Honda to kill off combustion engines by 2040

Honda has confirmed it will phase out combustion-powered engines by 2040 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 thanks to the introduction of advanced zero-emissions powertrains.

The 2040 target puts the Japanese car-maker a decade behind Volvo, Ford of Europe and even Bentley, all of which have announced they will stop the sale of combustion-powered engines by 2030.

There's no detail yet on Honda's less ambitious deadline, but the car-maker has said that by the end of 2022 its entire European line-up will be electrified.

By 2030, Honda expects 40 per cent of all sales to be pure-electric or fuel-cell vehicles – a number that will rise to 80 per cent by 2035 and 100 per cent by 2040.

Clarifying its carbon neutrality declaration, Honda said that by 2050 all its products and activities globally will be environmentally friendly, with all its line-up made out of 100 per cent sustainable materials.

Honda has pledged an incredible $60 billion investment over the next six years to develop new CO2-saving technology.

Key to unlocking its immediate EV plans is the brand's recent partnership with General Motors that gives it access to the US car giant's Ultium architecture and battery technology.

It's been reported that the first two Ultium-based Hondas will be introduced into the US market in 2024.

Later on, in the second half of the decade, Honda will then launch its own e:Architecture created for battery-powered vehicles.

The new platform is set to combine next-generation solid-state battery tech that provides for faster charging and longer ranges than current tech.

As well as cleaner powertrains, Honda is also developing autonomous driver aids that aims to eradicate all fatal collisions involving Honda motorcycles and cars by 2050.

If that's not enough, Honda says it remains committed to developing robotics for the future.