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Precisely controlling fuel consumption |
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As the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturer, Honda is working to improve the fuel efficiency and lower the emissions of all its products. We’re working hard to enhance environmental performance across the board to help reach our announced target—a 10% reduction in CO2 emissions on all products worldwide by 2010, using a FY2001 baseline.
To attain this target, Honda has announced that we will implement PGM-FI on most scooters manufactured in Japan by 2007 and most motorcycles manufactured worldwide by the end of 2010. PGM-FI adapts to driving conditions and changes in engine load caused by acceleration and deceleration, adjusting the timing of ignition as well as the timing and volume of fuel injection for optimal electronic control. With implementation of PGM-FI, fuel efficiency is improved and emissions are reduced without compromising performance. Performance is also improved in cold starts, and when the engine has not been started for an extended period.
For some time, Honda has featured PGM-FI on many larger motorcycles sold worldwide. We recently expanded the implementation of this technology: in 2003 to 125-150cc motorcycles, and in 2004 to 50cc scooters (a world’s first). We are striving to offer PGM-FI on commuter bikes and other small motorcycles, the choice of most customers in developing economies around the world. |
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| Minoru Ueda |
| Motorcycle R&D Center |
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| The PGM-FI-equipped Wave 125i for the Thai market |
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Compact, low-cost, high-performance PGM-FI for smaller models |
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Implementing PGM-FI on smaller motorcycles presented many technical challenges. Naturally, the system needed to be smaller and lighter than the one used on larger motorcycles. In addition, more precise fuel injection control was required, and the system needed to be adapted to work with kick-start mechanisms and air-cooled engines. Costs also had to be reduced.
Honda engineers overcame these challenges by developing highly precise control technology. They reduced the fuel particle size to one-half, the units of air supply to one-third, and the units of fuel injection control to one-fifth of those used in fuel injection for larger motorcycles. They added a separate circuit for kick starting so the bikes could be started with only a small amount of current. They also upgraded many materials and significantly reduced the number of components to simplify the design and reduce the cost.
The result of these technological developments is that Honda’s PGM-FI system has been optimized for most 50-250cc engines. Honda is well on its way to achieving its ultimate objective of equipping all the motorcycles it manufactures worldwide with its advanced fuel injection technology. |
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| The challenge of adapting PGM-FI to smaller motorcycles |
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| • Honda CSR in Action (Planning) |
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| The early introduction of cleaner-running, higher fuel-efficiency 4-stroke engines has been a key element in Honda’s leadership of the motorcycle industry since the company’s foundation. Recently, Honda has been working to further enhance the environmental performance of its products by implementing 4-stroke technology on scooters and extending the application of PGM-FI. While proactively implementing environmental technologies, Honda has also continued to apply original technologies to improve the essential qualities that make the motorcycle an attractive product: simplicity, a compact design and a reasonable price. By delivering such high-quality products and satisfying customers, I believe Honda is fulfilling an important corporate social responsibility. |
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| Hiroshi Sekiguchi |
Motorcycle Business
Planning Office |
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