As interest in the environment and resources increases worldwide, the private and public sectors are working together toward the target set by the Japanese government of achieving 50% adoption of next-generation automobiles by 2020. Against this backdrop, Honda has launched a series of Next-generation Personal Mobility Proving Tests in Japan and is planning to proceed with the same strategy overseas.
Honda is also planning to conduct experiments using electric vehicles with the City of Torrance, California, Stanford University and Google Inc. In addition, Honda the city of Guangzhou and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. have reached a basic agreement to conduct experiments for demonstration board’s Next-generation Personal Mobility Proving Tests. Through this experiment in Guangzhou, Honda is planning to confirm the practicality and convenience of electric vehicles (EV) and plans to verify what will be the ideal infrastructure for society toward achieving the widespread use of EVs.
The experiment, which incorporates electromotive technologies in Honda’s motorcycles, automobiles, and power products, will provide a basis for achieving a lifestyle in which power generation and battery charging can be efficiently controlled by individual households. If this Total Energy Management approach can be turned into reality, Honda believes that we can enjoy rich, low-carbon lifestyles in a future where regional development is driven by networks connecting individual homes.
In August 2010, Honda signed a Comprehensive Agreement on Next-generation Personal Mobility Proving Tests with Kumamoto Prefecture, home to Kumamoto Factory, which serves as Honda’s leader motorcycle manufacturing plant, and Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of solar panels. An experiment utilizing the Monpal electric cart was launched in October 2010. The project seeks to explore next-generation personal mobility based on this agreement in a way that can contribute to the quality of life* (QOL) enjoyed by prefecture residents in local communities.
*Quality of life: The level a person can live a human life considering not only the physical quality, but also a rich and happy emotional quality.
- Developing the “local, low-carbon, next-generation mobility society model” that serves as Kumamoto Prefecture’s urban planning concept
- Establishing and promoting activities of a Next-generation Mobility Testing Program Implementation Committee that brings together industry, government, and academia
- City of Kumamoto: Evaluate the QOL benefits of sharing Monpal ML200 electric carts at facilities for senior citizens using quantifiable data (a joint project with the Japanese Red Cross Society Kumamoto Healthcare Center) and promoting electrically powered mobility among the younger generation through the use of EV-neo electric scooters by high-school students to commute to school
- Aso area: Renting electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and EV-neos to tourists
- Amakusa area: Verifying the convenience of electric vehicles as a means of transportation on the island and the suitability of plug-in hybrid vehicles for long-distance travel
- City of Minamata: Verifying the convenience of EV-neo for rentals to residents and tourists
At Honda, we’ve been conducting research to quantitatively evaluate the effect of new personal mobility in improving the quality of life in an aging society since October 2010 with the assistance of the Tenjyuen special nursing home.
Specifically, we had residents at the facility use Monpal electric carts for a period of three months while we evaluated the relationship between use of the devices and quality of life in the form of the extent and frequency of their activities as well as participation in the community.
Interviews with participants indicate that they enjoyed more frequent opportunities for participating in society, with one noting, “Until now I hadn’t been able to get out much due to my disability, but Monpal has expanded my sphere of activity and helped me go out more often as well as allowed me opportunities to talk with people I didn’t know. In fact, now I’m working on making a safety road map of the community showing safe roads using information gained during those excursions.”
Going forward, we plan to conduct new tests as we continue to examine ways to facilitate improvements in senior citizens’ quality of life through personal mobility.
Specifically, we had residents at the facility use Monpal electric carts for a period of three months while we evaluated the relationship between use of the devices and quality of life in the form of the extent and frequency of their activities as well as participation in the community.
Interviews with participants indicate that they enjoyed more frequent opportunities for participating in society, with one noting, “Until now I hadn’t been able to get out much due to my disability, but Monpal has expanded my sphere of activity and helped me go out more often as well as allowed me opportunities to talk with people I didn’t know. In fact, now I’m working on making a safety road map of the community showing safe roads using information gained during those excursions.”
Going forward, we plan to conduct new tests as we continue to examine ways to facilitate improvements in senior citizens’ quality of life through personal mobility.
Yasutoshi Nishi and Takahiro Kiyota, a Tenjyuen staff member work on making a safety road map
I had the pleasure of test-driving Honda plug-in hybrid during a press conference in December 2010. My impression was that I had never driven a vehicle that was so quiet or comfortable.
Because public transportation in rural areas is not as well developed as in large cities, cars and motorcycles play an important role in daily life. At high schools in Kumamoto Prefecture, more students use motorcycles than bicycles to commute to school. The prefecture, which is passionate about addressing environmental issues, is working to realize a low-carbon society, and the Kumamoto Prefectural Ordinance for Prevention of Global Warming went into effect last year.
