Honda teams up with Science Museum to showcase Insight

5 May 2009

Honda’s all-new Insight is being put to work by the Science Museum. The more affordable hybrid car will be an example of environmental technology used by the museum on a daily basis as part of a drive to improve the museum’s energy efficiency.

Donning a bright livery that explains its petrol-electric hybrid technology and regenerative braking, the Insight has been transformed into an educational display that is functional too.

It will be used to chauffeur VIP guests around the museum’s vast site at Wroughton and will also be entrusted to transport some of science’s rarest and most important books and manuscripts between the Science Museum sites in Wroughton and London.

Being exempt from the London Congestion Charge makes the Insight ideal to transfer books between the two museum sites, while its low CO2 emissions of 101g/km mean it will save the museum money with reduced road tax of £15 a year, low company car tax and excellent fuel economy of 64.2mpg (combined) which means fewer trips to the filling station.

“We are delighted and very grateful to Honda to take delivery of this low-emission vehicle,” said Chris Rapley, Director of the Science Museum. “It provides the Museum with a new means of undertaking our core business in a responsible yet stylish way.

“The Science Museum believes that the challenge of decarbonising the energy supply to prevent serious climate change is the greatest issue that humanity has to address, and utilising new technology to reduce the impact of our lifestyles on the environment is an essential step. Hybrid cars, such as the Insight, provide a logical progression towards a zero emission future.”

John Kingston, Environment and Government Affairs Manager for Honda (UK) added: “To make the Insight more affordable than any other hybrid car on the market, our engineers drew on Honda’s 20 years experience of developing hybrids. Showcasing this innovation at a hub of science and technology education is great.”

Honda (UK) has donated the Insight to Science Museum at Wroughton, near Swindon, as part of its ongoing programme to support local charities and organisations involved in engineering, environmental and educational activities.

For information about the Science Museum, visit sciencemuseum.org.uk