Fuel cell, diesel and hybrid

Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda, recently delivered his end of year speech for 2007, in which he spoke of a time two years hence, when 10 per cent of Honda car production will comprise hybrid vehicles.

For 2010, a figure like 10 per cent of production seems optimistic, but Honda is set to introduce the Sports Hybrid model based on the CR-Z concept that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show (more here), and -- taking into further account the new Global Hybrid model (more here) that is timed for launch in 2009 -- Honda's goal suddenly seems more realistic than optimistic.

In Fukui's speech, he admitted the need for Hybrids to be more affordable, but once that element of the plan is addressed, the company expects to produce 200,000 units of the Global Hybrid.

Hybrid is not Honda's sole option to go green. The i-DTEC diesel engine (more here) will be introduced to European markets this year, with North America to follow in 2009.

Around the middle of 2008, Honda will offer retail consumers in the US the option of leasing the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle (more here). The vehicle, that converts hydrogen to water and generates electrical power in the process, produces no emissions other than water vapour -- and consequently, no CO2 emissions to speak of.

By necessity, Honda has devised a Home Energy Station system that allows the private FCX Clarity driver to replenish the hydrogen fuel from home.

Honda is developing the three different approaches to suit future timelines. The diesel development is in the here-and-now. With recent legislative changes in the US (more here), the Honda diesels can be adopted in all American states, with the consequent improvement in Corporate Average Fuel Economy.

Hybrids are a stop-gap solution for the petrol die-hards and side-step some of the issues that deter buyers from purchasing diesel-engined cars.

The FCX represents a longer term strategy, with the potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for vehicular motive power to effectively zero, if adopted widely. Since Honda is not alone in developing fuel cell vehicles (more here), it's looking like the best chance for large scale personal transportation of the future.

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