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Honda: Fuel Cells Before Plug-Ins
Honda is still skeptical about plug-in hybrid technology, according to Bloomberg News by way of our diesel-loving friends over at Jalopnik. Voicing a concern that many engineers have about the viability of electric-only and predominantly electric vehicles coming soon to the U.S. market, Masaaki Kato of Honda R&D, feels "battery technology needs to advance further" before electric vehicles become viable, widespread, and popular in today's marketplace. The company hints at impending PR nightmares if companies get the electric battery technology wrong, and claims it is for now sticking with development of hydrogen fuel-cell technology like that in its FCX Clarity.
These concerns in spite of the huge PR wins enjoyed today by Chrysler with its announcement of an impending electric/E-REV fleet, and GM's huge Chevy Volt announcement last week. This type of hand-wringing caution from the same company that gave us the breathtaking, fresh-thinking NSX and cult-status CRX decades ago, when everybody else was churning out dowdy Paseos, Cavalier Z24s, and Dodge Sundance Coupes? Not to mention, one of the first to market with a viable hybrid in the form of the first Honda Insight?
With even Toyota promising a plug-in Prius in the future, we'd like to hear more fresh ideas and exciting plans from Honda, and less overblown, hypenated techno-geekery (SH-AWD) clothed in barely new wrappers like the '09 Acura RL. Yawn.
And again, no one's proven fuel cells are going to make it in large numbers before you're too enfeebled to own one.
Is Honda playing it too safe and simply not want to invest the huge sums necessary to fully develop lithium-ion batteries, or are they wise not to jump on the E-REV bandwagon? Give us your thoughts.--Colin Mathews
Responses (8 total)
By gas | Posted: Sep 24th 2008, 06:15:09 PM
Both fuel cells and electric vehicles face huge infrastructure challenges in any market. Where can you buy hydrogen for a fill-up? One estimate for supplying the electricity needed for the anticipated electric or plug-in hybrid market was 160 new power plants. Where will these come from? What about the upgrades to the power delivery system (wires, etc.)?
While many people have short commutes that fit the 40-mile range of the Volt and similar vehicles, limited-range vehicles will always have limited utility in the US market. Americans like to drive long distances. Running out of fuel on the highway today is fixed with a can of gas. You can't do this with hydrogen or electricity - at least not yet.
By Ed | Posted: Sep 24th 2008, 03:19:28 PM
The Honda Clarity or whatever Fuel Cell vehicle is a shameless marketing ploy. Honda mad ea handful (less than.. 100, vs 1,000,000 Civics and Accords it makes EVERY YEAR) of the silly, unrealistic vehicles and gave them to clueless has-been so-called Celebrities, Auto Illiterates like Jamie Lee Curtis.
Fortunately for Honda, it has invested FAR MORE $ in MODERN DIESELS which will arrive in the US WITH A VENGEANCE and STELLAR Fuel Economy and CLEANER than the inferior gas engines they will replace,
and it ALSO invests BIG on Hybrids, and having learned the lesson from the failed Accord and Civic Hybrids, is now going to offer as PRIUS looking hybrid that will sell for less, than $20,000 and will be a serious challenge to the Prius' dominance.
It sure will be an exciting few years from now.
But as for the ridiculous Fuel Cell vehicles, they were dead from the beginning, a silly, ridiculous idea, that has no relation with the COST REALITIES of the REAL World.
Only a HUGE BREAKTHRU in battery tech may make the fuel cells COMMERCIALLY viable, BUT if that happens, HYBRIDS will also benefit big time, and again fuel cells may find themselves to be unnecessary and silly.
By Graham | Posted: Sep 24th 2008, 09:47:39 AM
I am very surprised by the negative tone of this article.
Just because GM and now Chrysler are hyping their plug-in hybrid EV programs does not mean that Honda is suddenly "playing it too safe".
As "Tony D" pointed out, Honda is the only OEM now actually putting fuel cell vehicles (FCX Clarity) on the road in small volumes. Honda have however always pointed out that there is a major cost issue to resolve before bring them to mass production.
The Toyota Prius has been a huge marketing success for Toyota, They have managed to convince the general public (particularly in the US) that hybrids are the best solution to fuel consumption even for people that drive them primarily on the highway, when a good turbo diesel would give better fuel consumption and lower CO2.
Even though hybrids are not necessarily the best "real world" solution to fuel economy & emissions, all major OEMs are now obliged to offer vehicles that include the "hybrid" moniker (often to vehicles that are not really hybrids at all!) to take advantage of the Prius marketing success, if not they appear to be being left behind.
I have worked at a supplier to Honda in the past, and can confirm that it is relatively young dynamic company. When their top management is convinced (by their R&D department) of the validity of a new technology, they are one of the fasted (possibly the fasted) companies to bring it to the market.
By CTS | Posted: Sep 24th 2008, 12:23:50 AM
Honda is in a very good position to quickly put forward a plug-in hybrid on the market if the technology and market dictates it. All that's missing is the right battery/electric technology. They let the other folks blow the bucks on R&D, and if the market is there they just throw it in. Just see how quickly they are coming up with a much lower priced new Insight on the market next year to complete with other hybrids. In the mean time, Honda is carefully mastering all the other new fueling options. Seems like a good diversified portfolio.
By cxv | Posted: Sep 23rd 2008, 11:35:48 PM
Honda is a very conservative company and sitting in tons of cash. The already have the one of the cleanest diesel cars in Europe, Fuel cell and hybrid. Chrysler is just showing an electric Lotus Europa which is going to be ready in late 2010. Honda never stop R&D so I'm sure they already have some sort of study regarding plug ins. But I do wish well to GM and Chrysler with the plug ins.
By Tony D | Posted: Sep 23rd 2008, 09:15:57 PM
Honda is putting Fuel Cell vehicles on the road TODAY, or should I say months ago, in southern California. Not announcing that they're gonna have something super awesome in two or three years. They have the technology on the road RIGHT NOW. We'll see how smart Chrysler, GM, and all the other vapour-ware purveyors are when they finally put wheels on the road.
By Dave | Posted: Sep 23rd 2008, 09:08:55 PM
Could this be the first BIG mistake from Honda? Sounds like it. Chryslers plug-ins and the Chevy Volt will be huge.
By Ed | Posted: Sep 23rd 2008, 07:50:07 PM
Honda is tragically wrong.
DIESELS and PLUG-INS are far superior to the stupid fuel cells who have had a ton of problems for decades now.
Honda has hybrids and will bring many diesels soon, and that's Great,
But they are wasting their billions on fuel cells, and that's NOT.
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