Environmental considerations, the reduction of CO2 emissions from products and manufacturing processes, alongside the development of alternative energies and fuels are, at the heart of Honda’s activites.
Honda in the UK has recently worked to ensure its customers are able to be fully reassured and advised about the compatibility of the their Honda car, motorcycle and power equipment products, by developing comprehensive information which has been rolled out across the entire dealer network and customer relations teams, in readiness for the introduction of E10 petrol – highlighting the manufacturer’s commitment to supporting lower carbon initiatives and helping customers to understand any potential impact on them.
Following the successful launch of the UK’s first public-access Hydrogen refuelling station at Honda’s car manufacturing facility in the UK in September 2011 by a joint team comprising Honda, BOC and Forward Swindon, this project now moves into its second phase of producing ‘green’ hydrogen on site, and is joined by additional partners and with the support of the Technology Strategy Board.
The existing 5MW solar photovoltaic array that directly feeds the Honda site will power an electrolyser that generates ‘green’ hydrogen from water. This will feed the refuelling station and negate the need to transport bottled hydrogen to the site. The station will also supply hydrogen to a new fork lift truck refuelling point adjacent to the manufacturing area, which will allow fuel cell powered fork lift trucks, developed by Briggs, to serve the Honda facility.
As part of the project, two local businesses – Swindon Commercial Services and the Commercial Group – are working with Revolve to convert a total of seven combustion engine vans to run on hydrogen. These vans will join their daily operating fleets and refuel with the green hydrogen at the Honda Swindon site.
Honda is committed to the development of low carbon vehicles and belives fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are the ultimate environmentally-responsible technology. As such. Honda has lead the way for many years in the progress of this field and continues to actively develop electric, hybrid and fuel cell technologies, as will be showcased in Honda’s all-new FCEV model being launched in 2015.
In further support of this future vehicle technology and Honda’s environmental commitments, Honda has recently joined the UK H2 Mobility Consortium to further enhance this field and in conjunction with the intrastructure elements required to be developed hand in hand.
