Honda to mass produce flex-fuel vehicles as part of biofuel initiative

A few days ago, Honda announced that it had achieved a breakthrough in cellulosic ethanol production (earlier post) and today the same company reveals that it has developed a new flexible fuel vehicle (FFV) system that enables gasoline engine-based power plants to operate on either 100% ethanol or a wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures.

Up to now, variations in the ratio of ethanol-to-gasoline have affected low-temperature startup performance, and caused variations in air-fuel ratio and engine output. This has made it a challenge to maintain stable dynamic performance, fuel economy and emissions levels. The new Honda system adapts to different ethanol-to-gasoline ratios by estimating the concentration of ethanol in the ethanol-gasoline mix in the fuel tank based on measurements of exhaust gas concentration in the vehicle's exhaust system. This provides the flexibility to adapt to ethanol-to-gasoline ratios of between 20% and 100%, while achieving outstanding fuel economy and dynamic performance on a par with a 100% gasoline-powered vehicle. In addition, a cold-start system utilizing a secondary fuel tank ensures reliable starts even at low ambient temperatures.

Bioethanol, as used in Brazil and other countries, is made from plant sources such as sugar cane. Because plants absorb CO2 via photosynthesis, the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere from burning bioethanol fuel does not increase atmospheric CO2. This makes bioethanol fuel an effective means to combat global warming as well as an alternative to petroleum. In late 2006, Honda plans to begin sales of its FFVs in Brazil, where bioethanol has gained in popularity.

The development of this flex-fuel system is part of Honda's efforts to tap into the biofuels opportunity and of its committment to help mitigate dangerous climate change:
ethanol :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: energy :: sustainability :: flex-fuel :: climate change :: Honda ::


Honda calls the development of the system "a key element of its global initiative to reduce CO2 emissions". The new engine technology will be introduced in its three areas of production - power products (generators, snow blowers and so on), motorcycles and of course cars.

The car development involves three next-generation engines and one fuel cell vehicle. The last of these is the latest version of the FCX Concept, which was first displayed at the 2005 Tokyo Show. Using a new, high-efficiency fuel cell stack, it is said to be the precursor of a new FC vehicle due to be marketed on a limited basis in the US and Japan in three years' time.

In the much shorter term - later this year, in fact - Honda plans to start production of a new vehicle which can run either on 100% bioethanol or on various mixtures of that fuel and petrol. The car will go on sale first of all in Brazil, where bioethanol use is widespread.

Within the next three years, Honda also intends to introduce new petrol and diesel engines. The petrol one uses the latest developments in VTEC valve lift and timing control to achieve "a world-leading level of performance and a 13% improvement in fuel efficiency".

The main point about the new diesel it will reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides to the level currently achieved by petrol engines. An NOx catalytic convertor will, according to Honda's own calculations, mean that the engine meets the stringent EPA Tier II Bin 5 legislation created in the US, where cars fitted with the unit are expected to go on sale by 2009.