Honda's Electric Vision Statement

Honda's Electric Vision Statement

Posted on May 4, 2021

A seismic shift occurred on April 23 in Washington DC when the leadership of seventeen countries participated in the Biden Climate Summit. The Summit leadership re-affirmed the need to limit planetary warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. Canada and Japan have committed to slashing their carbon emissions between 40-50% by 2030. Participants believe that an ambitious reduction goal will create good-paying jobs, advance innovative technologies, and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts.

A day before the summit began Toshihiro Mibe, Honda’s new president, said the following, “We value people’s dreams and continue taking on challenges toward ambitious targets”. He also stated that Honda commits to eliminating all of its gasoline vehicles in NA by 2040 and by doing so Honda sees the reduction of the company’s environmental impact.

Besides launching a series of new EV models which will feature a new EV platform dubbed e: Architecture by 2025, Honda plans to accelerate their efforts in developing EV models for the NA market through a strategic partnership. GM and Honda will introduce two jointly developed large-sized EV models using GM’s Ultium batteries in 2024, one for the Honda brand and one for the Acura brand.  Honda will contribute interior and exterior design elements and GM will cover the powertrain. This partnership also includes South Korea’s LG Chem. This company will be making the Ultium batteries near a former GM assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

Any large uptick in EV sales will depend on lowering the unit price closer to gasoline-powered vehicles.  Battery manufacturing costs need to see a drop from $150.00 per kWh (1999)  to $100.00 per kWh. The Ultium, flat pouch-style cells, are designed to do just that. Each cell carries greater energy capacity and 25% less weight than the cylindrical-shaped cells used in the Chevy Bolt. These battery packs have taken a standard nickel manganese cobalt chemistry and added aluminum. Thanks to aluminum, the nickel content can be increased, and the cobalt content can be reduced, providing customers with more range at a lower cost.

The long-term plan for Honda is to eliminate cobalt from the battery chemistry thereby ending reliance on a monopolized supply chain for the precious metal. Honda also announced the goal to make all-solid-state batteries zero cobalt, available for new Honda EV models introduced in the second half of the 2020s.

Tailpipe emissions represent 24% of the annual global CO2 output into the atmosphere. The reduction timetable has been dusted off once again by newly engaged politicians.  We look now to the manufacturers such as Honda, to provide the leadership and the products to help the planet achieve these goals.  Until next time…Macky