Honda to sell electric cars, plug-in hybrids by 2012

WAKO, Japan — Honda said Tuesday it will roll out an electric car and a plug-in hybrid in Japan and the United States in 2012 as it seeks to catch up in the race to make clean, battery-powered cars.Japan's number-two carmaker plans to launch the compact electric car as well as mid and large-sized plug-in hybrids that will run up to 60 kilometers on a litre (140 miles on a gallon) of petrol, said president and CEO Takanobu Ito."The next 10 years will be very critical for Honda to survive in the midst of major changes, at a time of increased environmental awareness and changes in the global economic structure," Ito told reporters at a press conference.He said details of the cars will not be released until the end of the year.The plug-in has been a pet project of Ito, who headed Honda's research and development section before taking over the company in June last year.The announcement that Honda will embrace the technology means a turnaround in the company's vision. In 2007 then president Takeo Fukui said that plug-in hybrids offered too few environmental benefits to be worth pursuing."Mr. Fukui did not like batteries, but I am different," Ito said. "Now, as president, I have accelerated this process."Plug-in hybrids share technology with standard hybrids -- of which Honda already produces several models, including a version of its Civic -- but they can be recharged using a household power point.Honda said it plans this year to start producing a high-output lithium-ion battery through a joint venture with GS Yuasa and will also harness technology used in its prototype fuel-cell car to develop its all-electric car.The launch of the green vehicles is timed to meet tough regulations, including a new rule in California that will require three percent of an automaker's sales in the state to be zero-emission vehicles from 2012.Honda will also expand its line-up of standard hybrid models next year, Ito said. The company will introduce the Fit hybrid in Japan this year and the next-generation Civic hybrid in 2012.The

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