Honda Leads Industry with Four Vehicles Eligible for California Carpool Lane Access

TORRANCE, Calif., March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda offers four vehicles eligible for single-occupant access to California's high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) 'carpool' lanes, the most of any full line automaker.  The Accord Plug-In Hybrid, the Civic Natural Gas , the Fit EV all-electric vehicle and FCX Clarity fuel cell-electric vehicles provide drivers with the opportunity for single-occupancy carpool lane access with little-to-no tailpipe emissions at an already-reduced fuel cost.

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"With four different Honda vehicles, the most of any automaker, providing single-occupancy access to California's carpool lanes, we are creating tremendous opportunities for consumers to save time and money and reduce their environmental footprint," said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. "Only Honda offers a broad portfolio of alternative-fuel vehicles in various sizes and body styles to meet the diverse needs of California drivers."

Upon applying for and adhering California Clean Air Vehicle Decals to eligible alternative fuel vehicles, single-occupant operators of these vehicles are allowed to drive in the state's carpool lanes – potentially saving significant commuting and driving time.  In addition to saving time, the diverse alternative-fuel vehicles from Honda offer great potential for fuel savings compared to the fuel cost of the average passenger vehicle in the U.S.

Currently on-sale at 76 Honda dealers in California, the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid sedan is the most fuel-efficient sedan in America with a 115 MPGe fuel economy rating. It is also the first and only vehicle in the U.S. to meet the new, strict SULEV20 emissions standard. The Accord Plug-In offers 12-15 miles¹ of all-electric range before switching to an efficient hybrid powertrain with an EPA rating of 47/46/46 city/highway/combined fuel economy. This distinctly styled midsize sedan will soon be joined by a two-motor Accord Hybrid model later this year.

Honda is the only automaker to offer an OEM-built compressed natural gas powered vehicle with the 2012 Civic Natural Gas. An ideal daily commuter, the Civic Natural Gas offers range of 190 miles per tank and is equipped with a host of standard features like Bluetooth HandsFreeLink™, USB connectivity and a full-color iMID screen. The Civic Natural Gas is built exclusively in Greensburg, Indiana using domestic and globally sourced parts and runs on clean burning natural gas, which is domestically sourced and costs about 1/3 less per gasoline gallon equivalent as gasoline. Additionally, through April 30, 2013, Honda is offering a $3,000 Clean Energy fuel card with the purchase of a 2012 Civic Natural Gas, potentially defraying years of already-reduced fuel costs.

The Fit EV and FCX Clarity each offer zero-emissions driving experiences. Among the most fuel-efficient vehicle yet rated by the EPA with 118 MPGe and based on the popular five-door, five-passenger Fit and Fit Sport, the 100-percent electric Fit EV features a 20-kilowatt-hour (kWh) Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery and a compact 92-kilowatt (123 horsepower) AC synchronous electric motor that produced 189 ft-lb of motor torque. This efficient powertrain is teamed with a fully independent suspension and a driver-selectable 3-mode drive system. The result is a fun-to-drive EV with an EPA combined city/highway driving range rating of 82 miles².

The Fit EV is available at Honda dealerships in California, Oregon and selected markets in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New York and New Jersey for lease at $389 a month, which includes collision insurance and vehicle maintenance.  The FCX Clarity fuel cell-electric vehicle has a driving range of 240 miles and can be refueled in minutes at one of 9 hydrogen stations in Southern California. The futuristically styled FCX Clarity is available for lease exclusively in Southern California.

Honda Environmental Leadership

Honda has developed numerous technologies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions, including the Honda Accord PHEV, Fit EV, Civic Natural Gas and the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). Honda has also led the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) rankings of overall vehicle environmental performance since 2000, and a Honda vehicle has topped the list of America's greenest vehicles from the America Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) for 15 consecutive years.

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¹124 city/105 highway/115 combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) electric rating; 47 city/46 highway/46 combined MPG gasoline only rating. 13 mile maximum EV mode driving range rating. 574 mile combined gas-electric driving range rating. Ratings determined by EPA. Use for comparison purposes only. Your MPGe/MPG and driving range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml

²132/105/118 city/highway/combined miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent (MPGe) rating; 82 mile combined (city/highway) driving range rating (adjusted). Ratings determined by U.S. EPA. Your MPGe and range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-electric-label.shtml.

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.