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December 18, 2008

Honda's GREEN Data Center





Honda's Longmont, Colo Data Center

Honda has always been known for its fuel efficient and low emissions vehicles ... it is now known for its LEED cetrified data center in Longmont, Colo.Honda logo

" ... 61,000-square-foot data center, ... certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system for green building construction. ... selected building materials based on proximity to the data center's location and ... recycled 73% of the construction waste ... left much of the site undeveloped and replanted trees and shrubs indigenous to the area."

" ... administrators were ... advised to decommission unused equipment quickly and to use management tools to ensure that servers are optimally provisioned...."

Via:  Informationweek.com  LINK

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November 25, 2008

Tour Honda Green Buildings




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August 27, 2008

Mass Production Hydrogen Cars Cross the US




Hydrogen fuel cells promise pollution free cars ... However the infrastructure is far, far from being robust enough for everyday use .... much less a cross country drive by the average motorist. Nonetheless ... the recent US crossing is an interesting story and a step in the right direction. "Hydrogen fuel cell cars from nine automakers completed a 13-day cross-country trip this weekend [Aug 25rh, 2008] , in the first such mass U.S. crossing for vehicles powered by a zero-emission technology still in its infancy." " ... from Portland, Maine, to the Los Angeles Coliseum, ... were stretches without hydrogen fueling stations when the vehicles were carried on flatbed trucks, the longest from Rolla, Missouri, to Albuquerque, New Mexico." Today there are " ... about 60 hydrogen stations in the United States, and only two are open to the public without prior arrangement." Click LINK for details of H2 Fueling stations. Via: Reuters Link

Continue reading "Mass Production Hydrogen Cars Cross the US" »

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July 10, 2008

Honda Hydrogen Infrastructure




Honda home eneryy station

One of the factors needed for H2 powered cars is the H2 Infrastructure ... something along the lines of today's gasoline / diesel stations. v After all without a way to  get H2 there is not much sense in a H2 powered car ...

Honda has an idea to  help this along ... "...experience in the development of power stations ... as well as experience with home-refueled electric and natural gas vehicles. ... a natural next step ... to explore potential solutions to the hydrogen refueling ..."Honda logo


Via:  Honda  Link

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July 01, 2008

Honda FCX Clarity - First Mass Production Fuel Cell Car




Honda LogoHonda's Clarity is slated to be the first hydrogen powered car to be mass produced.

Fuel cells are not new .... though they are relatively a new idea for cars ... one lingering problem is the INFRASTRUCTURE needed to make these cars viable.  Read on for more about this as well >>>

How do Fuel Cells work and what are their advantages ... Read on for more >>> 

" ...hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity ... electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn drives the front wheels. Water vapor and heat are the only byproducts."
 
The fuel cell is in the purple circle in the car shown to the right >>
 
The more technical details ....
" ... Hydrogen fuel is fed into the anode of the fuel cell. ... hydrogen molecules are split into electrons and protons. ...Electrons are channeled through a circuit to produce electricity. ...Protons pass through the polymer electrolyte membrane. ...Oxygen ... enters the cathode and combines with the electrons and protons to form water. ...water vapor and heat are released as byproducts of this reaction."
 

Via:  Honda  Link

Continue reading "Honda FCX Clarity - First Mass Production Fuel Cell Car" »

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June 16, 2008

Zero Emission Vehicles




Honda Motor announces five of its first customers for the new FCX Clarity. This hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle will be sold and serviced via the first fuel cell vehicle dealership network in the United States. The new vehicle will be produced at a dedicated fuel cell vehicle manufacturing facility in Japan. ...
... "To provide its customers with outstanding sales and service support and as a critical step in advancing fuel cell vehicles in the real world, American Honda announced the establishment of the first network of dealers to facilitate the sales and service of fuel cell vehicles. The three Southern California Honda dealers are Power Honda Costa Mesa (Costa Mesa), Honda of Santa Monica (Santa Monica) and Scott Robinson Honda (Torrance). " ...
Via Honda: First Fuel Cell Vehicle Dealership Network

Continue reading "Zero Emission Vehicles" »

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March 03, 2008

E-ZPass Discounts for Hybrid Cars




 Toyota PRius
Hybrids.NY E-ZPASS GREEN TAG

They get better mileage.  They are good for the environment.

