Honda is talking about an electric vehicle, EV that should appear by 2015, well behind its rivals.  Will it be enough?  Time will tell.

The gist is that the two main Japanese car makers have less than enthusiastic when it comes to EVs.  Both companies have been sending mixed messages, while tip toeing around the idea of a pure electric car.  Toyota says it is committed, only to be followed by comments from its president saying  battery technology was not mature enough yet.  Honda is announcing again an EV by 2015 they will show at the Tokyo Auto Show.

Honda, Slowly Bringing Out An EV.  Even though it is not a full fledged commitment, the company´s executives are are hinting at an EV by 2015.  They expect to have a prototype of the battery powered car it plans to launch in limited numbers the U.S. first, next month.

Why is Honda finally talking about an EV?  According to its executives, the global rising interest in fuel economy is pushing the company to look into battery-powered vehicles, as well as to meet the ever tightening requirements in the U.S. for more fuel-efficient cars.  There goes one positive result with the rise of awarenss in consumers and politicians.

Good News, But Nothing To Rejoice Yet.  Apparently the company still believes hybrids, HEV and thrifty internal combustion engines, ICE are the way to go forward.  They do not say what they feel will be the longer term solution, although it would easy to suspect fuel cell technology.  In a decade we will see if the proverbial early bird does get the worm after all.