New Honda 2000 Accord Model to be Cleanest Gasoline-Powered Car
21 October 1999
New Honda 2000 Accord Model to be Cleanest Gasoline-Powered Production Car in the World First SULEV on the Market
TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 20 -- A 2000 Honda Accord model will
be certified with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to the new Super
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standards, continuing the company's
leadership in low emission technologies, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
announced today.
The Accord SULEV will go on sale in California by January 2000, making it
the first gasoline SULEV on the market; well in advance of requirements. The
new, more stringent SULEV requirements are part of the California LEV-II
exhaust emission standards that go into effect beginning in the 2004 model
year.
The SULEV standards call for a reduction in hydrocarbon emissions of
96 percent from the current federal Tier-1 passenger car levels, and an
86 percent reduction compared to the California Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)
standard. CARB says that a SULEV vehicle's engine will emit only 2.3 pounds
of ozone forming hydrocarbons during 100,000 miles of driving -- about the
same result as spilling a quart of gasoline.
"Honda is committed to bringing advances in emission reduction to the
marketplace as soon as possible," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president
of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "In fact, by the end of this year, Honda
will have put more than 1 million low emission vehicles on the road in the
U.S., including more than 85 percent of all Hondas sold this year."
The SULEV certification will apply to the Accord EX sedan with a
4-cylinder, 2.3-liter engine and automatic transmission. Building on Honda's
advanced Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) technology, it employs advanced
electronic controls, Honda's patented VTEC (Variable valve Timing and lift
Electronic Control) engine, and new catalytic converter technology. Plans
call for about 500 Accord SULEV models to be sold each month in California.
In addition, Honda will certify the 2000 Civic GX to the new SULEV
standards. The Civic GX is Honda's dedicated natural gas-powered vehicle and
is available to fleet customers nationwide. Since its introduction in 1998,
the Civic GX has achieved emission levels that are similar to the SULEV
standards. The Civic GX is powered by the cleanest internal combustion engine
ever mass-produced.
Honda has a history of being first to develop advanced low emission
technology and to voluntarily bring vehicles with this technology to market
years ahead of regulatory requirements. The 2000 Accord SULEV will be on the
market four model years ahead of regulatory requirements.
Honda has a long history of environmental leadership. Honda's leadership
began in 1975 with the introduction of the Civic CVCC (Compound Vortex
Controlled Combustion) engine, the first gasoline vehicle to meet the clean
air act standards of 1975 without a catalytic converter. And in December of
this year, Honda will be the first automaker to introduce a gasoline-electric
hybrid, achieving the highest mileage ratings ever from the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) in its annual listing of automotive fuel efficiency.
The Honda Insight earned an EPA city rating of 61 mpg and highway rating of 70
mpg.
The 2000 Accord SULEV represents Honda's ongoing efforts to reduce
emissions from gasoline-fueled internal combustion engines. Honda was first
to introduce a gasoline vehicle meeting California's LEV standard and the
first to voluntarily sell LEVs nationwide. With the 1998 Accord, Honda was
also the first automaker to sell a gasoline vehicle meeting California's ULEV
standards.
