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Honda Officially Considering Battery Electric Vehicle

Honda Officially Considering Battery Electric Vehicle

By Richard Read's avatar Richard ReadRichard Read October 20th, 2009

fcx clarity fuelcell motorauthority 001

fcx clarity fuelcell motorauthority 001

Enlarge Photo

Back in August, Viknesh Vijayenthiran reported on rumors that Honda would launch a zero-emission battery electric vehicle in the US by 2015. The vehicle in question was described as a lithium-ion battery-powered minicar, and there was some speculation that Honda would unveil a prototype at the Tokyo Motor Show this October.

The rumors stemmed from articles in several Japanese media outlets, including the Nikkei daily, but they were  never officially substantiated by Honda -- until now. The company's CEO, Takanobu Ito, now admits that he would consider developing EVs for American, European, and Japanese markets. That's not saying that he or Honda are, in fact, developing those vehicles; simply that they might. Still, that's a big step for Honda.

You might recall that Honda has resisted the lure of battery-powered EVs for some time, insisting that hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are the way of the future -- and in fact, the company has devoted significant time and energy to its Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell sedan (pictured above). However, rollout of the hydrogen infrastructure has been slow, which doesn't bode well for the immediate future of fuel-cell vehicles. Said Ito, "There is no change to my view that hydrogen fuel-cell cars will in the end be proven the best ... (but) electric vehicles will also be a core option for cars in the future."

This is an important technological moment for Honda. The company's 2010 Honda Insight hybrid made a big splash when launched amid claims that it would trounce its closest competitor, the Toyota Prius. Unfortunately, those boasts haven't played out so well for Honda, and now the company is looking to regain some ground on the tech field.

Although it may be a bitter pill for Honda to swallow, entering the battery electric vehicle market -- at least for a while -- is likely unavoidable. With nearly every major automaker prepping at least one BEV for launch within the next three to five years, staying out of the segment altogether would be a very risky gamble for Honda. Granted, the gamble could pay off if Honda invests even more R&D money into fuel-cell vehicles, and if hydrogen fuel cells really do become the choice of future drivers. But is Japan's number two automaker willing and able to lose that hand the same way it lost to Toyota on the hybrid front -- even though the Insight beat the Prius to U.S. showrooms?

[AutoNews, sub reqd]

fcx clarity fuelcell motorauthority 001Enlarge Photo Back in August, Viknesh Vijayenthiran reported on rumors that Honda would launch a zero-emission battery electric vehicle in the US by 2015. The vehicle in question was described as a lithium-ion battery-powered minicar, and there was some speculation that Honda would unveil a prototype at the Tokyo Motor Show this October. The rumors stemmed from articles in several Japanese media outlets, including the Nikkei daily, but they were  never officially substantiated by Honda -- until now. The company's CEO, Takanobu Ito, now admits that he would consider developing EVs for American, European, and Japanese markets. That's not saying that he or Honda are, in fact, developing those vehicles; simply that they might. Still, that's a big step for Honda. You might recall that Honda has resisted the lure of battery-powered EVs for some time, insisting that hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are the way of the future -- and in fact, the company has devoted significant time and energy to its Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell sedan (pictured above). However, rollout of the hydrogen infrastructure has been slow, which doesn't bode well for the immediate future of fuel-cell vehicles. Said Ito, "There is no change to my view that hydrogen fuel-cell cars will in the end be proven the best ... (but) electric vehicles will also be a core option for cars in the future." This is an important technological moment for Honda. The company's 2010 Honda Insight hybrid made a big splash when launched amid claims that it would trounce its closest competitor, the Toyota Prius. Unfortunately, those boasts haven't played out so well for Honda, and now the company is looking to regain some ground on the tech field. Although it may be a bitter pill for Honda to swallow, entering the battery electric vehicle market -- at least for a while -- is likely unavoidable. With nearly every major automaker prepping at least one BEV for launch within the next three to five years, staying out of the segment altogether would be a very risky gamble for Honda. Granted, the gamble could pay off if Honda invests even more R&D money into fuel-cell vehicles, and if hydrogen fuel cells really do become the choice of future drivers. But is Japan's number two automaker willing and able to lose that hand the same way it lost to Toyota on the hybrid front -- even though the Insight beat the Prius to U.S. showrooms? [AutoNews, sub reqd]

