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Honda Shuffles "Green" Car Lineup

Honda Motor Co. says it will stop offering natural-gas-fueled versions of its Civic small car in the U.S. this year and shift its "green" efforts to hybrid and fuel cell systems.
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Honda Motor Co. says it will stop offering natural-gas-fueled versions of its Civic small car in the U.S. this year and shift its "green" efforts to hybrid and fuel cell systems.

John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda, tells reporters hybrids and fuel cell systems will become a "mainstream, volume pillar" for the company.

Honda has sold only about 16,000 NG-fueled vehicles in the U.S. over the past 17 years, mainly to fleets. Mendel says the lack of an NG refueling infrastructure has hobbled sales.

Honda is preparing a two-motor hybrid system that will debut in the revamped Accord midsize sedan in 2018. The company also will roll out a redesigned fuel cell car in 2016, according to Mendel. He says an "extensive" generation of electrified powertrains, including a three-motor system, is under development.

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