As Honda introduced its brand new Civic at its UK Swindon head office, the company broached its vision of where the future of motoring is heading– revealing its belief standard engines will die out and how hydrogen is the Holy Grail.
While showing a few of the new technological production advancements of the 10th generation Civic, project lead Mitsuru Kariya talked to IBTimes UK about the roadway ahead. As significant production rivals increasingly present electric or hybrid cars it comes as a surprise that Honda, being steeped in technological development, is downing behind without one to display themselves.
That is all changing, obviously, with strategies in store for a completely electrical car promoted for a 2017 release, and a Hybrid Accord (and perhaps Civic, too) also on the cards for next year. Honda told to us that it’s not just focusing efforts on electric to stay up to date with rivals but Kariya-san believes the standard gas-guzzling engine is on the course to termination.
“At Honda we see electrification as one of the essential aspects for the future of motoring. The conventional power plant, whether it’s a fuel or diesel engine it will probably disappear in that traditional function,” stated Kariya-san.
Another nascent innovation of motoring is the increase of autonomy– a specialty Honda is also yet to toss its hat into the ring to. When asked exactly what Honda’s plans were for self-driving Kariya-san validated they are shifting a great deal of resource to the departments for electrical production and self-driving. The world’s seventh-largest automobile producer definitely has adequate resource behind them to contend in the autonomy scene together with those like Mercedes, BMW, Ford, Volvo, Audi and Tesla– although, these have had a massive running start already.
While Honda sees electrical automobiles as the future for now, you might keep in mind back in 2008 that it presented an alternative energy vision through its hydrogen fuel cell, the Clarity. The idea of running an automobile on nothing but the most abundant component in the world and producing nothing but water with a mileage range as long as that of gas or diesel was like sci-fi. But things have gone a little quiet on this potentially planet-changing front, so has hydrogen fuel cell innovation been kerbed in favour of electric?
“Electric technology has not yet superseded hydrogen fuel cell technology. Till hydrogen maturates to become the mainstream propulsion system it will still take numerous, many years to be de facto,” stated Kariya-san.
Honda considered that hydrogen is the answer; the ideal solution to our diminishing fossil fuel reserves, however identified that it’s extremely based on facilities and the energy provider.
“Electrification is presently the most popular and best solution however it’s likewise short-term. Honda still thinks hydrogen and the fuel cell technology will be the ultimate propulsion for the long-lasting future, but electrical is extremely important to fill that gap till that time for the mass market.”
Till that time, the hydrogen Holy Grail will continue to stay behind Honda’s garage doors.
