|
||
|
|
|
|
Main > Insight News > U.K. Financial Incentive Announced | |
|
Powershift1, the government-backed initiative which aims to kick-start the market for clean fuel vehicles has today confirmed it will be providing financial assistance worth £1,000 per vehicle to help fund the introduction of Honda’s revolutionary new Insight (a hybrid petrol/electric car) into the UK market. The car is being funded under Powershift’s “demonstration project” scheme for 2000/2001 which aims to help bring to market clean fuel initiatives with real commercial potential2. The Insight3 will be launched on the UK market on 1 September 2000. It is anticipated that Powershift funding will mean that each car will effectively cost £16,000 – a £1,000 reduction on the Honda’s on the road price. The demonstration project will cover the first 200 vehicles sold in the UK. The amount of funding was agreed following vigorous independent testing of the car’s emissions levels: a process which ensures that Powershift only funds the cleanest vehicles on the market thus ensuring they provide the greatest benefit to the environment. The tests showed that emissions levels from the Honda Insight surpass by a clear margin the current European (Euro III) standards – and CO, HC and NOx are way below the future EU limits for 2005. Importantly, the Insight’s excellent fuel economy means that a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is achieved. In the standard government test the car produces 80 g/km of CO2, the lowest value of any car currently on the market The Insight is called a hybrid because it uses a petrol engine working together with an electric motor. The ultra thin (60mm) 10 kW DC brushless electric motor is mounted between a 1.0 litre three-cylinder, low-friction VTEC petrol engine and lightweight 5-speed manual transmission. During acceleration the electric motor ‘assists’ the petrol engine, increasing performance to the level of a 1.5 litre petrol engine. Conversely the motor acts as a generator during deceleration, or during hill descents, to recharge the power pack mounted between the rear wheels. Unlike a pure battery-powered electric car the Honda does not require an outside source of electricity – nor does it suffer from the range limitations which have so far affected battery powered cars. The car has already entered the Guinness Book of Records for achieving the lowest fuel consumption of any car – 103mpg – on a Round Britain Drive in June. Under the more normal driving conditions represented by the government tests, the Insight achieves 68.9 mpg in the Urban, 94.2 in the Extra Urban and 83.1 mpg for the Combined Cycle tests. “The Honda Insight will be one of the cleanest vehicles on the road in this country,” says Jonathan Murray, Head of Transport Projects at the Energy Saving Trust. “What’s more, we believe the hybrid concept is one of the most exciting developments in the clean fuel market to date. We are anticipating that it will open up a whole new market for CFVs in this country, giving motorists the convenience of a petrol car while at the same time offering a large reduction in harmful emissions.” “We are very pleased by the Powershift initiative to support the launch of Insight ” says Honda (UK)’s Environment Co-ordinator Claudine Khatchick. “Not only does this mean added recognition for Honda’s achievement in building this car and bringing it to the market, but it is also excellent news for our customers”. - ends - Notes to Editors 1. Powershift is a government-funded initiative run by the Energy Saving Trust, which aims to create a sustainable market in the UK for vehicles which run on clean fuels such as LPG, natural gas and electricity. In the last four years, the programme has helped place over 3,000 new clean fuel vehicles on UK roads. It has helped significantly reduce emissions of NOx and particulates which are implicated in city pollution, and up to 24,000 early deaths every year. It has also reduced the rate of growth of CO2 output from traffic on our roads – transport being one of the major contributors to this global warming gas. 2. The Powershift demonstration project programme is designed to make support funding available to assist projects involving near market-ready clean fuel vehicle and engine technologies. Funding is intended to help projects involving vehicles that have the potential for full commercialisation but are inhibited by higher initial set up or scale costs. Funding is not given where a project is likely to go ahead in the absence of support. Support is only given to projects involving vehicles that have the potential to provide significant emissions and other environmental benefits compared with conventional vehicles. 3. The Honda Insight will become the first commercially available hybrid car in Britain when sales commence in September. The car features Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA™) hybrid system, comprising a high efficiency petrol engine and electric motor used in combination with a lightweight and highly aerodynamic aluminium body. It achieves ultra-low fuel consumption of 83 mpg (3.4 l/100 m) EUDC, emissions less than half the EU2000 limit (CO2 emissions are an extremely low 80 g/km), plus highly respectable performance figures of 0 to 62 mph in 12 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. For further information about Powershift or its grant scheme, please visit the web-site at www.est-powershift.org.uk OR Contact the Powershift press office For further information about the Honda Insight, please contact: Lawrence Pearce at Honda (UK)’s press office |
Powershift to support market launch of Honda Insight