Honda Explores Electric Vehicle Solar Charging
Green Chip Stocks
Last week, we announced that Honda rolled out prototypes of its Fit EV and Accord Plug-inHybrid in Torrance, Calif. Today, the company announced a secondplug-in testing program—this one in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture. Whilethe Calif.-based program appears to focus on specific practical vehicles and how they are operated and charged, the Japanese endeavor willinvestigate the broadest vision of electric cars and renewable energy.
Honda will explore the use of vehicles ranging from two-wheelscooters and motorcycles, to four-wheel carts and full-functionautomobiles. The program will use this range of mobility machines toexplore, among other things, the effectiveness of solar powergeneration.
Honda has been talking about so-called "total energy solutions" foryears. The company has operated a “home energy station” in Torrancesince 2003, and released an improved version in 2007. The device—which looks a little like an EV publicquickcharger—generates hydrogen from natural gas, and is designed toprovide heat and electricity for the home, as well as fuel for ahydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle. Critics might call it ahalf-hearted workaround to hygrogen infrastructure.
China’s BYD is talking about something similar—an energy solution for home and the road pulling together solar power, stationary energystorage and electric cars. “The goal is to create a zero emissions ecosystem,” said Michael Austin, Chicago-based BYD vice president, in interview with PluginCars.com.
Cool visionary stuff, but first things first: getting electric cars on the road.
Honda Explores Electric Vehicle Solar Charging originally appeared in Green Chip Stocks. Green Chip Review is a free 2x-per-week newsletter, is the firstadvisory to focus exclusively on investments in alternative andrenewable energies.
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