Pierre's Profile

"Honda uses Blue Energy batteries ( a JV between Honda and GS Yuasa). The Blue Energy EHW5 battery cell has a 78.6 Wh/kg Energy Density which is not close to the Chevy Volt Battery Pack Energy Density of 101 Wh/kg)." Contrary to what's said, according to Japanese web site, Honda uses Panasonic battery in Clarity PHEV BEV.

Commented 3 days ago on Honda partners with CATL on Li-ion EV batteries; 56 GWh by 2027 at Green Car Congress

Honda CR-V now has higher mpg than Mazda CX-5 2.0L auto 15 CR-V FWD 27 /34 city /hwy AWD 26 /33 15 CX-5 2.0 auto FWD 26 /32 AWD 25 /31 Job well done Honda!

Commented Oct 6, 2014 on Major refresh on 2015 Honda CR-V with new Earth Dreams powertrain provides fuel economy gain of up to 12% at Green Car Congress

I don't understand why everyone believes carbon emission of 129g/km under Euro testing would be equivalent to 42mpg under EPA. Check the carbon emission of BMW's 3 hybrid and 5 hybrid under Euro testing - I guess the EPA rating for this Q80 wouldn't be far above 30mpg(U.S.).

Commented Oct 6, 2014 on Infiniti Q80 Inspiration concept hybrid delivers 550 hp with 42.8 mpg fuel economy at Green Car Congress

Don't put blind faith on those published F.E. figures, they are pretty much meaningless, especially when some automakers choose to "game" the test: Exhibit A: Hyundai was forced to revised downward it's published EPA mileages; Hyundai suffered another black eye when the F.E. for the 2015 Sonata was found inflated in S. Korea. Ford Motor also have to reduce its over-optimistic fuel rating for its C-Max hybrid in the U.S. Over in Europe, BBC reported that automakers "manipulated" emission/F.E. test: 'Slick tyres are pumped hard to reduce rolling resistance. Brakes are adjusted, or at times even disconnected, to reduce friction. Cracks between body panels and windows are taped up to reduce air resistance. Sometimes they even remove the wing mirrors. For carmakers, preparing for compulsory fuel efficiency and emissions tests has become a race in its own right, as they set out to make themselves look as clean and as frugal as possible. "It's lots and lots of small tweaks," according to Greg Archer, clean vehicles manager with pressure group Transport & Environment. "And they all add up." ' http://bbc.com/news/business-21759258

Commented Jul 22, 2014 on A closer look at the basics of Volkswagen Group’s important new 2.0L diesel MDB engine at Green Car Congress

" Tier 2 Bin 2 requirements are only slightly less stringent than the CARB LEVIII-SULEV20 requirements" Really? Is this serious??? AFAIK, to come up with an affordable solution meeting the CARB LEV III- SULEV 20 requirement is a serious challenge to many engineers.

Commented Feb 25, 2014 on Cummins progressing toward ATLAS Tier 2 Bin 2 fuel-efficient diesel for light-duty pickups at Green Car Congress

1. The time for debuting the Mazda6 diesel was the second half of 2013. As reported here by USA Today in Sept 2013, the introduction of Mazda6 diesel was delayed to late spring of 2014. [http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/09/12/mazda-delay-diesel-mazda6-late-spring/2807063/] 2. May be Mazda will realize, like some other Japanese automakers, that it is almost impossible to meet the demand of U.S. emission requirement without urea treatment or other catalyst.

Commented Jan 10, 2014 on Mazda delaying SKYACTIV-D diesel launch in North America; further tuning of fuel economy and performance required at Green Car Congress

@Nick, In the first graphic, there is an analysis of using the BEV in both the UK and France.

Commented Jul 17, 2013 on Renault makes public its lifecycle study of Fluence ICE vs Fluence EV at Green Car Congress

Bloomberg: 'Ford’s hybrids were “absolutely developed and calibrated to provide a strong EPA number' In other words, Ford hybrids won't perform as good in Real life. Ouch.

Commented Jul 17, 2013 on Ford tweaking calibrations to boost on-road fuel economy for MY2013 hybrids at Green Car Congress

A five-speed manual transmission .... with "up to 34 mpg highway" Isn't the standard of a "Green" car a bit... watered down???

Commented Aug 18, 2012 on Fiat introduces 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo at Green Car Congress

1) The Honda Fit EV lease includes collision coverage throw in by Honda. Neither Nissan Leaf nor regular Honda Fit include that. 2) It's said that leasees of Honda Fit EV are entitled to the $2,500 California rebate. Of course, it won't be available to regular Honda Fit leasees.

Commented Jul 22, 2012 on Honda delivers first Fit EV to California customer at Green Car Congress

Furthermore, it seems the leasees of Fit EVs are entitled to the $2,500 California rebate, which does not look like pocket change to me.

