Honda named "Greenest Automaker" by Union of Concerned Scientists

April 04, 2007 06:13 pm

— TORRANCE, Calif. – Honda has earned the title of America’s “2007 Greenest Automaker” from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) for the fourth consecutive time. The award is given by the UCS on a biennial basis to the company with the lowest overall production of smog-forming emissions and global warming emissions (primarily CO2) in its U.S. automobile fleet.
“Honda remains the greenest U.S. automaker. The company installs clean technology across its entire fleet of cars and trucks and that consistency makes it a top environmental performer. Honda is one of only two automakers to have better-than-average global warming scores in every class of vehicles it sold in MY2005,” said Don MacKenzie, a vehicles engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists. “In addition, Honda continues to have the best smog score in four out of the five classes.”
Honda is committed to remaining a leader in the development and application of new technologies that address three critical environmental challenges: improving fuel efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming; reducing smog-forming emissions to address air pollution; and advancing real-world alternatives to gasoline to promote energy sustainability.
“We are proud to be recognized as a leader, and will continue to challenge ourselves to improve the environmental performance of our company and our products,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We have entered a period in history where society is more critically aware of how the actions we take today determine the course of our environmental future for generations to come. We accept this as our challenge.”
American Honda has applied leading-edge fuel efficient technologies to the full range of its Honda and Acura products, resulting in industry-leading corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (33.9 mpg and 24.7 mpg, respectively, for model year 2006 passenger cars and light trucks).
In May 2006, Honda became the first automaker to publicly announce voluntary targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions by 2010 from both its products and production operations. Specifically, the company is targeting a five percent reduction in CO2 emissions for its global automobile fleet from 2005 levels, on top of a five percent reduction achieved in the 2000-2005 time period. The company also will work toward a 10 percent reduction for motorcycles and power products from 2000 levels by 2010.
In order to achieve this voluntary CO2 reduction goal through the increased fuel efficiency of its automobiles, Honda will introduce a series of new fuel-efficient technologies and products, including intelligent engine systems; second-generation Variable Cylinder Management (VCM); a new, more affordable gas-electric hybrid vehicle in 2009; and a new clean diesel vehicle in about two years with high fuel efficiency and ultra-low emissions equivalent to a gasoline engine vehicle.
Further, the global average of CO2 emissions to produce one automobile at Honda plants declined by approximately 5 percent during the five year period up to 2005. Honda is working toward a further reduction by 5 percent or more by 2010, to achieve a total global reduction of 10 percent compared to the level of 2000. For motorcycle and power product production, Honda set goals to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 percent in each area.

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