Honda to rely on GM powertrains

[ME_Andy]

Honda will be purchasing EV batteries and motors from GM for the next few years at least.

Any thoughts? Seems like a pretty big deal and a reversal of the status quo from several decades ago.

"Acura said not only would GM help to develop the two SUVs, but it will also be responsible for producing them."

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a3...ars-for-honda/

[ksa8907]

Without reading the article, I can't say I'm terribly surprised. After owning two GM EV/hybrids, I can honestly that they're good vehicles. While the volt and yukon hybrid are very different in size and technology, they're good at what they are.

[rmay635703]

Honda crapped the bed on hybrid batteries more than once, not surprising since they let themselves fall behind

[freebeard]

They may be in it for the battery technology.

GM's new electric car battery tops Tesla's - CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/04/busin...nge/index.html
Mar 4, 2020 The new battery cells, which GM named Ultium, are soft, flat pouches. (Electric vehicle batteries can have different forms. Tesla battery cells, for instance, are hard cylinders.) Usually, these...

[redpoint5]

Makes sense to rely on a bigger player to make compliance cars. Ultium is promising, and GM has solid electrics.

Honda will go in house when the timing is right.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Honda and GM used to exchange engines, with GM supplying its Isuzu-designed Circle-L engine for Honda to use in the Euro-spec Civic and receiving a Honda V6 gasser meant to be fitted to the early Saturn Vue.

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

Honda will be purchasing EV batteries and motors from GM for the next few years at least.

Any thoughts? Seems like a pretty big deal and a reversal of the status quo from several decades ago.

"Acura said not only would GM help to develop the two SUVs, but it will also be responsible for producing them."

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a3...ars-for-honda/

Honda was (still is?) big into fuel cell development. Which appears to be (in my simplified understanding) a full EV with an 'alternative' power source. I would be surprised if they abandon their existing engineering and processes to outsource. This may be a stop-gap thing while they change direction (pivot?) to full-electric and put less effort into Fuel cells.

Since it appears that battery supply is an issue for almost everyone, I would guess that this is a way to access GM's battery supply chain. I'd bet that Honda is still doing their own thing in preparation for 2028 and beyond ... or whenever they can secure access to battery supply ...

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by thingstodo

Honda was (still is?) big into fuel cell development. Which appears to be (in my simplified understanding) a full EV with an 'alternative' power source. I would be surprised if they abandon their existing engineering and processes to outsource. This may be a stop-gap thing while they change direction (pivot?) to full-electric and put less effort into Fuel cells.

I'd still not hold my breath for Honda to follow the full-BEV bandwagon. IIRC some of their first FCEV developments had been based on BEVs converted to FCEVs.

[JSH]

It makes sense in the near term. Honda doesn't need EVs to meet global regulations. They have been clear that they see hybrids and plug-in hybrids to be the best short to medium term solution to meet global regulations.

Honda is working on a new dedicated electric car platform but it won't reach production until the second half of the decade.

Honda is also a smaller player than most people think. Yes, they sell 5 million vehicle a year but their largest competitors sell twice that many. They need to pick their R&D spending wisely and can't afford to spend a lot of money on EVs before they are mainstream.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JSH

They have been clear that they see hybrids and plug-in hybrids to be the best short to medium term solution to meet global regulations.

Besides meeting global regulations, nowadays a hybrid remains safer in the eyes of the average customer than going full-EV. On a sidenote, considering the cost of high-voltage EV tech, it does surprise me that Honda doesn't even seem to consider the low-voltage hybrid and electric tech developed by Valeo which is often pointed out to allow a more affordable implementation of electrified (either BEV or hybrid) powertrains in general.