Honda Unveils Next-Generation Power Plant Technologies

Press Release

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled a key element of its global initiative to reduce CO2 emissions: next-generation power plant technologies.

1) Automobiles

Next-Generation Diesel Engine

Honda has developed a next-generation diesel engine that reduces exhaust gas emissions to a level equal to a gasoline engine. The new diesel engine employs a revolutionary NOx catalytic converter that enables a reduction in NOx emissions sufficient to meet stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier II Bin 5 emissions requirements (based on Honda calculations). Honda plans to introduce its next-generation diesel engine in the within three years.

Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicle

Honda has held a demonstration drive of the next-generation FCX Concept fuel cell vehicle, an earlier version of which was shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. The FCX Concept now features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on this concept model is to begin in 2008 in and the

Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)

Honda has developed a new flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) system that enables gasoline engine-based power plants to operate on either 100% ethanol or a wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures.  In late 2006, Honda plans to begin sales of FFVs in , where bio-ethanol has gained popularity.

Advanced Gasoline Engine

Honda has further improved its VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control System) technology with the development of the Advanced VTEC engine, which provides high performance along with outstanding fuel economy and lower emissions. The new engine combines continuously variable valve lift and timing control with the continuously variable phase control of VTC (VariableTiming Control) to achieve a world-leading level of performance and a 13%1 improvement in fuel efficiency. Honda plans to release a production vehicle equipped with the new engine within three years.

1 Engine only, as compared to production 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine (Honda calculations)

Motorcycles

Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)

In a new application of Hyper VTEC technology, Honda has developed a variable cylinder management system (VCM) for motorcycles. This new VCM allows control of the number of active cylinders in three stages from 2 cylinders to all 4 cylinders, for both superior performance and low fuel consumption.

Ultra-Low Friction Engine

Honda has displayed a new motorcycle engine with dramatically reduced internal mechanical friction and twin-spark-plug ignition for increased combustion efficiency, achieving a world-leading ultra-low level of friction.

Power Products

Advanced Engine Management

Honda has announced that it plans to expand its line-up of products featuring the electronic STR Governor technology first developed for the i-GX engine. All medium-to-large power product engines (GX160 and larger), generators, and snow blowers are to feature this technology by the end of 2010.

High-Expansion-Ratio Engine

Honda has revealed the prototype of a revolutionary high-expansion-ratio engine featuring intake and expansion strokes of variable lengths.

In May 2006, Honda became first in the industry worldwide to announce voluntary global CO2 reduction targets for its products and production activities. Today's announcement of new power plant technologies indicates the direction the company is taking in efforts to reduce CO2 through efficiency improvements. In addition to new advances in power plant technologies, Honda is engaged in CO2 reduction initiatives relating to fuel production, including research on the production of ethanol using new biotechnology, as well as solar cells and the Home Energy Station (HES), a comprehensive system designed to meet home energy needs by supplying electricity and heat in addition to hydrogen fuel for vehicles.

Honda Develops Advanced VTEC Engine

Combining High Power and Environmental Performance

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has further advanced its VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control System) technology with the development of the Advanced VTEC engine, which achieves high performance along with outstanding fuel economy and lower emissions. The new engine combines continuously variable valve lift and timing control with the continuously variable phase control of VTC (Variable Timing Control). Honda plans to release a production vehicle equipped with the new engine within three years.

This new system permits optimum control over intake valve lift and phase in response to driving conditions, achieving improved charging efficiency for a significant increase in torque at all engine speeds. Under low to medium load levels, the valves are set for low lift and early closure to reduce pumping losses and improve fuel economy.

In combination with optimized intake components, these advances in control technology result in world-class dynamic performance along with approximately 13%* improvement in fuel economy. The new engine is also exceptionally clean, with exhaust emissions that meet both U.S. Environmental Protection Agency LEV2-ULEV regulations and Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport requirements for Low-Emission Vehicles, with emission levels 75% lower than those required by the 2005 standards (based on Honda calculations).

