Honda's future plugged in

Honda president, Takanobu Ito, has announced that the company will bring plug-in hybrid models to market within the next two years. During a mid-year speech delivered earlier this week, the CEO also touched on subjects as diverse as a smaller-capacity diesel engine for European markets and the introduction of lithium-ion batteries for the next generation of Civic Hybrid.

However, it's the mention of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid technology for a 2012 market introduction that has got our attention.

"A new plug-in hybrid system for mid-size to larger vehicles is currently under development," Ito-san said. "Vehicles equipped with this new system are scheduled to go on sale in 2012 in Japan and the U.S."

While Honda has pursued market share and eco-cred with parallel-hybrid models such as the Civic Hybrid, the Insight and the CR-Z, it has not previously committed to plug-in/range-extender hybrid technology. With Toyota already in deep with a plug-in version of the Prius and General Motors enjoying the fruits of high-profile publicity for the Chevrolet Volt, it was perhaps just a matter of time before Honda followed suit.

"It's very much a first for us -- plug-in hybrids," said Honda Australia's National Public Relations Manager, Mark Higgins, speaking in a global context. While Higgins couldn't say what sort of vehicles would introduce the PIH drive system, he posited that it might power Honda products beyond the company's sedans and hatches -- and certainly larger than the current Civic.

"It could include Odyssey and CR-V..." he suggested.

Would Honda Australia introduce plug-in hybrids here?

"Certainly, if it becomes available for us, we would consider it, no question," Higgins responded.

"[But] whether it rolls out further than [the US and Japan] remains to be seen at this stage. They're certainly only talking about those two countries at this stage."

Toyota has a plug-in Prius currently in pre-production testing and that car may be the trend-setter for range-extender cars in Australia. Higgins agrees.

"They're probably pioneering a little bit at the moment. I guess it's a case of seeing what the take-up [of the plug-in Prius] is."

On the subject of battery electric vehicles, Ito-san admitted that there were challenges to overcome, but with the manufacturer lining up as a customer for lithium-ion batteries supplied by Blue Energy, a joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda, the BEVs are a natural choice for zero-emissions mobility.

"Though there still are some issues that need to be addressed such as range per charge and recharging time, battery EVs have the potential to create a new market as mobility that emits no CO2 during operation," said Ito-san.

"Leveraging the technologies established through the development of fuel-cell electric vehicles, Honda will make progress in the development of a battery EV with a goal to put it in real world use as soon as possible. Honda's battery EV is scheduled to go on sale in Japan and the U.S. in 2012.

"Honda will introduce these products by around 2012 and further advance them and accelerate their more widespread introduction to the market in the next 10 years."

Once again, if the market shows a desire for battery electric vehicles such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Nissan LEAF, Honda may bring those here too.

As a footnote, reports overseas that Honda in Japan will stop selling petrol-only Civic variants in favour of the Civic Hybrid have been, if not discredited, at least disowned by Higgins.

"When we do launch the next generation of Civic -- I've certainly heard nothing of a hybrid-only [range] -- so my assumption is that we will continue on [offering] a number of different models, different trim levels and different engine levels..."

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