Skip to content

SciTech

Tokyo fuels OK!

by Dave Armstrong 30 Nov 2011
Tokyo fuels OK!

EV-STER exterior (Small Sports EV); Credit: © Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Take Tokyo today. It is full of (necessarily) smallelectric cars, but the worldwide thirst for automobilia japonica is less predictable. It's up to Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda and the rest to keep up with demand for various combinations of environmental technology for both city and rural needs Honda's latest solution is a group of advances called EDT (Earth Dreams Technology), using the traditional internal combustion stand-bys of diesel and petrol. The tried and tested electric back-up engine is added on, so we can assume high reliability. Totally ecological, they have an aim of reducing CO2 emissions by 30% between 2000 and 2020.

The key features of "Earth Dreams Technology" in the new Honda bi fuel cars at the Tokyo Motor Show next week (3rd December till 11th December), are :

1. the gasoline engine which realizes top level driving performance and fuel efficiency.

2. the compact diesel engine which realizes the world's lightest body*1, top-of-class*1 acceleration performance and fuel efficiency.

3. CVT (continuously variable transmission) which combines at a high level the fun of driving and fuel efficiency.

4. A two-motor hybrid system which realizes top-of-industry efficiency

5. A high-efficiency, high output electric SH-AWD hybrid system which combines superior driving and environmental performance.

6. A compact, high efficiency electric power-train for EVs (I don't know why this can't simply be left as "electric vehicles".)

The small sporty EV-STER shown above is a typical product for the home Japanese market. Implied by the name, it is totally electric. Its lithium ion battery can get it from 0-60 in 5 seconds (but unfortunately, that's km, not miles!) needed for such a car in Japan is a station such as this one planned for a district just north of Tokyo.

Solar Hydrogen Station

Solar Hydrogen Station; Credit: © Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Next of course comes, the fuel-cell car, the hydrogen car that has no worries about its emissions of pure water. But which Tokyo motor show will preview the first world-wide car of that ilk? Honda itself recently showcased the FCX Clarity, a hydrogen fuel cell demonstration vehicle in 2008.The costs were estimated to be $300,000 per vehicle. I'll leave it to you to ponder.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me