Honda's Future Is Green; Developing New Hybrids and City Car

HondaHondaJapan, 1948 > present102 models
2419 photos
10 videos
is making a big commitment to hybrid and electric cars in the near future. At the same press event where Honda's CEO announced the new JazzHonda Jazz Gen.2Japan, 2008 > 201443 versions
104 photos
-based crossover, it also unveiled plans to build an electric city car for Japan and three new hybrid systems. 

The Micro Commuter Prototype

Honda is calling the electric city car the Micro Commuter Prototype for now, and it is built to fulfill a new car class for short-distance, electric commuter cars being debated by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The cars must weigh less than 400kg and have a maximum electric motor output of 15kW (20hp) The car will begin on-road testing in Japan in 2013. 

The Micro Commuter Prototype has a top speed of 80km/h (50mph) and maximum range of 60km (37 miles). It is powered by a 20hp electric motor and takes about 3 hours to charge fully. However, Honda says these specifications are preliminary. 

The car is built on a modular platform with the batteries, motor and controls all mounted in the floor. The body bolts onto this chassis, and Honda showed pickup, open-top and fully enclosed options. Inside, there is a distance gauge, navigation system and backup camera, and it has enough room for one adult and two children.  Depending on body style, there are solar cells mounted on the roof to increase range. 

Three Future Hybrids

Honda also showed concepts for three future hybrid systems, one of which will be used in the next NSX. 

The first system is a one-motor hybrid drive with a dual clutch transmission. It is basically a development of the IMA system that adds a seven-speed dual clutch transmission to the system. Unlike the IMA system, the transmission can declutch the engine from the electric motor allowing the electric motor to run the car by itself or work with the engine. Honda did not say what vehicle this system will be used in, but it is so similar to what is already in the CR-ZHonda CR-ZJapan, 2010 > present21 versions
57 photos
, it would be astonishing not to see it there at some point. 

The second system uses a two-motor hybrid system that will come in the North American AccordHonda Accord 9Japan, 2013 > present25 versions
49 photos
in January 2013. A plug-in version will come later. The system also features a clutch between the CVT, the electric motors and the engine that allows the electric motors to run the car on their own. It can run in either pure EV mode, exclusively from the engine, or the engine and hybrids working together. The system puts electric motors on the front and rear axles. 

Finally, there is a three-motor hybrid system with two electric motors in the front and one in the rear. This is the system that will be used in the next generation NSXAcura NSX ConceptJapan, 2012 > present19 photos
. The car will use a 3.5-liter, direct injected V6 with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.