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Honda to offer

electric vehicle in

United States

TORRANCE: Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co. said Monday it plans to offer an all-new electric vehicle in the United States next year.

Honda said the vehicle, called the Honda EV, will be built in Japan. The vehicle will seat four passengers and be the first electric vehicle to operate on advanced nickel-metal hydride batteries, the power source used in many cellular telephones and laptop computers.

In a statement, Honda said it plans to lease the Honda EV to both fleets and individual consumers in California, beginning in the spring of 1997.

Automakers had been under pressure to produce electric cars for sale in California to meet strict emission regulations due to take effect in 1998.

However, the California Air Resources Board recently delayed the deadline until 2003 to give automakers more time to experiment with advanced battery technology.

Unlike some electric vehicles, which are converted from traditional gasoline-powered engines, Honda's EV features almost completely new components.

Honda said the EV has a range of 125 miles and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 18.7 seconds. It has a top speed of over 80 miles per hour.

For recharging, the Honda EV is equipped with a compact on-board charger, capable of recharging at 110 or 220 volts.

A spokesman for Honda declined to comment on how much the vehicle will cost, saying the automaker plans to reveal more details Wednesday at a news conference in Los Angeles.-Reuter