City of Torrance to test battery-electric
vehicle as a part of Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program
TORRANCE, Calif. - Honda delivered a 2013
Fit EV battery-electric vehicle to the city of Torrance today as one of
the first major steps in the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration
Program, a prelude to the retail market launch of the Fit EV with
customers in California and Oregon this summer.
The delivery was marked by a ceremony at
the Torrance City Hall, at which a key to the Fit EV was presented to
Torrance Mayor Frank Scotto by Steve Center, vice president of the
Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda.
"This is an exciting day as we take
another important step toward Honda's comprehensive vision for reducing
CO2 emissions while at the same time advancing our relationship with the
city of Torrance," said Steve Center. "Honda has a long history with
electric vehicles starting with the introduction of our first
battery-electric car, the EV Plus, nearly 15 years ago. With Honda's
extensive experience and the real-world feedback from the city of
Torrance, we will be even more prepared for the further customer
adoption of electric vehicles."
Over the past year, Honda and the city of
Torrance have worked together to gather input from Torrance residents
about potential recharging station locations and jointly participated in
numerous public awareness events with a Fit EV test vehicle. Honda and
the city will continue to further these initiatives while also studying
local government fleet usage of an electrified vehicle. The city of
Torrance will also receive a Honda plug-in hybrid for additional testing
at a later date.
"Today, in our partnership with Honda and
their continuing efforts in renewable technologies, we will be driving
into a more sustainable future," said city of Torrance Mayor Frank
Scotto.
Honda unveiled the 2013 Fit EV at the 2011
Los Angeles Auto Show and announced plans to begin leasing the 123
city-mile per charge (76 mile range combined adjusted city/highway)(1)
battery-electric commuter vehicle to its U.S. customers in the summer of
2012. Equipped with a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery and 92 kW coaxial
electric motor, the Fit EV battery can be fully recharged in as little
as 3 hours when connected to a 240-volt circuit.
