Honda has announced key targets for sales of electrified vehicles in North America and a plan to see battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles account for all of its new vehicle sales by 2040, up from 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2035.
It will launch a series of new EV models based on a new architecture, starting in the second half of the 2020s.
The plans for North America are in line with the automaker’s new global and regional targets which were announced earlier as part of a renewed commitment to advances in safety and environmental technology.
Honda said reduction of environmental impact and achievement of safety advances to protect lives were the two major challenges facing the company.
Goals included zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda automobiles and motorcycles globally by 2050.
Vehicles on the new EV platform would be introduced first in North America and the automaker is also jointly developing two large EV SUVs using GM Ultium batteries for launch as model year 2024 vehicles, one each from Honda and Acura.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData“Due to regional differences such as the level of customer acceptance, readiness of infrastructure and availability of renewable energy, it is difficult to adopt a singular approach to the popularization of electrified vehicles globally,” Honda said. In all major electrification markets, it will increase the ratio of battery-electric (EV) and fuel cell electric (FCV) vehicles to 40% by 2030, 80% by 2035, and 100% worldwide by 2040.
All solid state should be introduced in the second half of the 2020s. Research is ongoing to increase capacity and lower cost of the next generation batteries. Honda will start verification of production technology using a demonstration line this fiscal year.
Honda will expand its FCV line and use such systems for commercial trucks, stationary and movable power sources.
To slash CO2 emissions from its North American factories, Honda has agreed long term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for renewable wind and solar power that cover 60% of the electricity used. Agreements for the output of 320MW of renewable generation capacity led to the purchase of 1.012m MWh of electricity per year, offsetting 800,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. These VPPAs enable offsetting of the remaining carbon intensive grid-supplied electricity used in Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama automobile plants.
Honda claims to be a leader in onsite renewable energy, including multiple rooftop solar arrays generating 5,800 megawatt hours annually in California and Connecticut plus two wind turbines producing 10,000 MWh at the auto transmission plant in Ohio.
Since many motorcycle collision fatalities involve automobiles, Honda will apply its omnidirectional ADAS to all new models launched in major markets by 2030. It goes beyond the current Sensing package and benefits from research and development of Level 3 automated driving which recently began sales in Japan.
Research on safety technology that alows motorcycles and automobiles to safely co-exist continues.
