Toward the Future of Mobility
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Message from the President and CEO Report Regarding Quality Issues Special Feature Sustainability Management Performance Report Special Feature Toward the future of mobility. As the “social value of mobility” reaches a major turning point, Honda is taking up the challenges of achieving “the joy and freedom of mobility” and “a sustainable society where people can enjoy life.” Perspective 1 Perspective 2 Squaring up to climate change/energy issues From driving safety assistance to automated driving Turning a hydrogen society “Automated driving” that into a reality opens up the future P9 P13 7 Honda SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015 Message from the President and CEO Report Regarding Quality Issues Special Feature Sustainability Management Performance Report Special Feature Toward the future of mobility. As the “social value of mobility” reaches a major turning point, Honda is taking up the challenges of achieving “the joy and freedom of mobility” and “a sustainable society where people can enjoy life.” Perspective 1 Perspective 2 Squaring up to climate change/energy issues From driving safety assistance to automated driving Turning a hydrogen society “Automated driving” that into a reality opens up the future P9 P13 8 Honda SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015 Message from the President and CEO Report Regarding Quality Issues Special Feature Sustainability Management Performance Report Image based on “Honda FCV Concept” Perspective 1: Squaring up to climate change/energy issues Turning a hydrogen society into a reality Toward the future of motorized society, Honda has been leading the world in its efforts for the commercialization of the ultimate eco-car “Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV)” that uses hydrogen as its source of energy and emits no CO2 or exhaust gas at all. Aiming at the realization of a society that is not dependent on fossil fuels, the FCV that runs on power generated from hydrogen is drawing more attention. In Japan, initiatives by the government and industry toward the preparation of hydrogen infrastructure are picking up steam. Based on the concepts of “generate,” “use” and “get connected,” Honda will propose to society how the hydrogen energy should be utilized. Operation Officer Toshihiro Mibe of Automobile Operations explains Honda’s initiatives toward the realization of such a hydrogen society. Toshihiro Mibe With “generate,” “use” and “get connected” as the key concepts Operating Officer As the climate change issue on a global scale and the air Honda Motor Co, Ltd. pollution problem in emerging countries are becoming serious, the social demand for the environmental performance of automobiles is getting tougher every year. From now on, in the markets of developed countries including Japan, the U.S. and the EU, regulation on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions is projected to be even stricter. To contribute to the development of a sustainable traffic society while responding appropriately to such stricter regulation, Honda has been promoting the research and development of a wide variety of environmental technologies, including gasoline engines with lower fuel consumption and hybrid vehicles/plug-in hybrid vehicles/ electric vehicles (EV). As the “ultimate eco car” that is positioned at the pinnacle of this technological roadmap is the fuel cell vehicle (FCV) that runs by using electricity 9 Honda SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015 Message from the President and CEO Report Regarding Quality Issues Special Feature Sustainability Management Performance Report generated through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and For example, hydrogen generated from the electrolysis of oxygen as a power source for the motor. We have been water with the excess electricity from renewable energy taking a proactive approach to the research and can be stored, and electricity can be fed from FCV at the development of FCV since the late 1980s. peak load or in case of power failure due to a disaster. It is Like EV, FCV does not emit CO2 at all during operation. expected to be utilized as an energy source that can Not only that, with regard to the cruising range per charge contribute to society in case of emergency as well. and refueling time, which are the issues that EV needs to Honda is proposing a mobility brimming with appeal overcome, FCV can offer usability on a par with the current such as “fun” and “joy” only FCV can offer while pursuing gasoline cars. Therefore, it can be used for not just short- its environmental performance. We are also creating a new range commuting but also as a means for mid/long-range potential that will contribute to a sustainable society. mobility. Toward the realization of the key concepts of “generate,” Furthermore, hydrogen that is used as a fuel for FCV “use” and “get connected” with the above-mentioned FCV can be generated through various means including water at the center, Honda is engaging in the commercialization electrolysis in addition to extraction from natural gas or of technologies/products