Greenbang logo

How many hybrids will Honda sell?

By jumperhead on Friday, 23rd May 2008

tyres1.jpgEarlier this week, Greenbang asked you to guess how many people drive a Prius. Today, there’s the second leg of the eco-car guessing game. It’s called guess how many models of its new hybrid car Honda expects to sell annually?

You’ve got 30 seconds (feel free to imagine the Countdown music playing for extra effect).

So, what’s your guess? Was it 200,000? Good guess!

Yep, Honda expects to sell 200,000 hybrid cars, following the introduction of a new model early next year. And there’s more: Honda’s also planning to introduce a “new sporty hybrid based on the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid, and the addition of a Fit Hybrid model”.

Take a guess what those four models are expected to sell annually? Right again! It’s 500,000 units.

This cavalcade of numbers comes courtesy of a speech by Honda’s CEO earlier this week. Here’s more deets from him on the car itself:

With a convenient and compact 5-door/5-passenger size and an exterior design that employs the concept of the FCX Clarity, this vehicle will achieve unique and highly innovative characteristics as a dedicated hybrid model.

For its hybrid system, a compact, lightweight, and highly-efficient IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system was developed with the idea of providing motor assist when it is necessary during startup and acceleration while relying on the engine as the main power source.

Through a newly developed platform which positions the control unit and battery underneath the cargo space, this new dedicated hybrid vehicle achieves light and comfortable driving. It is nearing final development as a vehicle that creates a new world of driving that is not offered by a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.

Various technologies, including a function to assist more fuel efficient driving, are being installed to achieve a further improvement of practical fuel efficiency, so that customers can actually experience the excellent fuel efficiency of this vehicle.

Moreover, in addition to weight reduction, significant cost reduction was achieved through various measures including making key components of the system such as the control unit and battery more compact, creating a thinner motor, and further advancing the equipment and processes used to produce the motor.

Tags: , , , ,

READERS COMMENTS - Have your say...




Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.

Additional comments powered by BackType

RELATED NEWS

LATEST HEADLINES

One peak we should bring on faster: Peak plastics thumbnail

One peak we should bring on faster: Peak plastics

While most of the peaks we see looming today — peak oil, peak
Jurdy: To the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump, dump thumbnail

Jurdy: To the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump, dump

Jurdy finds another tough job to fill …
Finally: A plan to make clean energy a business opportunity thumbnail

Finally: A plan to make clean energy a business opportunity

Ensuring sustainable energy and resources in the future is all about how you
Perfect technology is impossible, but keep trying anyway thumbnail

Perfect technology is impossible, but keep trying anyway

“I guess I could be pretty pissed off about
Plan for a solar future means knowing when the sun won’t shine thumbnail

Plan for a solar future means knowing when the sun won’t shine

While energy experts elsewhere are looking for answers to
Wild warming or sulphur rain? Climate ‘party planners’ can’t decide thumbnail

Wild warming or sulphur rain? Climate ‘party planners’ can’t decide

Imagine you and your office mates are trying to