Honda readies volley of new drivetrain tech

UTSUNOMIYA, Japan -- Honda Motor Co. is about to unleash a new round of power-train technologies that plan to foster fuel economy and functionality while burnishing the firm's reputation for creation.
The methods range from a fresh-era plug in hybrid power-train and 10-speed automated transmission into a lean-combustion cycle that targets ultra-high thermal performance.
In addition they range from the firm's next hydrogen fuel-cell sedan. And technologists even dangled the chance for an all-wheel-push, all electric sports-car, according to a Pikes Peak-scaling model. The roll-out will unfold during the following five years.
Honda revealed the systems at its world-wide r&d facility in eastern Japan on Monday ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show.
"We have added a fresh line to enlarge our foundation," mentioned Keiji Ohtsu, Honda's chief official for engineering method.
The multipronged assault assembles on the World Dreams family of powertrains Honda began setting up to the marketplace in late 2012.
That make-over began with new naturally-aspirated, direct-injection engines and continuously-variable transmissions. Honda now is amplifying that line with turbo-charged engines and much more functionality-oriented dual clutch transmissions.
Next come more unique systems that enter new land.

Honda decreased the dimension of the technologies' latest fuel-cell stack by a third to ensure it's all about as large as a 3.5-liter v6 gasoline-engine. It now suits underneath the car's hood.

Plugin guarantee
It begins using the hydrogen fuel-cell car debuting only at that week's Tokyo Motor Show and heading on-sale early next year.
The zero emission, five-seat sedan succeeds the clearness from 2008 and foreshadows the long term course of Honda's power train method, execs said.
Honda said it decreased the dimension of the recent fuel cell stack by a third, from its prior-era engineering, therefore it is all about as large as a 3.5-liter v6 gasoline-engine. The stack now suits underneath the car's hood as opposed to in the centre console part of the sooner Clarity.
Which will enable Honda to set up the powerplant in a variety of vehicle types, that may help popularize the engineering. Positioning of the whole stack underneath the hood additionally enabled Honda to free-up cabin area and credit crunch in the fifth seat.
Looking farther forward, Honda is also joining forces with GM to come up with a next generation fuel-cell method for installation in added vehicles around 20 20.
Honda aspires to wring the most out of its high-priced investment in the FCV by utilizing exactly the same platform to underpin a fresh plug-in hybrid car, Ohtsu stated. That automobile is likely around 2018.
The plugin will provide at least 3 times the 13-miles, electric-only variety of Honda's newest plugin, a gas-electrical Accord. In addition, it will allow for prolonged EV-mode driving on main roads.
The auto matches a 130-kilowatt motor and lithium-ion battery into a four-cylinder engine having a displacement of less than 1.8 liters, technologists said. The Accord plug in had a 2.0-litre and was dropped by Honda in the US for the 2015 model-year.
Another plugin will eke additional EV range by way of a fresh lithium ion battery that improves energy density by half, said Hideharu Takemoto, a chief technologist of electrified drive-trains.
A part of the development came through new cathode chemistry.

Honda is readying a fresh 10-speed planetary automatic transmission for front wheel drive automobiles, a gear box the corporation calls a world's first, and will probably be released in the "near future."

10-rate
Also on-tap: a new 10-speed planetary automatic transmission for front wheel drive automobiles, a gear box Honda calls a world's first. That transmission is likely to be released in the "near potential," Ohtsu stated. Ohtsu declined to provide a certain timeline.
It's anticipated to be employed in big vehicles including the Acura RLX and Honda Odyssey, but plans have yet to be finalized.
Honda will assemble the 10-rate in-residence, and it's going to replace Honda's six-speed automated for 3.5-litre, v6 engines.
The 10-rate is as compact as the six-rate, which makes it easily deployable across a wide variety of automobiles, Ohtsu included.
It's going to increase fuel economy by at least 6% on the six-rate and provide a 14% improvement in speed up, Honda stated. Shifting will be 30% quicker.
Engine development
Honda is achieving decreasing yields on enhancing fuel economy by including more gears or bolting on turbo-chargers.
And that's the reason it also is targeting enhanced combustion.
Honda's target is a next generation internal-combustion engine that reaches thermal efficiency speeds of 50 per cent.
Higher performance means more electricity from internal-combustion is got to strength the wheels and less is lost through warmth.
Honda's finest engines nowadays fall just shy of 40%.
The gambit: A fresh technology Honda calls Homogeneous Skimpy Charge Discharge Ignition, or HLSI. It enhances thermal performance while reducing the combustion temperature to generate lower emissions of nitrogen oxides. Honda intends to deploy it by around 20 20.
Technologists boost cylinder inflows for more gas-air turbulence and after that set off the mixture having a greater-power discharge.

'Tesla killer'
Eventually, Honda is dabbling with the awd EV lay out that provides high-torque acceleration and torque-vectoring on all wheels for additional-specific managing.
Several young engineers spear-headed the task as an activity to develop an automobile to compete in the race up Pikes Peak in Colorado. They changed a crz compact sporty hybrid hatchback for the occupation and outfitted it with motors like both front motors to be deployed in the coming NSX sportscar.
After competing up the mountain, Honda is currently contemplating potential generation-vehicle uses, mentioned Yutaka Horiuchi, the job's chief technologist. Vehicles utilizing the layout probably will have to be big and top end to warrant the system's price, the project's chief engineer explained. The project's chief engineer proposed Tesla as a potential future competition.
Joked Horiuchi: "This is our Tesla killer."

It's possible for you to reach Hans Greimel at [email protected]. -- Follow Hans on

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Engineering
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Autos and Theories
General Motors
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26.10.2015
ID:3125

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