Several years ago, Honda downplayed the relevance of plug-in hybrids. The automaker already had green vehicles in its lineup and was developing other advanced technologies, like those found inside the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. But times have changed since then, and Honda now plans to launch its own plug-in hybrid platform.
Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid powertrain system has been the only system offered by the automaker until now. However, the system hasn’t been suitable for larger vehicles, such as the Accord, Pilot, or Odyssey. Although Honda will be introducing a revamped IMA-powered Civic Hybrid this year, with a lithium-ion battery for the first time, there’s still demand for a system that can improve mileage on a larger platform.
That’s where the automaker’s all-new PHEV platform comes in. This platform should arrive in 2012 within an existing model or an entirely new hybrid-only model. So far, there are few other details available. According to Honda’s William Walton, manager of product planning for Honda’s lineup, Honda’s going to “see what happens with the plug-in vehicle architecture, and take learnings from that.”
As Honda prepares its first PHEV, the hybrid leader is also preparing one of its own. Toyota’s plug-in Prius has undergone testing for quite some time and will soon arrive in showrooms, offering 50+ miles per gallon. While many details concerning Honda’s green vehicle strategy are still unknown at this point, you can get a more detailed look at the new PHEV platform below.
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