Honda Motor Co. President and CEO, Mr. Takanobu Ito, has announced that Honda will add a plug-in hybrid vehicle to its range in the Japanese and U.S. markets in 2012.
Honda’s existing hybrid vehicles charge their own batteries, which turn the electric motor that assists a petrol engine. The new plug-in hybrid will be able to make trips of up to 60 km using the electric motor alone, without the need for the petrol engine.
“Honda will fulfill customer demand more precisely by developing and adopting multiple hybrid systems that are appropriate for vehicles of different sizes and use,” Mr. Ito said.
Honda introduced hybrid motoring to Australia with the first-generation Honda Insight and will launch the second-generation Insight in late 2010 to complement the Civic Hybrid.