Tags: Electric Cars, BEV, fuel cell, hydrogen, electric car, electric vehicles, Tokyo, Tokyo Motor Show, Tokyo Auto Salon

Posted in: Toyota, Honda, Prius, FCX Clarity



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Responses (10 total)

  1. By Howard Jensen #1, Posted: 10/20/2009

    American Lithium Minerals Company (stock symbol =
    AMLM). This company could go up at least 100 times to $225. U.S. per share in the next 8 years
    Why? Because it is sitting on the 2nd largest
    deposit of Lithium on earth with 16,000 acres
    in the American state of Nevada..
    It's land allows it to refine Lithium cheaper
    than the largest deposit in South America.
    Plus, America wants energy independence from
    foreign sources and clean no tail pipe smog from it's cars. Several inventions to improve Lithium
    batteries have been developed in year 2009 and will show up in 1 or 2 years in the 2nd generation of batteries. One new invention in 2009 doubles the range of a battery charge from 100 miles to 200 miles... another makes Lithium safe..no more overheating)!! This will replace Oil/gas driven cars. AMLM may become a giant
    to replace oil companies like EXXON. A gamble?
    Sure.... but it sure looks like a sea change.
    It's land has paved roads and rail close by.
    No overseas shipping costs either. Take your chances... but remember Ultra Petroleum Co. went
    up 100 times from it's Vancouver Canada days to it's Houston, Texas days and it's a company most
    people have never heard about even today. BUY IT!
    P.s. The land area in and around AMLM is worth
    $400 Billion U.S. at todays price of Lithium.
    Thats not a misprint (not $400 million... but
    rather $4OO. Billion U.S.). I think AMLM will
    become one of the giants to repace oil with Lithium to power our cars!! Take your chances..
    all stocks are a gamble.
    p.s.2... Of course if AMLM does replace one of
    the giant oil companies by mining Lithium instead of Oil as the oil companies do 100 times your money will be "chicken feed" for it could go up 1,000 times in 15 to 20 years.... of course
    this just a guesss so take your chances..Stocks
    are always a gamble. Search the inter-net by
    typing in AMERICAN LITHIUM MINERALS and check out a few comments by others. In year 2010 AMLM
    will start production and may produce 21 times
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  2. By GMC #2, Posted: 10/20/2009

    This is just what GM needs now: competition

  3. By Jim b. #3, Posted: 10/20/2009

    nice... so now 'better place' will have another company to do business with and not only nissan.

  4. By greedo #4, Posted: 10/20/2009

    really looking forward to the first all-electric, affordable hatchback/fun sedan. Wonder if it will be Honda, Nissan or Toyota that builds it?

  5. By Edward #5, Posted: 10/20/2009

    Of course Honda won't say until it's a definite and less than a year from market. I thought Honda has been quietly developing EV tech for years now -- and they needed the EV components in order to produce the FCX anyway...

  6. By Jezza #6, Posted: 10/20/2009

    Pity Honda will always be second to Toyota when it comes to this kind of stuff. Looks like most of their good engineers left when they got out of sports cars.

  7. By cooldude #7, Posted: 10/20/2009

    Looking forward to it.

  8. By Late Vigorous #8, Posted: 10/20/2009

    @Jezza: Actually Toyota is resisting the move from parallel hybrids to series hybrids, which are really EVs with range extenders. Toyota may build small numbers of iQ electric mini-cars, but my bet is that Honda is further ahead in all-electric drive vehicles than Toyota is.

  9. By Franko #9, Posted: 10/21/2009

    @GMC: competition is good for consumers, and maybe that's what GM needs to wake it up and start to innovate.

  10. By  ipod accessories #10, Posted: 11/5/2009

    I am really looking forward for the first electric-battery operated luxurious car. However, I have a strong feeling that GM would not be the first to launch it. I would bet for Toyota to be first.

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