Honda ’Lacks Confidence’ in Electric-Car Demand

[atlaw4u]

While Honda recently displayed the concept EV-N at the Tokyo Motor Show, it is focusing on expanding its lineup of gasoline-electric hybrid models and improving its gasoline engines.

Makiko Kitamura And Yuki Hagiwara - BLOOMBERG - March 18, 2010

Honda Motor Co. remains skeptical about demand for electric cars 10 years after it stopped selling its EV Plus battery-powered model, the head of research at Japan’s second-largest carmaker said.

“We lack confidence” in the electric-vehicle business, Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of Honda’s research and development unit, said in an interview in Wako City, northwest of Tokyo. “It’s questionable whether consumers will accept the annoyances of limited driving range and having to spend time charging them.”

The skepticism contrasts with an estimate by Nissan Motor Co.’s Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn that the vehicles will make up 10 percent of the global car market by 2020. While Honda plans to sell electric cars in the U.S. to help meet California emission rules, its priority is to improve the fuel efficiency of new and upgraded models, Kawanabe said.

“We are definitely conducting research on electric cars, but I can’t say I can wholeheartedly recommend them,” said Kawanabe, 58, an engine specialist who replaced Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito as head of Honda R&D Co. on April 1.

Nissan’s Leaf electric car, which will go on sale this year in Japan and the U.S., and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s i-MiEV have maximum driving distances of about 100 miles (161 kilometers) on a fully-charged battery. Running the air conditioner or accelerating for long periods of time reduces the range... [Read More]

[02Civic08Vespa]

This just tells me how far behind the curve Honda is. Their loss; Nissan and Fords gain. With phrases like "annoyances of driving range" they are clearly trying to discourage people from buying electric cars until they catch up.

[GreenVTEC]

How many people have signed up for the LEAF?

Last I read we were not even looking at numbers matching one month Accord sales. Spread out over the course of a year I don't see much demand for EV cars yet unless your talking a segment of the country where the government will subsidize the cost through taxpayers.

[nash]

Honda already has done a large amount of research and produces an "electric" car in the FCX Clarity. The main distinction is the electric power comes from a fuel cell instead of a battery. When Honda does decide to market an electric car, they already have done the lions share of the R&D with their fuel cell work.

[02Civic08Vespa]

According to Nissan 9,500 people registered during the priority window. It's not a huge number, but it seems pretty impressive for the first car out of the gate. I think things will really start to pick up once those cars are out on the road, and friends, family, and coworkers are exposed to them. Experiencing them first hand will sell more than any ad campaign IMO.

BTW, Of course more will sell in states with extra incentives but I'm buying one in Texas where there are no extra incentives...

[Chuck]

Between the lines, Honda could be saying we don't know how to do battery tech.

My experience does make me wonder if Honda can do battery tech.

This is from a Honda guy, and couple of years ago could not imagine saying this.

I love my 2000 Honda Insight and fully intend to have it for many years, but the Achilles heel is the battery pack and the modules that manage it.

I'm getting a grid charger to address it...if you drive a full hybrid like a Prius, the system manages the batteries so well it does not need a grid charger.

What am I talking about?

A hybrid battery pack is a cluster of batteries - 120 D cells in my case. NiHM cells might last 20 years indoors, but on the road you have heat, undercharging, overcharging that definitely shorten it's life. A pack is only as strong as it's weakest battery....if one battery goes bad and takes only 50% of it's original charge, the IMA system charge that bad battery, but leave all the good batteries at 50% of their charge. In a Prius, the battery management is more thourgh and charges each battery to it's individual capacity. Toyota did their homework and aced it.

The IMA cooling system is also uneven. Does anyone else use D cells on battery packs?....it seems like using 3.5 diskettes in a memory stick world.

I get the distinct impression Honda is still behind the curve on battery tech even on it's 2010 models.

I earnestly hope the battery tech in EVs exceed my Insight.

Sorry about being hard on Honda.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Originally Posted by nash

Honda already has done a large amount of research and produces an "electric" car in the FCX Clarity. The main distinction is the electric power comes from a fuel cell instead of a battery. When Honda does decide to market an electric car, they already have done the lions share of the R&D with their fuel cell work.

Good point, but it is a more apt comparison than you may imagine (you too, Chuck). A fuel stack doesn't put out a regulated quantity of power... it must be buffered through batteries. The FCX Clarity is a lithium battery powered electric car with a fuel stack to keep the pack charged. Replace the fuel stack with a gas generator and you have a... Honda branded Volt?

In just the last year Honda threw in with another company in a joint venture lithium battery effort. They've been kept away from the superior battery tech from Panasonic used by Toyota because of contracts with said competitor. So... what do you think their next generation systems will use?

I'll admit to being disappointed in Honda's recent offerings, but don't underestimate the company.

[atlaw4u]

My last 6 cars have been Hondas and I regret Honda will not be offering a BEV in the near future. I've placed a deposit for the Nissan Leaf. Now that we have a baby the Leaf may be a better fit than my 2 seat Honda Insight. My Insight is 10 years old and Honda currently offers nothing that matches its fuel mileage.

[EVuser]

I don't have the specific numbers and could be totally wrong but I believe Honda is in much better shape than Nissan with regard to their ICE fleet in making the upcoming CA fleet emissions requirements. Hence Nissan "needs" the BEV. Nissan's European partner Renault is also commited to a BEV.

Nissan notified me the other day that I will be able to finalize my Leaf order in August. They also pulled the 80% quick charge capability off of it and that was high on my want/need list.

Locally I don't think there are any new Civic Hybrids available. Actually it didn't look like the inventory of any models was very high.

[Chuck]

I'd like Honda to do better, but have my concerns.