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Honda recalls 2.23 million vehicles to replace Takata inflators

The Basics: Honda and Acura will recall 2.23 million vehicles in the US. The affected models are: 2005-2012 Acura RL 2007-2011 Honda CR-V 2007-2016 Acura RDX (early production MY 2016 vehicles only) 2007-2014 Honda Ridgeline 2009-2014 Honda Fit 2009-2014 Acura TL 2010-2014 Honda FCX Clarity 2010-2014 Honda Insight 2010-2013 Acura ZDX 2011-2015 Honda CR-Z 2013-2016 Acura ILX (early production MY 2016 vehicles only) The Problem: These vehicles have Takata's PSDI-5 airbag inflator on the driver's side, and this part could rupture if the airbag deploys. Injuries/Deaths: There are no reported ruptures of the PSDI-5 inflator in Honda or Acura vehicles. However, Takata's exploding components have links to at least 10 deaths worldwide because they can spray shrapnel at occupants. The Fix: Honda and Acura dealers will replace the inflators with parts from an alternative supplier. If You Own One: The repairs will begin this summer. Owners will receive a letter notifying them about the recall within 60 days and will get a second message when the parts are available. The company will prioritize older models in high-humidity regions first because these inflators would be most likely to rupture. More Information: Honda and Acura have now recalled 8.51 million vehicles in the US to replace their driver or passenger side inflators. This latest expansion came in the wake of a driver death from an airbag rupture in a Ford Ranger. Ford and Mazda already enlarged their safety campaigns. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also announced Audi, BMW, Daimler Vans, Mercedes-Benz, Saab, and Volkswagen would have recalls for this issue, too. Statement by American Honda Regarding Nationwide Recall of Certain Takata PSDI-5 Driver Front Airbag Inflators Feb 3, 2016 - TORRANCE, Calif. Approximately 2.23 million Takata PSDI-5 driver front airbag inflators will require replacement in Honda and Acura vehicles in the U.S. No PSDI-5 inflator ruptures have been reported in Honda or Acura vehicles Takata inflators will be replaced with parts from an alternative supplier with repairs beginning in the Summer of 2016 Based on a recent Defect Information Report (16E-005) from the airbag inflator supplier, Takata, Honda will conduct a national recall (16V-061) of approximately 2.23 million Honda and Acura vehicles in the United States to replace, free of charge to vehicle owners, the PSDI-5 Takata driver front airbag inflators installed in those vehicles.

Recharge Wrap-up: Eberhard helps Chinese EV maker in US, 'Hail a Honda' at Austin City Limits

Honda is partnering with nonprofit ridesharing service Ride Austin to provide "Hail A Honda" service during the Austin City Limits Music Festival. For both weekends of the festival (Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 and Oct. 7 – Oct. 9), attendees can ride to the event for free in a special liveried 2016 Honda CR-V. The Ride Austin app will feature a "Honda at ACL Festival" tab to hail rides, and users will get a free bandana and water. 2016 marks Honda's eighth year as an Austin City Limits sponsor, and the automaker hosts its own stage at the event. Read more from Honda. Tesla cofounder Martin Eberhard is helping a Chinese EV company enter the US market. Chongqing Sokon Industry Group says it has hired Eberhard as a consultant with a two-year contract. Sokon has created a US-based subsidiary called SF Motors, and Eberhard will manage "the integration of the world's top talent for new energy vehicles, to promote the company's product positioning, R&D, design, technical innovation, talent pool, marketing, in the United States." Since helping to found Tesla, Eberhard has worked on EVs with Volkswagen, Atieva, and as an investor in Alta Motors. Read more at Electrek. A supplier for the Tesla Model 3 describes the automaker's perfectionism. Fuji Technica, a die maker supplying aluminum dies for the Model 3, describes its relationship with Tesla in an article from the Nikkei Asian Review. The company calls Tesla a demanding customer, asking for very specific shapes despite the difficulty of working with aluminum. Fuji Technica must work some dies by hand to achieve Tesla's "meticulous specifications." The company is proud of its achievements, though, especially considering its turnaround after years of financial troubles. Read more from the Nikkei Asian Review, and at Inside EVs. Related Gallery Tesla Model 3 View 18 Photos News Source: Honda, Electrek, Inside EVs, Nikkei Asian Review Green Marketing/Advertising Honda Automakers Tesla Transportation Alternatives Electric recharge wrapup

Honda patent predicts the future of window shades

You may not think of window shades as a particularly high-tech item. Honda is apparently thinking about changing that notion. A patent filed by Honda shows a rather interesting idea: rather than employing a tinted film that goes in place permanently or stowable fabric shades, the patent shows windows with some type of surface that can adjust the amount of light it lets in. Imagine something like Transitions lenses for glasses, or the Smart Glass sunroof on the Mercedes-Maybach S600, which you can see demonstrated at the bottom of this post. What takes the idea a step further is touch controls and adjustability. The patent drawing illustrates how a passenger could decide how much of the window needs shading by simply dragging a finger along the glass to the desired point. This would be very useful on any side window in the car to give passengers, and even the driver, some shielding from the sun when not driving straight into it. The one downside we can see is the accumulation of finger prints and smudges on the interior glass (which would be especially bad on the windshield). But the benefits could outweigh that annoyance. Or perhaps this would be a good feature to use gesture controls on. Related Video: News Source: United States Patent & Trademark OfficeImage Credit: Honda / United States Patent & Trademark Office Auto News Honda Technology Emerging Technologies Gadgets patent