Now they can even save you some money on Tolls!

Some toll authorities are extending discounts to cars that get a certain MPG and meet a certain emissions threshold.  Currently only 3 or so cars qualify. 

NY State grants a special GREEN EZ-Pass plan and EZ-Pass to vehicles that meet their criteria of ..." at least 45 miles to the gallon and meet specific emissions standards ..."  The discount is 10% on NY Thruway Roads.EZ-PAss Logo

NOTE:  Not all E-ZPass Agencies are offering Toll Discounts to Hybrids ... But I would not be surprised if other follow NY's Lead.


Via:  NY E-ZPass  Link

Continue reading "E-ZPass Discounts for Hybrid Cars" »

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February 05, 2008

Honda FCX Clarity Hydrogen Car




Honda showcases the FCX Clarity hydrogen car in the context of its "problem playground", where solving today's energy challenges with hybrid engines, more efficient solar photovoltaic panels, and hydrogen fuel cells are fun solutions to playful problems. ...



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June 17, 2007

Honda Thin Film Solar




Honda Soltec Co., Honda’s wholly-owned solar cell subsidiary, has begun sales of thin film solar cells. ... Honda Thin Film Solar Cells
... "The thin film solar cell developed independently by Honda uses thin film made from a compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS), which makes the solar cell more environmentally-responsible by focusing on the reduction of CO2 generated even during the production stage. Starting from this fall, Honda Soltec will mass produce solar cells at the new plant with annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts, resulting in the expansion of sales throughout Japan. " ...

Via Honda: Honda Soltec Begins Sales of Thin Film Solar Cells

 

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June 06, 2007

Honda Phases out Hybrid Accord - Focusing on Smaller Hybrids




Honda Accord Hybrid 

(June 5, 2007)  "Honda will discontinue the hybrid version of its Accord sedans, ... Japan's No. 2 automaker, will continue to make gas-and-electric models of its Civic sedan, ... "

"The Accord hybrid, ... sold only in North America, ... selling just 25,000 since going on sale in 2004, and just 6,100 last year. ...underlines how hybrids tend to be more popular with smaller models because mileage improvements tend to be more pronounced."

"Last year, Honda said it will stop making the slow-selling Honda Insight hybrid, but Honda is promising a new U.S. hybrid competitor in 2009."

" ... said it remained committed to developing more hybrids."



Via:  Yahoo.com   Link

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May 27, 2007

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Honda FCX




Honda has expanded hydrogen storage capacity with a hydrogen absorption material in the FCX tank, which doubles capacity to 5 kg of hydrogen at 5000 PSI. The capacity increase extends cruising range to 350 miles. The range is equivalent to that of a gasoline-engine car. ... Honda FCX, Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cells
... "Oxygen and hydrogen flow from the top to the bottom of the fuel cell stack (vertical gas flow) and the fuel cells are arranged vertically in the center tunnel (vertebral layout) for new, high-efficiency fuel cell packaging (volume efficiency). Compact enough to fit neatly into the center tunnel but robust enough to put out 100kW of power, Honda's V Flow fuel cell stack offers space efficiency and high-energy output. The key to fuel cell performance is water management; Honda's new system takes full advantage of gravity to efficiently discharge water formed during electricity generation. This improves performance in sub-zero temperatures, further solving the problem of cold-weather startup that has been a key obstacle to the commercialization of FCV's. " ...

Via Honda: Honda FCX Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

 

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April 04, 2007

Green Auto Leadership: Honda and Toyota Blank Detroit




Union of Concerned Scientists ranks the greenest automakers and for the fourth time in a row, Honda leads the rankings as the greenest. Toyota is a close second, after reducing its global warming pollution. And, Detroit automakers bring up the rear. ...

... "MacKenzie analyzed the performance of 10 classes of vehicles produced by the Union of Concerned Scientists Name Greenest Automakerseight automakers which comprise 96 percent of the U.S. car and light truck market in model year 2005. Each automaker was rated on how its vehicles compared to the industry average on global warming and smog-forming pollution. Cars and light trucks account for 25 percent of the nation's global warming pollution and 20 percent of its smog-forming pollution.

