Insight: Manufacturer developing hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

Honda has outlined the technology that will power future low- and zero-emission models, but remains committed to developing diesel engines for European customers.

And the company wants to give its future low-CO2 models a more sporty feel, with its next small hybrid model likely to feature a dual-clutch gearbox instead of a CVT.

Honda is about to launch a 1.6-litre diesel engine in the Civic, developed under the company’s Earth Dreams Technology banner, but it also has a range of alternative technology in the pipeline, including petrol-electric hybrids, battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell cars.

Toshihiko Nonaka, in charge of automobile operations at Honda’s R&D centre in Japan, denied that Honda had been late in producing a range of diesel engines for its medium-sized cars following the launch of its first 2.2-litre diesel in 2004, but explained that the manufacturer was committed to a range of environmentally-friendly technology.

He told Fleet News: “We needed to develop a range of fuel-efficient technologies in high priority areas, including diesel, so people might have got the impression that the 1.6 i-DTEC is a bit delayed.”

This engine has CO2 emissions of 94g/km in the Civic with fuel consumption of 78.5mpg on the combined cycle, compared with 110g/km and 68.9mpg from the Civic 2.2 i-DTEC.

The engine will also appear in the Honda CR-V in about a year’s time, and is expected to drive down CO2 emissions and fuel consumption in that model beyond the current 2.2 i-DTEC version currently available. It is likely to be offered with front-wheel drive reflecting the entry-level petrol CR-V.

It is possible that the 1.6-litre diesel could also be fitted to the next version of the Accord, but Honda is also developing a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid powertrain for medium-sized cars, with prototypes based on the North American version of the Honda Accord undergoing testing.

Although the North American Accord is different from the model sold in Europe, it’s still possible that the technology could be used across a number of platforms.

The manufacturer also plans to introduce other hybrid products, dubbed internally as ‘Sport Hybrid’, with the next Honda Insight the first UK model likely to receive the new single-motor hybrid with dual-clutch gearbox.

The powertrain uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine plus Honda’s IMA electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery, but will abandon the CVT gearbox in the current model.

Instead the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission will help deliver 15% better acceleration and up to 30% better fuel efficiency.

Current CO2 emissions in the Honda insight range from 96-99g/km, so the next-generation model could deliver around 75g/km and better than 80mpg.

It’s also likely that other cars which use versions of the current Insight’s petrol electric hybrid powertrain, including the CR-Z coupé and Jazz supermini, will gain the uprated version when they are replaced.

But Honda is also planning to launch a plug-in version of the Jazz after the current model is replaced in 2014.

An electric version of the current Jazz is already being leased to local government and businesses in Japan, although European customers will have to wait for the next generation model before an EV variant is introduced.

That model has a range of up to 140 miles, a charge time of up to six hours and a power output of 123bhp.

Typical small electric vehicles currently on sale in the UK have power outputs up to around 100bhp.

Nonaka added: “Earth Dreams Technology advances fun performance as well as environmental performance.”