GM, Honda Partner to Develop Next-Gen Batteries

General Motors and Honda have announced a partnership to develop new battery components for electrified vehicles.

The two automakers already have a proven relationship when it comes to electrification, having established the industry’s first manufacturing joint venture for an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system set to arrive around 2020. Now, GM and Honda will work together on new advanced chemistry battery components, including the cell and module, in hopes of accelerating both companies’ plans for all-electric vehicles.

In a statement released by both companies, the joint venture promises to deliver a next-generation battery that features higher energy density, smaller packaging, and faster charging capabilities for future products, mainly for the North American market.

The companies will collaborate based on GM’s next-generation battery system, with the intent for Honda to source the battery modules from GM. The goal is to combine scale and global manufacturing efficiencies from both companies to provide greater value for consumers.

“This new, multi-year agreement with Honda further demonstrates General Motors’ capability to innovate toward a profitable electric portfolio,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors executive vice president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “GM’s decades of electrification experience and strategic EV investments, alongside Honda’s commitment to advancing mobility, will result in better solutions for our customers and progress on our zero emissions vision.”

2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell to lease for $369 a month

2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

The clock is ticking, but we may still see a third hydrogen fuel-cell car go on sale in certain regions of California—alongside the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell and Toyota Mirai—before the end of the year.

The 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell will be available through certain California dealerships before the year is out, its maker says.

Honda now says the Clarity Fuel Cell will be available to lease at $369 a month, for 36 months.

This lease requires customers to put down $2,499 and the first month's payment at signing.

It also includes a mileage allowance of 20,000 miles a year, and a few perks.

Honda is offering customers "up to $15,000" of free hydrogen, 21 days of Avis Luxury Rental car rentals (within the state of California), and 24/7 roadside assistance.

2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

Leasing will only be available to California residents who live or work near one of the 12 Honda dealerships designated to sell the Clarity Fuel Cell.

That contingent includes six dealerships in Southern California, five in the Bay Area, and one in the state capital of Sacramento.

Honda—along with Hyundai and Toyota—only plans to sell fuel-cell cars in California for the time being because it is the only state with a substantial network of fueling stations.

In a press release announcing the lease, Honda said the car would arrive at dealerships "by the end of 2016," and advised interested consumers to sign up on the Clarity Fuel Cell web page "for the opportunity to become a Clarity Fuel Cell customer."

Given that Honda previously said the Clarity Fuel Cell would carry a price of "around $60,000," the $369-a-month lease represents fairly aggressive pricing.

Toyota recently lowered its Mirai lease rate from $499 a month to $349 a month (the car has a base price of $58,365).

2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell

That led to a spike in sales, with most of the cars going to Toyota employees.

The Clarity Fuel Cell's EPA-rated 366-mile range far outstrips the Mirai's 312-mile range, as well as the 265-mile range of the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell.

In addition to the fuel-cell model, Honda also plans to offer plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions of the Clarity—providing the first real-world market test of consumer preferences among alternative powertrains.

The other two models will go on sale next year.

Honda Clarity Will Come In Three Flavors, Accord Hybrid Returns

It’s official. The Honda Clarity fuel cell vehicle will share its platform with a plug-in hybrid and a battery electric version starting in 2017. The Clarity FCEV is scheduled to go on sale in the US late this year with a lease price of “under $500.” Yesterday,  American Honda executive vice president John Mendel said that plug-in hybrid and electric versions would follow in calendar year 2017. “We continue to view fuel cell as the ultimate, long-term solution to society’s energy and environmental concerns,” he said. But having a family of Clarity models is critical because, “this shared platform strategy will enable Honda to more efficiently respond to infrastructure and market developments.”

Honda is joining many other manufacturers who are designing new platforms that can accept a variety of powertrains. While Tesla Motors is all in on electric cars and electric cars only, the world’s major car makers are not ready to transition to building electric cars only any time soon. That point is likely still decades away. In the meantime, most see plug-in hybrids as the bridge between today and the cars of the future. Mendel says Honda expects the PHEV version of the Clarity will outsell the fuel cell and fully electric configurations but won’t discuss actual sales goals.

Honda is also ready to bring the Accord Hybrid back. It is scheduled to be in showrooms before summer and will feature a new two motor hybrid powertrain. Total horsepower is now 212, 8% more than for the old Accord Hybrid, which went out of production last year. The prior car was rated at 47 mpg combined, but Consumer Reports complained it only averaged 40 mpg during testing.

John Mendel told the press yesterday during an unveiling ceremony for the new Accord Hybrid that the car is rated 49 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, and 48 mpg combined under more stringent fuel economy ratings required by the government for 2017 models. That puts it in direct competition with the new Chevy Malibu Hybrid and hybrid models from Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, and Kia. Just when gas prices are the lowest in years, the market now has a wide variety of cars that get nearly 50 mpg to choose from. Will buyers flock to showrooms to buy one or will they be ignored by the masses? What do you think?

Source: Automobile, Detroit News

Honda Generates Enough Wind Power In Brazil To Run Its Car Plant

As cars become more efficient, the manufacturing process is coming under increased scrutiny in order to further reduce the carbon footprint of each vehicle on the road.

That's leading carmakers to look to clean-energy sources to power their factories.

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Honda recently unveiled one of the most ambitious undertakings in this area so far: a wind farm in Brazil that will provide all of the energy needed to power its car plant there.

wind farm

Located in Xangri-lá in the state of Rio Grande do Sul--the southernmost state of Brazil--the farmconsists of nine wind turbines, each capable of generating 3 megawatts of electricity.

Honda says it's the first carmaker to open a wind farm in Brazil, and expects the farm to generate the electricity needed for its annual car production in Brazil--currently around 140,000 units.

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The company has an assembly plant in Sumaré, São Paulo, about 1,000 kilometers (about 621 miles) from the wind farm.

The Brazilian project--which represents an investment of approximately 100 million reais (about $38,804,813 at current exchange rates)--is part of an effort by Honda to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from its global products by 30 percent by 2020, compared to 2000 levels.

Honda FCV Concept

The Japanese carmaker has experimented with wind power before, installing turbines at its Ohio transmission factory.