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| Honda has been developing environmental technologies,
giving first priority to the reduction of exhaust emissions and setting its own
high goals for each of the periods. We developed CVCC engines in the 1970s, and
released LEV-spec engines and met the highest emission standards such as ULEV
and SULEV standards for the first time in the world in the 1990s. Also, we introduced
the “i-series” new-generation engines towards the 21st century. Further
accelerating the progess in environmental technologies, we will provide the world
with greener vehicles. |
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CO, HCs, and NOx contained in exhaust gases may cause photochemical
smog and acid rain, and exert diversified influences on people.
Honda has been giving the first priority to the reduction of these substances
and improving its exhaust gas cleaning technologies. Following the movement
of the times, we have entered benchmarking technologies for low emission engines
in the market, including CVCC, Honda LEV, and DOHC i-VTEC technologies. We have
also been conducting research to comply with our high, voluntary environmental
standards in addition to the environmental regulations implemented in different
countries. |
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| 1) CVCC: Compound Vortex Controlled
Combustion |
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In 1995, in its pursuit of the ultimate technologies, Honda
unveiled the ultra low emission engine to meet ahead of others in the world
the ULEV standards of California, which were said to be the strictest in the
world. (In 1997, in the U.S., we released an Accord equipped with this engine.)
At the same time, we were developing the “Honda LEV”
technology, which reduced the CO, HCs, and NOx contained in exhaust emissions
to one-tenth of the levels set by Japan’s automobile exhaust emissions regulations
for 1978, and released the products equipped with the technology within Japan.
This marked the start of the distribution of products having clean performances
much higher than those of the standard products marketed at that time. The technology
was subsequently applied to nine remodeled Honda automobiles. In 1999, the ULEV
technology was further improved to meet ahead of others in the world the SULEV
standards of California. |
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2) LEV: Low Emission Vehicle
3) ULEV: Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
4) SULEV: Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle |
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Subsequently, in Japan in 2000, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure
and Transport implemented the Low Emission Vehicles’ Approval System. Under
the system, vehicles are classified as “Good,” “Excellent,”
or “Ultra” low emission vehicles. Honda, by inputting the new-generation
DOHC i-VTEC engine, obtained certification as “Excellent” low emission
vehicles (achieving emissions that are 50% or less of the emission standards for
2000) for almost all its models other than light trucks as of October 2002. Furthermore, we met the 2005 exhaust gas regulation standards, which were adopted in October 2003, for all our models earlier than planned and have since been increasing the number of models certified as “ low emission vehicle” (emissions are 50% lower than the 2005 exhaust gas standards) and “ low emission vehicle” (emissions are 75% lower than the 2005 exhaust gas standards). |
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5) i-VTEC: Intelligent Variable Timing Control |
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Honda has been improving its exhaust gas cleaning technologies based on a consistent
approach: to completely combust the gasoline in a highly efficient engine and
to clean the exhaust gas by the use of three-way catalyzers.
This approach requires the combustion control according to changing external conditions
and running conditions. Honda has been trying to meet the requirement step by
step by increasing the sophistication of computer technology and by conducting
research to pursue the possibilities of increasing catalyzer density and the use
of new materials. We will further continue to make these efforts to provide customers
with automobiles of ever higher clean performances. |
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