Honda Announces Plug-in Hybrid and EV for 2012

Honda will produce a plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle for the U.S. by 2012, according to the automaker.

There are no specifications on the Honda EV, but it will likely compete with the upcoming Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i MiEV. The EV will be introduced in the U.S. in 2012 after the company completes a demonstration program with participants from Stanford University, Google and the City of Torrance, Calif.

A plug-in hybrid system is also under development for midsize and larger vehicles – such as the Honda Accord – for the U.S. by 2012. The plug-in system will be evaluated in 2010, again by the City of Torrance.

Honda also announced a next-generation Honda Civic Hybrid will debut for 2011. The new hybrid will feature a lithium-ion battery, which has a better energy-to-weight ratio compared to the current Civic Hybrid’s nickel-metal-hydride battery. 

The news comes at a time when Honda is falling behind in the hybrid segment. Honda Civic Hybrid sales are down 74.6% this year. While the Insight sales are up 37.2%, the model is only selling at one-sixth the rate of the Toyota Prius, which is the Insight’s closest competitor. 

The 2011 Civic Hybrid announcement is also significant in that it points to a ballpark date for the next-generation gas-powered Honda Civic; until now, we had no idea when to expect the new Civic.

2010|Honda|Civic Hybrid

2010|Honda|Insight

Comments

A significant part of the story is missing here - news that Honda is ceasing further development of clean diesel technology and will focus only on hybrids and EVs for its future cars. That announcement was made last Friday. This is huge to all the people waiting for diesel hondas in the US.

@Zack The stories you are referring to have never been substantiated by Honda. As soon as we get word from the automaker that this is in fact the case we will certainly report the fact. Thanks for commenting.

I did not know that. Nikkei reported it so I thought it came from Honda. Thanks Colin.

Colin,

Your friends at Motor Trend covered that the new Civic will be coming out as a 2012 model.

I be waiting for this model......Just saw some videos of this one..... really liked it.....

I be waiting for this one....... Just saw videos of this one.....seems nice.................

Good, good! Agree to your point of view, learn and follow your point of view of the practice of paper! I gain very much! Thank you, wonderful writing, beautiful illustrations, so I feel very comfortable. At the same time I also like LED Screen and LED civil light very much !

J,
I read that Honda is going to a six year redesign cycle for the Civic, as Toyota has done for the Corolla.

Zack,

You are right, and 2006 - 2011 will be the same.

You are right