Honda’s new business: FUEL
Look out OPEC! Honda’s new business is FUEL—that is, solar cells to make hydrogen fuel for their cars.
Honda’s new business venture: solar power
Carmaker had been testing, even as way to produce hydrogen for fuel cells
TOKYO —Describing itself as “the first automaker to enter into solar cell business,” Honda Motor Co. said on Monday it plans to start mass-producing solar cells in 2007, eyeing growing demand for environmentally friendly energy sources…. uses solar power to get hydrogen from water, thereby powering vehicles that run on fuel cells. …more…
Right now is the mystery is that solar cells are WAAAAY too expensive as a way of generating electrical power—the cost/performance sucks. The Japanese companies who manufacture solar cells don’t earn much profit from it even after 25 years of trying very hard at it.
I wonder what makes Honda think they need to enter the business now? A secret breakthrough?
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December 23rd, 2005 at 9:30 pm
Hi Taro,
Thanks for this information. I have mentioned about it in my blog, ecofriend.org.
I also run another blog on environment (http://www.greendiary.com/). I update them regularly. If you provide me with a link to your blog, hope it would be of mutual help. Looking forward for your responce.
Keep up with such good posts.
Irani
December 24th, 2005 at 11:46 pm
YIKES!
You set me to thinking about environmental advertising in Japan—-Green ads exist here in Japan, but they’re not focus of Japanese desires.
For example, in February when I bought new car (Nissan Fuga GT sport/Infiniti M35) I never checked the gas mileage (which turned out to be excellent).
Why?
I only buy one tank of gas a month—it’s most insignificant part of the cost of owning a car in Tokyo. Obviously, my neighbors have the same environmental values (or lack thereof) as I have since 40% on the cars in my neighborhood are large-ish Japanese SUVs. Micro-cars of 600cc-1000cc make up less than 20% cars on Tokyo roads (they don’t survive in accidents well).
Conversely, on my rice ranch 40% of the cars of my neighbors are 600cc micro-cars. Why? …more…