Is Honda messing with our heads?
That’s what some auto pundits believe. One, author Edwin Black, writes that the Japanese automaker is purposely withholding more of its alternative fuel technology cars and refueling devices. For example, the Japanese auto maker has the Honda Civic GX, a car that can run on compressed natural gas. But there aren’t many of these vehicles available. Why? Black and others believe that Honda wants to continue to boost sales of its gasoline engine vehicles like SUVs (read Pilot). They point to the fact that the GX does not equip it with GPS navigation and good audio systems like it does with its other cars. Moreover, it is sold in only two states in the U.S. – California and New York.
Also, people who purchase the at-home CNG refueling products called Phill are not getting any assistance from Honda dealers. Moreover, it is also said that Honda is stingy about selling Phill. Only 300 units have been sold in the U.S. as of spring 2008.
Our take? We guess the logical question to ask is why would Honda do this? The company argues that demand for CNG vehicles are low with not enough service stations offer CNG.
Makes sense to us.
via the Auto Channel
The problem is, some of the greatest demand is outside of CA and NY. In Utah, CNG is something like 70 cents per gallon equivalent, and yet, you can’t buy it there! Sometimes it takes a while for trends to be noticed by the higher-ups in the corporate food chain.