During our demonstration program, we plan to have high-school students use EV-neos to commute to school, and we plan to have senior citizens use the Monpal. The experiment in having senior citizens use the Monpal is directly related to the idea of creating a society that does not fear aging, which is one of Kumamoto Prefecture’s dreams, and we believe that it has the potential to improve quality of life in our local communities by encouraging senior citizens to participate in society. Through this experiment, we found out that Honda’s locally rooted approach aligns perfectly with Kumamoto Prefecture’s own goals, and we look forward to working together with Honda to fulfill the dream of maximizing the happiness and well-being of residents as one of the key growth areas.
Because public transportation in rural areas is not as well developed as in large cities, cars and motorcycles play an important role in daily life. At high schools in Kumamoto Prefecture, more students use motorcycles than bicycles to commute to school. The prefecture, which is passionate about addressing environmental issues, is working to realize a low-carbon society, and the Kumamoto Prefectural Ordinance for Prevention of Global Warming went into effect last year.
During our demonstration program, we plan to have high-school students use EV-neos to commute to school, and we plan to have senior citizens use the Monpal. The experiment in having senior citizens use the Monpal is directly related to the idea of creating a society that does not fear aging, which is one of Kumamoto Prefecture’s dreams, and we believe that it has the potential to improve quality of life in our local communities by encouraging senior citizens to participate in society. Through this experiment, we found out that Honda’s locally rooted approach aligns perfectly with Kumamoto Prefecture’s own goals, and we look forward to working together with Honda to fulfill the dream of maximizing the happiness and well-being of residents as one of the key growth areas.
Ikuo Kabashima
Governor, Kumamoto Prefecture
Honda and Saitama Prefecture have worked to build a collaborative relationship through such means as an Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Issues that they signed in March 2009.
The two parties are working together through Honda’s Next-generation Personal Mobility Proving Tests, for example by pursuing the potential of next-generation transportation systems and exploring the possibility of installing a solar hydrogen station at the prefectural office.
The two parties are working together through Honda’s Next-generation Personal Mobility Proving Tests, for example by pursuing the potential of next-generation transportation systems and exploring the possibility of installing a solar hydrogen station at the prefectural office.
- Realizing Saitama Prefecture’s urban planning concept of “promoting use of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in order to achieve a low-carbon mobility society”
- Saitama Prefecture: Installing a solar hydrogen refueling station
- City of Saitama: Urban transportation testing featuring Honda's EVs, plug-in hybrid vehicles and EV-neo, by partnering with public transportation facilities such as train stations.
- City of Kumagaya: Introducing a park-and-ride* system that takes advantage of the area’s status as a suburb of a major urban area
- City of Chichibu: Creating mobility opportunities for senior citizens using Monpal electric carts and verifying the convenience of such an approach
Saitama Prefecture and Honda have built up a collaborative relationship through such means as an Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Issues and an Agreement between Saitama Prefecture and Honda on the Provision of Road Transportation Data.
Saitama Prefecture is proud to be working again with Honda on its Next-generation Personal Mobility Proving Tests program. A particularly interesting part of this project is the installation in Kumagaya of charging stations that will produce energy for local consumption using solar power. Saitama Prefecture is famous for its heat and boasts the highest number of sunny days of any city in Japan.
Saitama Prefecture has also been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as an EV/PHV Town in recognition of area governments’ advanced initiatives to introduce electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. I look forward to bringing the potential of Saitama Prefecture and Honda together to achieve great things as we work to realize a low-carbon society.
Saitama Prefecture is proud to be working again with Honda on its Next-generation Personal Mobility Proving Tests program. A particularly interesting part of this project is the installation in Kumagaya of charging stations that will produce energy for local consumption using solar power. Saitama Prefecture is famous for its heat and boasts the highest number of sunny days of any city in Japan.
Saitama Prefecture has also been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as an EV/PHV Town in recognition of area governments’ advanced initiatives to introduce electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. I look forward to bringing the potential of Saitama Prefecture and Honda together to achieve great things as we work to realize a low-carbon society.
Kiyoshi Ueda
Governor, Saitama Prefecture
American Honda Motor held a ceremony in America to announce a program of proving tests with the city of Torrance in California on December 15, 2010. Honda will jointly perform the test with the City of Torrance, Stanford University, and Google Inc.
Signing ceremony for the experiment
- Honda: Orchestrating a demonstration program using the Fit EV electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicles
- Stanford University: Conducting research into electric vehicle support infrastructure, transportation systems, and battery permanence
- City of Torrance: Conducting research into vehicle charging, public education, and the development of a sustainable society
- Google Inc.: Analyzing the convenience, power consumption, and other characteristics of vehicles requiring charging through the sharing of company vehicles
We will pursue this initiative along with others promoting the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle and existing hybrid vehicles as part of the Honda Electric Mobility Network.
