Honda creates a solar cell subsidiary and factory, to be ready by late 2007

Honda announced late last week that it would establish a new subsidiary, Honda Soltec Co., Ltd., to make some swanky solar cells. This new variety, known in the biz as CIGS (copper, indium, gallium and selenium -- no, not those other environmentally-unfriendly kind), apparently require half of the energy needed to produce traditional solar cells. The Japanese plant, which is already under construction, is expected to be fully operational by fall 2007 with an annual capacity of 27.5 megawatts. Maybe if other automakers can lease some of this tech from Honda, those solar-powered rides will get a bit more budget-friendly -- or at least they might be able to use some of those savings on better industrial design.

[PG @ Dec 5th 2006 5:56AM]

burst battery. BOOM BOOM BOOM!

[Intrepid @ Dec 5th 2006 6:37AM]

Sounds good to me... normally I am a Toyota fanboy... but first kid on the blocks with a really energy efficient car will get my money.

[David @ Dec 5th 2006 8:04AM]

good thing its not sony making this... last thing i want in my car is a sony battery

[thrillhouse @ Dec 5th 2006 11:22AM]

or at least they might be able to use some of those savings on better industrial design.

Thank you for that, but I wouldn't count on it.

[Utahfab @ Dec 5th 2006 11:45AM]

Honda actually anounced these plans the end of 2005.

see http://world.honda.com/news/2005/c051219.html

These are not for autos, they are solar cells for your home or business.

Honda is all around the "cleanest" car company in the world. In a very polluted the ULEV accord actually puts out exhaust that is cleaner than the air it breaths in!