Commented Jul 22, 2012 on 2013 Honda Fit EV begins leasing 20 July in California and Oregon for $389/month at Green Car Congress

It actually looks like the Honda Fit EV is $20 - $30 less per month than a Volt to me (considering the collision coverage throw-in by Honda), NOT more.

Commented Jul 21, 2012 on 2013 Honda Fit EV begins leasing 20 July in California and Oregon for $389/month at Green Car Congress

Just to put it in perspective [and why GM's spin doctor tried to hide the 'figures' from the public]: "From January to May 2012, around 2,300 Opel/Vauxhall Amperas have been registered in total Europe... there were in Jan-Mar 982, in April 499 and in May 803 registered Amperas.”

Commented Jun 29, 2012 on Opel says Ampera was Europe’s best-selling passenger electric-drive vehicle in May at Green Car Congress

@kelly: My bet is the Fit EV will have FMC by 2014. Thus Honda is testing the market and sees what 'actual' customers want, and incorporates them into the next generation BEV.

Commented Jun 12, 2012 on 2013 Honda Fit EV receives EPA fuel economy rating of 118 MPGe; highest yet at Green Car Congress

I beg to ask: Where does the hydrogen for this "hydrogen rotary engine EV range extender" come from??? It's always a matter of chicken and egg...

Commented Jun 11, 2012 on Mazda to use hydrogen rotary engine for EV range extender at Green Car Congress

Unfortunately, it is rumored that it is killed by Audi, fearing low market acceptance and high cost. And GCC missed this.

Commented Jun 10, 2012 on Audi introducing electric 1+1 urban concept at Frankfurt with support for wireless charging; more detail on electric A2 concept at Green Car Congress

Unfortunately, it is rumored that it is killed by Audi, fearing low market acceptance. And GCC missed this.

Commented Jun 10, 2012 on Audi introducing electric A2 concept at Frankfurt at Green Car Congress

According to TTAC: Registered vehicles (non kei car) sales in May 2012 Toyota 113,891 (incl. Lexus) Honda 31,576 Total vehicles sales (incl. kei car) Toyota 117,387 (incl. kei car) Honda 57,923 Hybrid car sales estimated: Toyota 54k Honda 14.5k Percentage of hybrid sales in registered vehicles: Toyota 46% Honda 46% Note: There are no hybrids in kei car, AFAIK.

Commented Jun 9, 2012 on 19.7% of new cars sold in May 2012 in Japan were hybrids; Prius and Aqua dominate at Green Car Congress

Didn't Toyota just raise the prices of 2012 Camry?

Commented Jun 9, 2012 on 19.7% of new cars sold in May 2012 in Japan were hybrids; Prius and Aqua dominate at Green Car Congress

"Honda's top selling subcompact car as an EV with Focus Electric room, MINI E performance, Tesla Roadster efficiency, Coda range, LEAF price. The bar rises. You kind of have to pay attention."

Commented Jun 9, 2012 on 2013 Honda Fit EV receives EPA fuel economy rating of 118 MPGe; highest yet at Green Car Congress

@DaveR: Such conspiracy theory.... Isn't this the 'official' EPA rating, just like those for the LEAF?

Commented Jun 9, 2012 on 2013 Honda Fit EV receives EPA fuel economy rating of 118 MPGe; highest yet at Green Car Congress

Acording to Bloomberg news, automakers in China "disclose the number of vehicles sold to Chinese dealers -- instead of consumers", furthermore, it reported that inventory at dealers is piling up!

Commented Jun 9, 2012 on Ford China sells record number of passenger cars in May, up 23% at Green Car Congress

@Davemart: It depends on how large the BEV market will be in the next couple of years. We have already seen that GM over-estimated sales potential of Volt. We'll see how many Leafs are selling next year when production is transferred to N. Am. According to the USA Today: Explaining the limited availability, Honda says the Fit EV is aimed to perfect the components and that it is a forerunner, says Honda spokeswoman Angie Nucci, of "our mass production EV in a few short years." Says Nucci: "When Honda sells a vehicle, we need to assure its use and utility no matter where a customer might take the vehicle. All EVs have limitations and we want to make sure we understand how our customers address those limitations."

Commented Jun 9, 2012 on 2013 Honda Fit EV receives EPA fuel economy rating of 118 MPGe; highest yet at Green Car Congress

"In 2011, Ford sold a record 121,000 vehicles equipped with 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engines when F-150 began offering an EcoBoost option. " I think Ford said ecobosst V6 F-150 are selling as well as those V-8???

Commented May 3, 2012 on Ford’s Cleveland Engine Plant starts 3rd shift to meet demand for EcoBoost V6 engines at Green Car Congress

Well, which would you believe? The U. S. gov't or Wikipedia? According to CIA The World factbook: "The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $48,100 ..."

Commented Apr 25, 2012 on Honda to introduce three hybrids to China market this year, local production of EVs at Green Car Congress