Rumored: No Honda Diesel. We’re Bummed.
Last week, Autoblog relayed the news that Honda’s diesel engine plans were dead. That isn’t too surprising given how long the supposed roll out was delayed.
In November 2007, I published an article titled, “Your 52 MPG Accord Is On Its Way,” believing that Honda was ready to follow through on its plans to offer this vehicle to American drivers. Turns out I had the right idea, but Honda’s plans have since changed or at least have been clarified.
New Plans
Apparently, Honda has reversed course in two areas: the automaker won’t support diesel technology in North America and Honda now believes that hybrid technology can and should be expanded to larger vehicles. And, I’m not saying anything about the Honda’s hydrogen plans which I believe will start coming to fruition around 2015. I test drove the Honda FCX Clarity in November 2008 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
I won’t rehash what Autoblog shared, limited information that it is, but I can tell you that Honda desperately needs to prove itself in two areas when it comes to vehicle hybridization: the looks of their vehicles and the effectiveness of their hybrid systems. Motor Trend, by the way, thinks the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt are ugly too.
Ugly Designs
As it stands right now, the Honda Insight is just plain ugly while the hybrid Civic is acceptable. Efficiency wise, the Insight is on par with the larger Ford Fusion but trails the Toyota Prius badly. This after Honda beat Toyota to the North American market with its own hybrid more than a decade ago.
What Honda is looking to do is to improve its current hybrid system and expand it to larger applications. Right now, only partial hybrids are used for big vehicles–namely the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Tahoe–but full hybrids haven’t been developed for the largest models.
Larger Hybrids
In Honda’s case, the Odyssey minivan and its Pilot crossover seem to be good models to target, possibly giving Honda a huge edge in segment fuel economy if they can develop the technology accordingly. Full hybrids run on electric only power for speeds up to 25 or 30 miles per hour (47 mph with the Fusion), but that means vehicles weighing over two tons would need to do so.
As far a complete electrification, Honda doesn’t seem ready to embrace that concept right now, waiting to see how demand for Nissan and BMW electric cars shape up. Still, the Japanese automaker isn’t about to be left out in the cold and has developed a strategic partnership with a Chinese company to build electric car batteries.
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