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Future Honda hybrid to fit standard nickel-metal hydride batteries
By Yoann Besnard on 26 March 2008 | 
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Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has revealed more details about the future low-cost hybrid model due to be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show.
The closer we get to the launch date, the more Honda reveals about its mass-market hybrid models which will take on the established rivals in term of volume sales. The future model will be fitted with standard nickel-metal hydride power packs. Honda President Takeo Fukui says the technology is still too unreliable to go into mass production. "Lithium-ion batteries are still not usable from our perspective," Fukui told Automotive News in an interview at Honda's Tokyo headquarters on Wednesday, March 19. "In terms of reliability and durability, I must say there still remain some concerns," he said. "I don't think they are necessarily best suited for mass-produced vehicles."
Fukui’s statement stands out against other carmakers as GM, Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi have announced plans to sell cars equipped with lithium-ion batteries. The Japanese carmaker remains wary as it wants the hybrids to make up 10 percent of sales by 2012. The future hybrid model is expected to find 200,000 buyers every year.