Honda ’s last attempt at a large hybrid vehicle didn’t exactly go as planned – with the company pulling the plug on the Accord Hybrid in 2007 — but the Japanese automaker is planning a second go at the segment with a much improved hybrid system.
The Accord Hybrid was perhaps ahead of its time – offering more performance than the gas-only Accord with only slight bump in overall fuel economy – prompting Honda to develop a more conventional system for its next-generation of large hybrid offerings. Honda engineers are now working on the company’s next-generation hybrid systems, which will feature two electric motors – rather than Honda’s current single motor setup – allowing for greater electric power.
“That is one major initiative we are working on,” Tsuneo Tanai, COO of automobile operations at Honda , told Automotive News. “The motor will have higher output. There will be dual motors, with a larger battery that enables the car to be driven in all-electric mode.”
Honda has yet to announce any large hybrid models in the pipeline, but it is believed that a hybrid version of the Odyssey minivan is in the works. A replacement for the now defunct Accord Hybrid also seems like a distinct possibility, especially given the popularity of the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the recently launched Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Although Honda’s next-generation hybrid technology promises to be more fuel efficient than its current hybrid system, the Japanese automaker might not completely abandon its single motor setup. Honda is working to retrofit its current system with lithium-ion batteries which could significantly boost efficiency while keeping costs in check.
