric vehicle is the ultimate solution to reduce CO2 emissions.
A fuel cell car is a full electric vehicle, he reminded, but rather than use electricity from the grid, a fuel cell vehicle generates electricity on board and refills more quickly.
The development cost of FCEVs must come down, he said, and there must be a major expansion of the hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
"But make no mistake," he said, raising his voice. "As a vehicle, the Honda FCX Clarity is ready now."
This month, Honda will begin operation of a next-generation solar hydrogen station at its Los Angeles research-and-development center, he said. The compact system was designed for daily home refueling of a fuel cell electric vehicle.
Honda engineers were able to eliminate the compressor entirely to greatly reduce the size of the system to fit in the user's garage. "The potential of a solar hydrogen station is one reason a fuel cell electric vehicle is the ultimate eco-car - the best path to reduce CO2," he said.
But in the near term, Ito said, the most important approach to cut CO2 emissions is expanding the use of hybrid electric vehicles.
To increase the opportunity for more customers to choose a hybrid, "we must be able to meet different needs with family, luxury and sporty hybrid vehicles. We will apply hybrid systems which are compact, lightweight and affordable to a wider range of products in the near future," he said.
No further details regarding the planned Acura hybrids were disclosed by Ito or other Honda/Acura reps.
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