REVVING UP AUTO MARKET : HONDA TO OFFER ELECTRIC CAR TO COMPETE WITH GM'S EV1.Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Daily News Staff Writer American Honda Motor Co. Inc. will roll out its entry in California's electric car market today at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show The Los Angeles Auto Show is an annual auto show that takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. The show has been held annually since 1907. . It's a stout-looking vehicle with rounded lines similar to the old Honda Civic. Called the Honda EV Plus The Honda EV Plus was the first production battery electric vehicle from a major automaker with non lead acid batteries. Only 300 or so EV Plus models were produced and released. , the car will be available for lease by individuals and corporate fleets starting this spring. Terms are for three years with monthly payments of $499, which includes comprehensive and collision insurance, roadside assistance and maintenance. That package alone is worth about $200 a month, said Robert J. Bienenfeld, Honda's market development manager. ``If you need brake pads, we'll replace them,'' Bienenfeld said. ``If you need windshield wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. , we'll replace them. We don't want the consumer to have any of the technical responsibility.'' The suggested sticker price is $53,999, and about $20,000 of that amount is for the advanced nickel-metal hydride battery A nickel-metal hydride battery, abbreviated NiMH, is a type of rechargeable battery similar to a nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery but has a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for the anode instead of cadmium. As in NiCd batteries, nickel is the cathode. system. Honda is the second major automaker to bring an electric car built from the ground up to market and the first to use the hydride hydride Any of a class of compounds in which hydrogen is combined with another element. There are three basic types of hydrides: saline, metallic, and covalent. Saline hydrides, such as sodium hydride (NaH) and calcium hydride (CaH2 batteries, which provide a bit more range than lead acid batteries. General Motors Corp. began leasing its EV1 late last year. And while GM used a futuristic teardrop-shaped car to demonstrate that electric vehicles can pack a punch, Honda opted for a practical approach. The GM EV1 can hold only two passengers and not much else. The Honda EV Plus has room for lots of stuff. In addition to comfortably accommodating four adults, the back seat folds down to increase cargo space. Honda is only making 300 of the cars available in California, which helps explain the high price tag. Only four dealerships in the state - including Miller Honda in Van Nuys - will have them. The electric cars are part of an industry response to California Air Resources Board California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the "clean air agency" of the state of California in the United States. Established originally in 1967, it is a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, an organization which reports directly to the California requirements that 10 percent of the vehicles offered for sale by 2003 be certified as emitting zero tailpipe tail·pipe n. The pipe through which exhaust gases from an engine are discharged. Also called exhaust pipe. tailpipe Noun a pipe from which exhaust gases are discharged, esp. emissions. Cars powered by electricity meet that standard. The rule applies to seven auto companies, but so far only Honda and GM have built vehicles from the ground up. Some others plan to offer electric conversions of gasoline-powered models. HONDA EV PLUS Here are some specs on the latest entry into the electric vehicle market: FEATURES: Anti-lock braking system An anti-lock braking system (ABS) (translated from German, Antiblockiersystem) is a system on motor vehicles which prevents the wheels from locking while braking. The purpose of this is to allow the driver to maintain steering control under heavy braking and, in some , dual air bags, air conditioning, power windows, door locks and mirrors; AM-FM-CD player audio system. BATTERIES: Nickel-metal hydride. RECHARGE TIME: 8 hours. PERFORMANCE: 0 TO 60 mph in 18.7 seconds, top speed of 80 plus mph. RANGE: Approximately 100 miles. SOURCE: American Honda Motor Co. Inc. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Box: HONDA EV PLUS (See text) Photo: (Color) American Honda Motor Co. Inc's electric vehicle, Honda EV Plus, will be presented today at the Greater Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. . the car will be available for leasing this spring. David R. Crane/Daily News |
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