that will support a hydrogen coal, and it is also transportable and storable. Hydrogen is society of the future, based on the coordination with seen as a high-potential, next-generation energy carrier. diverse stakeholders. Hydrogen energy society Honda envisions Generate Use Get connected Renewable energy Emergency power source (100V) Shelter Solar power Hydrogen Generation of hydrogen Electricity fed to households (200V) Wind power H2 Homes Hydraulic Return to Electricity fed to power storage power nature equipment (200V) Electrolysis Power of water storage Water equipment Biomass Smart Hydrogen Station (SHS) that generates FCV that generates electricity from hydrogen and External power feeding device that feeds hydrogen from water with the use of sunlight runs without emitting any exhaust gas electricity by connecting FCV to households and public facilities 10 Honda SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2015 Message from the President and CEO Report Regarding Quality Issues Special Feature Sustainability Management Performance Report History of development toward a hydrogen society 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Prototype Use Development of fuel cell vehicle FCX-V1 (1999) FCX (2002) FCX (2004) FCX Clarity (2007) Fundamental research SHS0 SHS1 SHS2 Generate Development of hydrogen station SHS0 (2002-2003) SHS1 (2003-2009) SHS2 (2010-, in Los SHS2 (2012-, in Japan) Angeles, CA, U.S.) Get EX500: Generator with sine-wave inverter External power feeding inverter connected Development of external power feeding device V2H (2013-) V2L (2014-) Pursuit of “fun to drive” with “environmental Coordination with a wide variety of partners to build performance” as a given a mechanism that will support a hydrogen society In 2002, Honda developed “FCX,” which became the first For the popularization of FCV, it is essential to organize a fuel cell vehicle in the world to be certified by the U.S. network of hydrogen stations. To realize that, it is Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California necessary to improve an environment for promoting the Air Resources Board (CARB). With these certifications, utilization of hydrogen energy, including the establishment Focus on the popularization/promotion of hydrogen stations with an eye to the Honda began lease sales of the Honda FCX in Japan and of technologies for manufacturing/transporting/storing the rollout of FCVs in the markets in Europe and the United States the U.S. In 2003, Honda developed the Honda FC STACK, hydrogen fuel that are less expensive and have smaller the world’s first fuel-cell stack able to start at below- environmental footprints, and the reexamination of laws/ The United States and key European countries where there type based on photovoltaic power generation at a plant in freezing temperatures. We have been a leader in the area regulations regarding the handling of hydrogen. are high needs for long-distance driving in addition to the UK. This facility is the UK’s first hydrogen station that is of technology for the development of FCV in the world. Accordingly, Honda is providing information and stringent environmental regulations are promising markets capable of supplying hydrogen derived from renewable for FCVs that do not emit CO2 and have long cruising ranges energy on a commercial scale. In addition, in 2007, Honda released the FCX Clarity recommendations that contribute to policy formulation by per charge. With an eye to the rollout of FCVs in these markets Honda will continue to engage in the building of a that pursued “fun to drive” and “joy of mobility,” which are actively participating in various projects for the realization in the United States and Europe, Honda has long been hydrogen station network in Europe while coordinating integral parts of the identity of any Honda vehicle. It offers of a hydrogen society, which involve the industrial sector, focusing on the popularization/promotion of hydrogen stations. efforts with local private sectors, and the world’s key not only the ultimate environmental performance in terms of government agencies, research institutions and others. In For example, in the United States, demonstration testing of automakers and hydrogen suppliers. technologies but also an innovative sedan-type package and addition, based on the concept of “generate, use and get solar hydrogen stations started in 2002 in Los a driving feel that is far beyond that of conventional vehicles. connected,” we are making efforts to build a mechanism for Angeles, California. Moreover, in 2010, before any The Honda FCV CONCEPT was released in November efficient utilization of hydrogen energy by coordinating with other company, we initiated an experiment on 2014 as a successor model to the FCX Clarity. The newly- partners including the energy industry and local governments. small/low-noise/low-cost stations of advanced type, developed fuel-cell stack installed in this concept car is To be specific, as an initiative to “generate” hydrogen, which can be introduced to households, in the 33% smaller than the previous fuel-cell stack and yet together with Iwatani Corporation, Honda developed the United States.