Environment

Honda "smart home" showcases off-the-grid energy solutions

Honda "smart home" showcases off-the-grid energy solutions
The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House
The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House
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The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House
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The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House
The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House
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The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House
The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House integrates electric vehicles as well as home appliances
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The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House integrates electric vehicles as well as home appliances
The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House integrates electric vehicles as well as home appliances
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The Honda Smart Home System Demonstration Testing House integrates electric vehicles as well as home appliances
"Vehicle to Home Charge" using FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
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"Vehicle to Home Charge" using FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
"Vehicle to Home Charge" using FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
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"Vehicle to Home Charge" using FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
"Vehicle to Vehicle Charge" using FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle and Fit EV Test Vehicle
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"Vehicle to Vehicle Charge" using FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle and Fit EV Test Vehicle
Charging area of Fit EV Test Vehicle
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Charging area of Fit EV Test Vehicle
Inverter (for Fit EV use)
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Inverter (for Fit EV use)
Inverter (for Fit EV use)
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Inverter (for Fit EV use)
HSHS devices (Clockwise from top: Smart e Mix Manager, hot water supply tank, household gas-engine cogeneration unit, home battery unit)
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HSHS devices (Clockwise from top: Smart e Mix Manager, hot water supply tank, household gas-engine cogeneration unit, home battery unit)
HSHS devices (Clockwise from top: Smart e Mix Manager, hot water supply tank, household gas-engine cogeneration unit, home battery unit)
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HSHS devices (Clockwise from top: Smart e Mix Manager, hot water supply tank, household gas-engine cogeneration unit, home battery unit)
CIGS thin-film solar cell panels
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CIGS thin-film solar cell panels
CIGS thin-film solar cell panels on demonstration house
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CIGS thin-film solar cell panels on demonstration house
Web-based HSHS control and output data
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Web-based HSHS control and output data
Ground floor Living Room
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Ground floor Living Room
Ground floor Japanese Style Room
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Ground floor Japanese Style Room
Second floor Bedroom
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Second floor Bedroom
Bathroom
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Bathroom
Electric Charging arm located in Garage
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Electric Charging arm located in Garage
Kitchen (Left gas stove, Right electric stove)
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Kitchen (Left gas stove, Right electric stove)
Smart plug
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Smart plug
Smart plug
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Smart plug
Hot Water Fan Convector
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Hot Water Fan Convector
Data Room display
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Data Room display
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Honda has unveiled a demonstration house in Saitama, Japan, to showcase and test its new Honda Smart Home System (HSHS). Featuring a line-up of innovative energy production, management and conservation solutions, the company hopes HSHS will free homeowners from the constraints of on-grid living somewhat, give them a leg up on self-sufficiency when disaster strikes and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions both at home and on the road by networking electric vehicles into the mix.

Included in the concept dwelling are thin-film solar cell panels, a gas engine-driven cogeneration unit and water-heating system, a rechargable home battery and an energy control device called the Smart e Mix Manager that ties everything together.

The HSHS-equipped home will produce clean energy utilizing new solar cell modules that incorporate high-efficiency, thin-film CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, selenium) cells.

To further lower greenhouse gases produced by home heating/cooling, cooking and water heating (functions which account for about 60% of the energy typically used by average Japanese homes), a cogeneration system driven by a specially-designed high-expansion-ratio engine, dubbed EXlink (for Extended Expansion Linkage Engine), will provide combined power generation and heat recovery efficiencies of up to 92 percent.

The Smart e Mix Manager functions as the central control for the entire system and keeps track of all energy produced by the system's components as well as power supplied from the grid. Additionally, in tandem with the Home Battery Unit, it can supply emergency electricity in the event of blackouts or disasters such as earthquakes, of which Japan has more than its fair share.

In true home-of-the-future style, on top of optimizing home energy use and fostering a low-carbon lifestyle, the HSHS will alert the homeowner of lights and utilities that could be turned off before leaving, allow voice-recognition remote control of appliances from on the road (with Honda's Japan-only Internavi in-car telematics system) and provide real-time feedback on all components. There's even a provision to use electric vehicle batteries as additional back-up electricity in the home should grid power be interrupted for some reason.

Honda plans construction of additional homes and will continue testing and refining the system until at least 2018. No pricing has yet been discussed, nor is it clear whether existing buildings can be retrofitted, but hopefully, some form of this innovative system will become available before that distant date.

Source: Honda

The Honda video below (in Japanese) shows the features of the HSHS:

View gallery - 25 images
3 comments
3 comments
pointyup
This is a step inthe right direction. Instead of being ripped off by power companies homes or groups of homes can produce their own power. Who knows, maybe a whole suburb can get together and generate nuclear power for base load and solar panels for battery charging. Love it.
electric38
Power companies and gas and oil monopolies should buy this idea out quickly, or slow the development by a decade or two as it will cut deeply into their business.
No electric or gasoline purchases and it will definitely lower health care costs created by pollution. Looks like a lot of jobs will be created. What will consumers do with all the extra money created from the free energy of sunlight?
Nicolas Zart
Wow, is Honda finally serious about the electric drive or are they still producing concepts?