- Honda’s growing and refining its hybrids regardless of engaged on EVs
- A next-gen hybrid system is within the works
- Honda’s focusing on 100% battery electrical and fuel-cell gross sales by 2040
Honda will proceed to refine and improvement its two-motor hybrid system, at present utilized in widespread fashions just like the Accord, CR-V, and most lately the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid, as it really works to increase manufacturing of battery-electric automobiles and hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles.
The automaker on Wednesday offered an replace on its next-generation hybrid system, which can proceed to be paired with 1.5-liter and a pair of.0-liter inline-4 engines operating on the Atkinson cycle. Operation of the system additionally will not change dramatically, with the engine primarily used as a generator, however nonetheless capable of drive the wheels instantly through a clutch.
Nevertheless, Honda claims effectivity enhancements when the engine is getting used to drive the wheels, plus an enchancment in standalone gas financial system for the 1.5-liter engine. The up to date hybrid system additionally introduces a brand new entrance drive unit that is extra compact than earlier than, contains an built-in cooling system, and options extra commonality throughout the bigger and smaller engine purposes to decrease prices, Honda claims.
Honda Prelude idea
The two.0-liter model of the hybrid system will likely be utilized in live performance with a brand new mid-size car platform at present beneath improvement. Hybrids utilizing this platform will see a ten% enchancment in gas financial system over the primary two-motor hybrid fashions, Honda claims. That may doubtless come partially from a claimed 10% weight discount in comparison with present hybrids.
On the associated fee entrance, Honda is aiming for 60% components commonality throughout all fashions utilizing the brand new mid-size platform. The objective is to, by 2027, scale back the price of all hybrid fashions by 50% from the 2018 price. Honda claims to have already gotten midway there with the North American-market Accord Hybrid, having achieved a 25% price discount in comparison with the 2018 mannequin.
As confirmed earlier this yr, Honda will even add all-wheel drive to its hybrids within the close to future, utilizing a devoted motor to energy the rear wheels in a fashion much like what rival Toyota already does with most of its all-wheel drive hybrids.
Honda Prelude idea
The automaker will even debut a brand new function referred to as S+ Shift within the Prelude coupe that arrives within the U.S. subsequent yr. S+ Shift is supposed to copy the texture of drugs shifts as an alternative to the handbook transmission the brand new Prelude will not have. Regardless of its sporty nature, the Prelude is predicted to make use of the identical transmission-less system as different Honda hybrids.
Hybrids will stay vital within the close to time period, however Honda is focusing on 100% battery-electric and fuel-cell car gross sales by 2040. In a separate announcement, the automaker mentioned it was constructing a brand new manufacturing facility in Japan to fabricate a next-generation fuel-cell system, focusing on an annual manufacturing capability of 30,000 models. Like many different automakers that beforehand dedicated to gas cells, Honda seems to be pivoting from passenger automobiles to industrial automobiles. The automaker mentioned it goals to seize 5% of the fuel-cell truck market by 2030, and 30% by 2040.
For passenger automobiles, the primary focus is the 0 Sequence EVs, introduced at CES 2024 and scheduled to make their manufacturing debut in 2026. At the very least a few of these EVs will likely be manufactured within the U.S., and the identical fundamental platform will likely be used for the joint Sony-Honda Afeela model, in addition to future EVs from Honda’s premium Acura model.
