U.S. EPA Awards Honda for Climate Protection
1 November 2000
U.S. EPA Awards Honda for Climate Protection
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 Honda Motor Company and the Honda
Insight, the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S., received the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "2000 Climate Protection Award for
Leadership and Technical Innovation" on Oct. 31, at a special ceremony in the
nation's capital. Honda was one of 15 recipients to be honored for
demonstrating environmental leadership.
"Recipients of the Climate Protection Award are leading by example," said
EPA in a press release about the awards program. "Their demonstrated
commitment and extraordinary contributions inspire other individuals and
organizations to take part in finding solutions to global warming."
"Honda is honored to receive EPA's recognition of the Insight as a
technological breakthrough," said Tom Elliott, Executive Vice President of
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We are encouraged by the American public's
acceptance of this new hybrid technology, and by the interest in the Insight
at a time when fuel economy performance and lowering emission levels are
increasingly important to new car buyers."
Introduced in December 1999 as the first mass-produced gasoline-electric
hybrid in the U.S., the 2000 model Insight (five-speed manual transmission)
received EPA's highest fuel economy rating ever for a gasoline-powered car --
61-mpg in city driving, 70-mpg on the highway - almost twice the fuel economy
of a conventional car. Its driving range is 600-700 miles on one 10.6-gallon
tank of regular unleaded gas.
The Insight features Honda's Integrated Motor Assist(TM) (IMA) system -- a
1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine combined with a lightweight and compact
144-volt electric motor. The electric motor is powered by a nickel-metal
hydride battery pack, which is charged by the gasoline engine and by
recapturing energy during braking. The Insight does not require an outside
source of electric power -- it never needs to be plugged in.
Priced at less than $20,000, the Insight meets California's stringent
Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standard -- achieving more than a 70 percent
reduction in hydrocarbon emissions, and 50 percent less NOx emissions than a
conventional car.
"In the near future, Honda will be introducing hybrid technology to the
Civic line, one of our leading mass-market models," Elliott said. "This
expansion reflects both Honda's environmental commitment and our sense that
customers are ready for this new technology."
EPA's award is the most recent acknowledgement of Honda's long-standing,
industry-leading commitment to the environment. Since 1975, Honda has offered
a consistent stream of innovative, increasingly fuel-efficient and less
polluting automobiles and light trucks that also delivers the performance,
quality, value, and reliability that American drivers expect.
Other notable vehicles from Honda that are currently on sale:
* The 2001 Insight will add a model with a continuously variable automatic
transmission (CVT) beginning in mid-2001. The CVT-equipped Insight is
expected to earn SULEV certification, and is expected to achieve an EPA
fuel economy rating of more than 50-mpg in city and highway driving,
with a driving range of more than 500 miles
* The gasoline-powered 2001 Civic is certified in all 50 states as an
Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV), emitting 84 percent less hydrocarbons
than the average passenger car. The Civic is the best-selling small car
in America, and is the first ULEV to be sold nationwide.
* The 2001 Civic GX, powered by a dedicated compressed natural gas engine,
is certified as a Super Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) -- emitting
96 percent less hydrocarbons than an average passenger car. Named by EPA
as "The Cleanest Car on Earth" with an internal combustion engine, the
GX is the only SULEV sedan available nationwide.
EPA established the Climate Protection Awards in 1998 to recognize
exceptional leadership, personal dedication, and technical achievements in
protecting the Earth's climate. Awards are presented to companies,
organizations and individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to
greenhouse gas reduction through pollution prevention, technical innovation,
stewardship, recycling and product introduction.
Award recipients are nominated by their peers for outstanding
accomplishments in climate protection. An international panel of independent
judges representing government, industry, and non-governmental organizations
reviews recommendations; EPA makes final award selections.
Award selection criteria is based on: originality and public purpose;
persuasive moral and/or organizational leadership; global perspective and
implication; and actual (or equivalent) reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions.
Honda's Environmental Leadership
It is all too easy these days to talk about environmental responsibility
without taking action where it counts -- in the marketplace. Many companies
talk about what they might do "in the near future." In contrast, Honda has
rejected such "in the near future" promises in favor of offering a consistent
stream of innovative, increasingly fuel-efficient and less polluting products
to customers today. All without sacrificing our customers' desire for
performance, safety, comfort, and fun.
Honda Firsts and Milestones in the U.S.
* 1975 - Civic CVCC is the 1st vehicle to meet the 1970 Clean Air Act
standards without the use of a catalytic converter while running on
leaded gasoline.
* 1985 - Civic CRX-HF is the 1st mass-produced four-cylinder automobile to
break the 50-mile-per-gallon barrier.
* 1995 - Civic is the 1st gasoline-powered vehicle to meet the Low
Emission Vehicle (LEV) standard - 70 percent less emissions than a
typical car.
* 1997 - Accord is the 1st gasoline-powered vehicle to meet the Ultra Low
Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standard -- 84 percent less emissions than a
typical car.
* 1997 - Honda is the 1st manufacturer to voluntarily sell LEV Accords and
Civics in all 50 states.
* 1997 - The four-passenger EV Plus is the first production dedicated-
electric vehicle in the U.S. with advanced nickel-metal hydride
batteries.
* 1998 - Civic GX, powered by a dedicated compressed natural gas engine,
is recognized by the U.S. EPA as the "The Cleanest Car on Earth" with an
internal combustion engine.
* 1999 - Insight is the 1st gas-electric hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S.
and achieves EPA's highest-ever fuel economy rating -- 61-mpg city/70-
mpg highway.
* 1999 - Honda sells its one-millionth LEV vehicle nationwide -- the 1st
manufacturer to reach such a milestone.
* 2000 - Accord is the 1st gasoline-powered Super Ultra Low Emission
Vehicle (SULEV) passenger car sold in the U.S. -- 96 percent less
emissions than a typical car.
* 2000 - All 2001 Civics are ULEV-certified in all 50 states -- the 1st
complete ULEV model line sold nationwide.
* 2000 - 2001 Civic GX (natural gas-powered) is the 1st and only SULEV-
certified sedan nationwide.
* 2000 - More than 80 percent of all Honda and Acura automobiles and light
trucks sold are LEV or better -- a commitment that far surpasses any
other manufacturer.