Honda Working on Hybrid System For Larger Vehicles, Possible Hybrid Minivan by 2011

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Honda Working on Hybrid System For Larger Vehicles, Possible Hybrid Minivan by 2011

Eric Loveday

2,815 views Oct 31, 2009

2010 Honda Odyssey

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The Honda Accord Hybrid never really caught on. Sales were low from the get go and Honda really had little choice but to cancel the vehicle. Other Honda hybrids like the dedicated hybrid Insight and even the Civic Hybrid have fared much better, but the unloved Accord Hybrid came and went.

Honda, not known for giving up on a product, is now hard at work again developing a hybrid powertrain for larger vehicles like the Accord. The company is developing a proprietary Integrated Motor Assist hybrid platform for use in midsize vehicles and other large vehicle applications.

This time around, Honda is utilizing two electric motors to output more power than the single motor setup in the Insight and Civic. Additionally, Honda will replace the NiMH battery pack with a more powerful lithium-ion pack allowing the vehicle to operate under electric power only for a short period of time.

This powertrain is expected to see use in an upcoming Accord Hybrid, but that's not the whole story. The Nikkei newspaper in Japan is reporting that Honda may put this powertrain into a hybrid minivan within the next 2 years. A hybrid minivan would be a first for Honda, filling a gap that few automakers seem to show interest in.

Source: Automotive News (login required)

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Comments (4)

Oddy Owner Posted: 10/31/2009 9:37am PDT

YEEEE HAWWWWWW from Texas! I would love to have the capabilities of my honda van with electric assist or even better erev technology.

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Carl Thelin Posted: 10/31/2009 2:34pm PDT

Hybrid vehicles need a lot of underfloor space for the batteries and other related components. Most minivans need that space for folding third row and (some) second row folding seats. If the van also is to offer all wheel drive, packaging becomes a problem. I heard to same whining from engineers about 25 years ago when the trend was to pour more electronic hardware into the instrument panel at the same time we were accepting passenger-side airbags.
I wrote a piece about the struggle to find a decent spot to put the fuel tank. Once upon a time they lived inside the left rear fender and the filler was hidden behind a flip-up tail light.
Now almost all fuel tanks are safer under the second row seats.

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Angelo Posted: 11/1/2009 4:10pm PST

I think even Toyota is thinking of producing a hybrid minivan.
Good news since by then I will probably be looking for a new minivan. Whoever comes up with the most fuel efficient minivan will be of high priority for me.

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Bikesalot Posted: 11/2/2009 12:21am PST

I would love to have an Odyssee Van as an EREV - and so would many more people as they will be able to break away from gasoline !

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