Some of the first 2013 Honda Fit EVs are now currently working in the United States. The two cars were delivered as a part of Honda’s Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program to Google Inc. and Standford University with the intention of being used as fleet and research. Joining the city of Torrance, California, the two American institutions will have their hands on the zero emissions Fit before its limited leasing release later this summer.
“The goal of the Honda Electric Vehicle Demonstration Program is to better understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the advancement in battery-electric technology,” said Steve Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda. Google and Standford both will be evaluating the pre-production vehicle but will be going about the process a different way. Entering Google’s G-Fleet will be the Fit EV and it will be shared by numerous employees and park next to other alternative fueled cars and trucks. Standford will put the car up against a standard, gasoline-powered Fit to test both their “theories.” This will help Honda better understand the emotional difference between the two cars and make sure that customer familiarity becomes as high as possible.
. “Honda has a long history with electric vehicles beginning with the introduction of our first battery-electric car, the EV Plus, nearly 15 years ago. Honda’s experience and the unique feedback that Google, Stanford University and the city of Torrance will provide will be valuable to the future introduction of battery-electric technology.”
Source: Honda
