Car makers keep up with eco-friendly trends

Car manufacturers have been in the news lately over their initiatives to install charging stations for their respective electric vehicles (EV) or launch new models that tend to consume alternative energy.

Honda is one of them as it recently launched a project aimed to install 120 charging stations on the Torrance, California headquarter campus of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. for the car company’s associates. In 2016, it will open a publicly-accessible charger on Harpers Way, adjacent to the campus, to support charging needs of Torrance residents, according to a company release.

The project, which is partly funded by California Energy Commission (CEC), complements California's Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Action Plan and the company’s initiatives to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50 percent by the year 2050.

Ford Motor Company is also looking into installing more than 20 charging stations in the near future in addition to the 145 EV chargers already available at 43 Ford workplaces in the United States and Canada, reported finchannel.com.

Likewise, the American automaker partnered with DTE Energy to power the Ford World Headquarters’ campus by harnessing solar energy.

Toyota Motor Co., on the other hand is skeptical about electric vehicles, and considers hydrogen-powered cars are the long term solution, according to nbc15.com.

The Japanese maker recently launched its first hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle Toyota Mirai and also launching a new version of its hybrid car Toyota Prius.

It has disclosed its plans to phase out its gasoline-powered vehicles by 2050.