Bel Air Honda

Honda has a reputation for making reliable and highly-capable cars, which is why no one here at Bel Air Honda, serving the greater Fallston, MD area, is surprised to learn that the Japanese automaker has some big things in store for its lineup in the near future. Specifically, while we've already seen the future of Honda external design in the Concept C and Concept S at the 2012 Beijing International Auto Show, the Big…

Sooner than later, there could be millions of electric cars drawing electricity from the grid, something we atBel Air Honda are happy for, though many electrical companies might be fearing thsi. Why? To put it simply, that many cars plugged in at the same time could stress out the power grid, leading to brown outs across the country during peak usage hours.

You may think this'll stunt the growth of electric vehicles in the US. But it's also a problem that Honda has foreseen as well. And they're not quite ready to let it stand in the way of creating some of the economically and environmentally efficient vehicles in the world today.

So what's their solution? Honda is planning to pilot a new technology that promises to make electric vehicle charging more efficient in nature by receiving charging instructions from the grid, limiting its charging potential during peak power usage times, and by transmitting usage data that could improve grid management at a local level.

If it all sounds like a pretty tall order, that's because it is. In fact, this project is so expansive that Honda knows it can't possibly bring it to fruition alone. That's why the Big H is enlisting the help of both IBM and PG&E in piloting the new technology in a prototype of the 2013 Honda Fit EV.

Bel Air Honda, located at 1800 Belair Rd in Fallston, MD, hopes that this new technology helps to helps to ease the concerns that some buyers may have over considering an EV. And to see this technology first in the Honda Fit EV, be sure to stay tuned for more information on it.

[INFO] http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display/1557127280/articles/electric-light-power/renewable-energy/phev/2012/April/IBM__Honda__PG_E_enable_smart_charging_for_electric_vehicles.html http://www.examiner.com/green-transportation-in-national/ibm-honda-and-pg-e-testing-electric-car-smart-grid-technology

A huge selling point for the new Honda Civic Natural Gas sedan is the cost of fuel being so low. Natural emits fewer emissions and is also cheaper to buy than conventional gasoline. Unfortunately, actually obtaining compressed natural gas to fill up your tank can prove troublesome as there aren't pumps at ever corner as there are conventional gas stations.

So what's Honda's plan for this? If you happen to live near…

There???s nothing like the smell of a brand-new car, right? Actually, that the ???new car smell??? is bad for your health and that of children and pets, as it is composed of chemicals coming off the steering wheel, seats, armrests and dashboard.

A new study of toxic chemicals in new cars from the Ecology Center released on HealthyStuff.orgsheds more light on the subject and it is interesting reading, to say the least. Officially, the study is called ???The Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Cars.??? Right at the outset, we???d like to point out that the best performer, or ???least toxic??? vehicle is the 2012 Honda Civic. More about that later.

Did you know that the average American spends more than 1.5 hours in a car every day? Over time, accumulated exposure to toxins being released in the vehicle, exacerbated by extreme heat trapped inside on hot days, may lead to health problems such as allergies, birth defects, learning impairment, liver toxicity, and cancer.  

What are these chemicals? According to Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center, the chief culprits are bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants, or BFRs), chlorine (which indicates the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC and plasticizers), lead and heavy metals.

???Automobiles function as chemical reactors, creating one of the most hazardous environments we spend time in,??? said Gearhart.

Testing for chemical toxins - HealthyStuff.org

This year???s testing involved more than 200 new vehicles on dealer lots. Gearhart added that there???s good news for consumers in that overall vehicle ratings are improving. The best vehicles today, according to the study, have eliminated hazardous flame retardants and PVC. The study further found that 17 percent of new vehicles today have interiors completely free of PVC, while 60 percent are produced without BFRs. See the list of PVC-free vehicles here and BFR-free vehicles here.

Back to the list of top performers in this year???s testing, the 2012 Honda Civic achieved the number one spot by being free of BFRs in all interior components, utilizing PVC-free interior fabrics and interior trim, and containing low levels of heavy metals and other metal allergens.

In addition, Honda is again the top-rated automaker for healthy interiors, as it has been since 2007.

 Katie D'Anna FFA