* Engine only, as compared to production 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine (Honda calculations)

Honda Develops Next-Generation Clean Diesel Engine

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., today announced it has developed a next-generation diesel engine that reduces exhaust gas emissions to a level equal to a gasoline engine. Honda's next-generation diesel engine employs a revolutionary NOx catalytic converter that enables a great reduction in NOx emissions sufficient to meet stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier II Bin 5 emissions requirements (based on Honda's internal calculations). This catalytic converter features the world's first innovative system using the reductive reaction of ammonia generated within the catalytic converter to "detoxify" nitrogen oxide (NOx) by turning it into harmless nitrogen (N2).

The new catalytic converter utilizes a two-layer structure: one layer adsorbs NOx from the exhaust gas and converts a portion of it into ammonia, while the other layer adsorbs the resulting ammonia, and uses it later in a reaction that converts the remaining NOx in the exhaust into nitrogen (N2). Ammonia is a highly effective reagent for reducing NOx into N2 in an oxygen-rich, lean-burn atmosphere. This ability to generate and store ammonia within the catalytic converter has enabled Honda to create a compact, lightweight NOx reduction system for diesel engines. The system also features enhanced NOx reduction performance at 200–300ºC, the main temperature range of diesel engines.

Honda designed the catalytic converter for use with its 2.2 i-CTDi diesel engine, which has earned widespread praise for quiet, clean operation and dynamic performance since its introduction in 2003 on the European Accord model. By further advancing combustion control, the 2.2 i-CTDi delivers cleaner exhaust to the NOx catalytic converter. Honda achieved this by optimizing the combustion chamber configuration, reducing fuel injection time with a 2,000-bar common rail injection system and boosting the efficiency of the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system. Thanks to these improvements, Honda has reduced the amount of NOx and soot normally found in engine exhaust, while increasing power output.

Along with developing superior technology for cleaning exhaust gas, Honda plans to address other technical challenges in developing clean diesel engines, such as handling diesel fuels with different cetane numbers and meeting U.S. On-Board Diagnostic System requirements. Honda plans to introduce its next-generation diesel engine in the within three years.

Gasoline engines presently employ three-way catalytic converters that offer NOx reduction rates as high as 99%, but this performance is possible only at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. In the oxygen-rich environment of a lean-burn diesel engine, three-way catalytic converters only reduce NOx levels by approximately 10%. Honda's new catalytic converter efficiently reduces NOx in a lean-burn atmosphere, enabling diesel engines to rival gasoline engines in cleanliness. The compact system is also easy to install in passenger vehicles.

Honda Demonstrates the FCX Concept Vehicle

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today held a demonstration drive of the next-generation FCX Concept fuel cell vehicle. The FCX Concept features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack as well as a low-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. It offers a comfortably large cabin and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on this concept model is to begin in 2008 in and the

To meet Honda objectives for significant gains in both environmental and driving performance, the FCX Concept is equipped with a V Flow1 fuel cell platform consisting of a compact, high-efficiency fuel cell stack arranged in an innovative center-tunnel layout. This has allowed designers to create an elegant, low-riding, sedan form that would have been difficult to achieve in a conventional fuel cell vehicle. This new fuel cell stack is 20% smaller and 30% lighter than the current FCX FC Stack, yet its power output is 14kW greater. The drive motor has been positioned coaxially with the gearbox for a more compact design, with output increased by 15kW. Overall, the power plant is about 180kg lighter than that of the current FCX and about 40% smaller in volume. The result is improved energy efficiency and performance along with a more spacious interior.

While with previous fuel cell stacks the hydrogen and the water formed in electricity generation flowed horizontally, the new FCX Concept features vertical-flow design. This allows gravity to assist in discharging the water that is produced, resulting in a major improvement in water drainage, key to high-efficiency fuel stack performance. The result is stable power generation under a broad range of conditions, and higher output from a smaller package. Low-temperature startup has also been significantly improved, enabling cold-weather starts at temperatures 10?C lower than the current FCX— as low as minus 30?C.

