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Automakers, including Honda, and utilities collaborated to develop a platform for vehicle-grid functionality that can create value for drivers and reduce emissions. Honda participates in a vehicle-to-grid demonstration with the University of Delaware Honda is now joining a group of eight other major automakers and 15 utilities organized by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).  This group plans to demonstrate an open-grid integration platform for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).  The plan for the platform includes streamlining of V2G communications which would enable PEVs to provide grid service.  It would also increase the value of PEVs. Large-scale collaboration of global automakers and 3,300 utilities across North America is necessary to maximize the potential of grid integration of PEVs. "This project is an important step in enabling plug-in vehicles to reach their potential as a valuable distributed resource that can increase grid stability, improve power quality and reduce demand peaks," said Steven Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda. "Honda is participating in several projects aimed at accelerating vehicle-to-grid integration, which has the potential to reduce the total cost of owning a plug-in vehicle while enabling higher concentrations of renewable energy." This is not the first project of this nature that Honda has collaborated on.  Honda has been at the forefront of expanding its knowledge of V2G systems through participation in several projects, including one with IBM in which Honda demonstrated a PEV’s ability to receive and respond to charge instructions based on grid conditions and the vehicle’s battery state. Phase II of this project also explored expanding the use of the grid to schedule charge times based on drivers’ needs and incorporated the use of renewable energy sources for charging. Also, Honda supplied the University of Delaware with its PEV, an Accord Plug-In Hybrid.  Collaboratively, Honda will research the potential of V2G technology to benefit not only the vehicle owners, but also the grid and society as a whole. Finally, in March 2014, Honda launched another project at the University of California, Davis--Honda Smart Home US.  This project will continue to investigate the integration of the home with distributed renewable energy, the electric vehicle, and the smart grid.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has announced that they will be resigning their contract with supercross and motocross rider Trey Canard for two more years. Canard has driven for Honda his entire professional career and will ride a factory Honda CRF450R in the AMA Supercross Championship and AMA Pro Motocross Championship during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Following a successful amature career, that includes his winning the 2007 AMA Horizon Award, Canard signed with the Factory Connection Honda team, earning the 205SX Eastern Region title in 2008 which was his rookie season. His racing resume also includes an AMA Pro Motocross 250 title and a win for the USA team in the Motocross of Nations. "We are very much looking forward to having Trey back with Honda for two more years," said Ray Conway, Director of Racing at American Honda. "He has been with the company for his entire professional career, and he is a joy to work with. His performance this season, particularly in the Pro Motocross Championship, demonstrates his potential, and we're expecting even better things from him in 2015 and '16."