Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled a key element of its global initiative to reduce CO2 emissions: next-generation power plant technologies.
1. Automobiles
(Next-Generation Diesel Engine)
Honda has developed a next-generation diesel engine that reduces exhaust gas
emissions to a level equal to a gasoline engine. The new diesel engine employs
a revolutionary NOx catalytic converter that enables a reduction in NOx emissions
sufficient to meet stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier
II Bin 5 emissions requirements (based on Honda calculations). Honda plans to
introduce its next-generation diesel engine in the U.S. within three years.
(Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicle)
Honda has held a demonstration drive of the next-generation FCX Concept fuel
cell vehicle, an earlier version of which was shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor
Show. The FCX Concept now features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency
Honda FC Stack. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on
this concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the U.S.
(Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV))
Honda has developed a new flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) system that enables gasoline
engine-based power plants to operate on either 100% ethanol or a wide range
of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures. In late 2006, Honda plans to begin sales
of FFVs in Brazil, where bio-ethanol has gained popularity.
(Advanced Gasoline Engine)
Honda has further improved its VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic
Control System) technology with the development of the Advanced VTEC engine,
which provides high performance along with outstanding fuel economy and lower
emissions. The new engine combines continuously variable valve lift and timing
control with the continuously variable phase control of VTC (Variable Timing
Control) to achieve a world-leading level of performance and a 13%* improvement
in fuel efficiency. Honda plans to release a production vehicle equipped with
the new engine within three years.
* Engine only, as compared to production 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine (Honda calculations)
2. Motorcycles
(Variable Cylinder Management (VCM))
In a new application of Hyper VTEC technology, Honda has developed a variable
cylinder management system (VCM) for motorcycles. This new VCM allows control
of the number of active cylinders in three stages from 2 cylinders to all 4
cylinders, for both superior performance and low fuel consumption.
(Ultra-Low Friction Engine)
Honda has displayed a new motorcycle engine with dramatically reduced internal
mechanical friction and twin-spark-plug ignition for increased combustion efficiency,
achieving a world-leading ultra-low level of friction.
3. Power Products
(Advanced Engine Management)
Honda has announced that it plans to expand its line-up of products featuring
the electronic STR Governor technology first developed for the i-GX engine.
All medium-to-large power product engines (GX160 and larger), generators, and
snow blowers are to feature this technology by the end of 2010.
(High-Expansion-Ratio Engine)
Honda has revealed the prototype of a revolutionary high-expansion-ratio engine
featuring intake and expansion strokes of variable lengths.
In May 2006, Honda became first in the industry worldwide to announce voluntary global CO2 reduction targets for its products and production activities. Today's announcement of new power plant technologies indicates the direction the company is taking in efforts to reduce CO2 through efficiency improvements. In addition to new advances in power plant technologies, Honda is engaged in CO2 reduction initiatives relating to fuel production, including research on the production of ethanol using new biotechnology, as well as solar cells and the Home Energy Station (HES), a comprehensive system designed to meet home energy needs by supplying electricity and heat in addition to hydrogen fuel for vehicles.