1 V Flow indicates three features of the stack: Vertical gas flow (downward flow of hydrogen), Vertebral layout (center-tunnel layout), Volume-efficient (highly efficient packaging)

As an auxiliary power source, the FCX Concept carries a compact, high-efficiency lithium ion battery, contributing to increased power output and a more compact power plant. These efficiency improvements to major power plant components give the vehicle a travel range approximately 30% greater than the current FCX. The vehicle is also highly efficient, with an energy efficiency of around 60%—approximately three times that of a gasoline-engine vehicle, twice that of a hybrid vehicle, and 10% better than the current FCX.

Other features include seat upholstery and door linings made from Honda Bio Fabric, a plant-based material that offers outstanding durability and resistance to sunlight damage. Other improvements such as Shift-by-Wire and a newly designed instrument panel with easy-to-read display of hydrogen fuel consumption facilitate improved ease of operation.

The new fuel cell vehicle currently under development for release in 2008, will feature the principle technologies of the FCX Concept to achieve a new dimension in environmentally friendly driving pleasure not found with gasoline-engine vehicles.

Specifications

Number of passengers		4
Motor	Max. Output	95kW (129PS)
	Max. Torque	256N•m (26.1kg•m)
	Type	AC synchronous motor (Honda mfg.)
Fuel Cell Stack	Type	PEFC(proton exchange membrane fuel cell, Honda mfg.)
	Output	100kW
Fuel	Type	Compressed hydrogen
	Storage	High-pressure hydrogen tank (350atm)
	Tank Capacity	171?
Dimensions (L x W x H)		4,760 x 1,865 x 1,445mm
Max. Speed		160km/h
Energy Storage		Lithium Ion
*		570km

* When driven in LA4 mode (Honda calculations)

Honda Develops Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) System

For Introduction in in 2006

Honda Motor Co., Ltd., today announced that it has developed a new flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) system that enables gasoline engine-based power plants to operate on either 100% ethanol or a wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures.

Up to now, variations in the ratio of ethanol-to-gasoline have affected low-temperature startup performance, and caused variations in air-fuel ratio and engine output. This has made it a challenge to maintain stable dynamic performance, fuel economy and emissions levels. The new Honda system adapts to different ethanol-to-gasoline ratios by estimating the concentration of ethanol in the ethanol-gasoline mix in the fuel tank based on measurements of exhaust gas concentration in the vehicle's exhaust system. This provides the flexibility to adapt to ethanol-to-gasoline ratios of between 20% and 100%, while achieving outstanding fuel economy and dynamic performance on a par with a 100% gasoline-powered vehicle. In addition, a cold-start system utilizing a secondary fuel tank ensures reliable starts even at low ambient temperatures.

Bioethanol fuel, as used in and other countries, is made from plant sources such as sugar cane. Because plants absorb CO2 via photosynthesis, the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere from burning bioethanol fuel does not increase atmospheric CO2. This makes bioethanol fuel an effective means to combat global warming as well as an alternative to petroleum.

In late 2006, Honda plans to begin sales of FFVs in , where bio-ethanol has gained in popularity.

Engine Specifications (Honda calculations)

	Civic FFV	Fit FFV
Displacement	1.8 liters	1.4 liters
Max. Output	103kW(140PS)/6,200rpm (ethanol1) 102kW(138PS)/6,200rpm (gasoline2)	61kW(83PS)/5,700rpm (ethanol1) 59kW(80PS)/5,700rpm (gasoline2)
Max. Torque	174N•m(17.7kg•m)/4,300rpm (ethanol1) 172N•m(17.5kg•m)/5,000rpm (gasoline2)	119N•m(12.1kg•m)/2,800rpm (ethanol1) 116N•m(11.8kg•m)/2,800rpm (gasoline2)

1: 100% ethanol
2: 22% ethanol mixture