Honda considers launching gasoline-electric truck

[PontiacJ8]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Honda Motor Co. is considering developing a fourth hybrid vehicle, a gasoline-electric light truck, as rival Toyota Motor Co.p. prepares to launch two hybrid SUVs next year.

Such a vehicle would help Honda keep pace with its larger Japanese rival, which is ramping up production of hybrids and hopes to sell 300,000 hybrid vehicles in 2005.

Toyota will launch hybrid Lexus RX and Toyota Highlander sport utility vehicles in the first half of next year.

Honda, the first automaker to introduce a hybrid in the U.S. market, launched the Insight hybrid compact in 1999 and rolled out a Civic hybrid in 2002. In November, it will start selling a hybrid version of its popular Accord sedan powered by a V6 engine and an electric motor.

It is now considering expanding its hybrid lineup. “We haven’t defined yet which vehicle it will be, but it probably will be something in our light-truck line, probably on the SUV side,” said Tom Elliott, executive vice president of Honda Motor’s U.S. subsidiary.

Honda has several light trucks in its model range, including the Honda CR-V and Pilot SUVS, the boxy Element and the premium Acura MDX SUV.

With environmental concerns and high gas prices, hybrids have emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments.

Full Story HERE

[HEVguy]

Fastest growing, but are they making money on them yet?!

It coult be any of their SUVs...

Acura MDX would compete with Lexus 400H
Honda Pilot would compete with Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Honda CR-V would compete with Ford Escape Hybrid

If they want to have a better chance of making money on it, I would be they are going to go with the MDX, they can build a higher price premium, and probably have a higher net profit on those.

[akumaknight]

my first reactions to the title of this post was, "And they'll praised for brinning a Hybrid truck to market, but GM will be oddly over looked. Even though they have used their Hybrid truck in actuall disaster releif efforts"

I dont think these hybrids will last that long personaly. people are buying into it right now because its new and "cutting edge" but once the novelty wears off, and they start reseing the upkeep bills it will die down. You just cant beat a good american pushrod engine.

[awalbert88]

Originally posted by akumaknight@Aug 25 2004, 10:19 AM
my first reactions to the title of this post was, "And they'll praised for brinning a Hybrid truck to market, but GM will be oddly over looked. Even though they have used their Hybrid truck in actuall disaster releif efforts"

I dont think these hybrids will last that long personaly. people are buying into it right now because its new and "cutting edge" but once the novelty wears off, and they start reseing the upkeep bills it will die down. You just cant beat a good american pushrod engine.

Upkeep bills? Like what?

[mjd1001]

I don't think the current hybrid vehicles will prove to be overly reliable or worth much down the road...however, it appears that with numerous companies going the way of hybrids the technology will become much better. I beleive Hybrids are here for a long time....the only question is how far the technology will take them in the next few years and in what direction they will go.

[akumaknight]

Replacing expensive batteries, servicing the electric motor, plus normal servicing of the other mechanical components. I think in the long run you'll spend the money you save on gas, keeping the damn thing running.

[GotAWD]

Originally posted by HEVguy@Aug 25 2004, 10:13 AM
Fastest growing, but are they making money on them yet?!

the thing is toyota realisez they wont make money off the hybrid yet and they can accept the fact that they will lose cash off it.

as for honda making a truck.... :lol: i laugh in your general direction. even if the truck is hybrid some kid will put a tin can on the end of the vehicle slam it to the ground, put some wheels on it and think its a race truckbecause "Yo man its a got a VTEC."

[KingElvis]

On a hybrid, where the combustion engine is running less, than you might actually have LESS maintenance in the long run. Remember, with electric motors you just have the armature moving, while combustion engines have scores of moving parts - the engine is much more suceptible to long term failure than a simple electric motor.

Since the hybrid mostly uses the electric motor for braking, you might never need new disc rotors and the pads would last several times longer.

You could also expect to get more in trade in for a new Car, or if you were the third or fourth owner of a 150,000 mile vehicle and you do need to replace batteries or electric motor, you would get a very high value for the 'core' trade in, because of all the semi-precious metals involved.

Hybrids don't necessarily have to have more parts. The electric motor can replace both the flywheel and the alternator for example. With a big enough DC motor, say of 100kw, you could even contemplate throwing the transmission overboard because the electric motor makes peak torque at stall speed/ 1rpm and doesn't have to be 'wound up' like a gas engine.

Having said all that, there are other ways of acheiving higher efficiency, mostly through using composite fiber construction for lighter weight, racing style belly pans for aero efficiency and more complex cooling systems to maximize horsepower/per gallon. Of course all of these can be combined with hybrid drive, but the hybrid drive is likely just one piece of the puzzle in reducing oil demand, and therefore gas prices.

[Hudson]

Originally posted by akumaknight@Aug 25 2004, 10:19 AM
my first reactions to the title of this post was, "And they'll praised for brinning a Hybrid truck to market, but GM will be oddly over looked. Even though they have used their Hybrid truck in actuall disaster releif efforts"

GM's "hybrids" aren't really hybrids. The electric power on-board a Chevrolet Silverado "hybrid" won't motivate the vehicle. Honda's electric motor helps propel the engine. Toyota's (and Ford's) actually drives the wheels along with the gas engine.