Honda and Toyota had better-than-average global warming scores in every class in which they competed. Despite producing pickup trucks and large SUVs, Toyota's use of emissions-cutting technology across its entire fleet helped it to pull up just behind Honda, which did not compete in these vehicle classes. " ...

Via Union of Concerned Scientists: Green Automaker Rankings

 

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February 28, 2007

Honda Offers Home Fueling for Natural Gas Civic




Honda Phill - for home fuelingSo, you want a Natural Gas powered car, and you found one.  Honda sells the Civic GX at select dealers in NY and California. Honda Civic GX - Natural Gas Version

Now about the lack of fueling stations for the average consumer ... There are approximately 16 in the NYC metro area and 200 in California.  Not enough for comfort?  Hmmm.  What to do?

Honda's sells the Phill - a home fueling system that turns a home natural gas into the required "gas" for the Civic GX.  The Phill can be mounted in a garage and pressurizes the low pressure natural gas found at home to the require 3500 - 3600 psi needed for fueling.  Though slower than a "gas station" it allows flexibility for those far from a Natural Gas station.

The Phill is safe and Honda Philleasy to use .... see pictures in this post above and below. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Via:  Honda     Link     and     EVWorld     Link 

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February 24, 2007

Honda Civic Hybrid Fuel Savings Calculator




Honda Civic Hybrid

You can save gasoline costs with a Hybrid.  Want to determine how Much? 

Follow the link below ... enter the current price of gasoline, the miles you drive and the fuel efficiency of your current vehicle and the calculator will provide 5 and 10 year savings figures. 

"Calculate The Fuel Savings.
Pulling up to the pump less often is about the only adjustment Civic Hybrid drivers find they have to make. And with gas mileage of up to 51 mpg, you can just imagine the savings. But why just imagine when you can arrive at a figure? Simply enter a bit of data below and let our Savings Calculator do the rest. Savings"

 

Via:  American Honda Motor Corporation  Link

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Honda Civic - Gas, Hybrid and CNG - It's Your Choice




Honda Civic Hybrid
American Honda Motor Company may be the first automaker to offer a car line - the civic - in standard gasoline, Hybrid and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)  Honda Civic GX NGV

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the natural-gas Civic GX as the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle on Earth. Plus, the California Air Resources Board gave the GX an AT-PZEV emissions rating, which means it's still the "Cleanest on Earth."

 "Civic GX owners can purchase their own home-refueling appliance called Phill, which installs easily to a home gas line. With Phill, GX owners fill up when they come home, instead of having to go to a gas station."

The gasoline and Hybrid version are offered pretty much nation-wide.  The CNG version is only available at select dealers in California and New York.

 

 

Via:  American Honda Motor Company    Link-CNG   Link-Honda

 


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February 08, 2007

Greenest Vehicle 2007




Foreign cars dominate greenest vehicle list, with Honda Civic GX at the top. ...
... "Claiming the prize as the greenest model year 2007 vehicle is Honda's natural Honda Civic GX Greenest Vehicle gas-powered Civic GX. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, stalwarts on the annual Greenest Vehicles list, claim spots two and three, while the Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Yaris, market newcomers for model year 2007, round out the top five. Others in the list include conventional and hybrid-electric vehicles from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota. Domestic automakers were shut out of the top-twelve list. " ...

Via American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: Clean Sweep by Imports in Annual Ranking of Top Eco-Friendly Vehicles

 

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January 30, 2007

Honda FCX Fuel Cell Concept




Honda makes online video available for its FCX fuel cell concept. ... Honda Fuel Cell Concept Card
... "To meet Honda objectives for significant gains in both environmental and driving performance, the FCX Concept is equipped with a V Flow fuel cell platform consisting of a compact, high-efficiency fuel cell stack arranged in an innovative center-tunnel layout. This has allowed designers to create an elegant, low-riding, sedan form that would have been difficult to achieve in a conventional fuel cell vehicle. This new fuel cell stack is 20 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter than the current FCX FC Stack, yet its power output is 14kW greater. The drive motor has been positioned coaxially with the gearbox for a more compact design, with output increased by 15kW. Overall, the power plant is about 180kg lighter than that of the current FCX and about 40 percent smaller in volume. The result is improved energy efficiency and performance along with a more spacious interior. " ...

Via Honda Worldwide: Honda FCX Concept ...

 

 

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