Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will begin sales in Japan of the Pianta*1 FV200, an easy-to-use gas-powered mini-tiller that runs on readily available, easy-to-use and store home-use butane gas canisters. The new tiller will go on sale in Japan at Honda power products dealers (authorized agricultural equipment dealers and home centers) throughout Japan.
The Pianta FV200 is designed to provide easy fuel handling and operation, and for easy transport and storage. Designed to use butane gas canisters, widely available for home-use portable stoves, it enables easy engine startup and refueling so that even a novice can enjoy flower and vegetable gardening more casually. It comes with a carrying box to help keep the storage area clean and a carrying stand with built-in wheels (standard equipment), to ensure easy transport and storage for outstanding all-round convenience. The Pianta’s butane-powered engine emits 10% less CO2*2 than a gasoline engine of the same displacement.
With the introduction of the Pianta FV200, Honda intends to cultivate new demand in Japan’s flower and vegetable gardening market, which is estimated at more than 30 million people*3, spurred by growing interestsin food safety and the baby-boomer generation.
*1 ‘Pianta’ is Italian for ‘plant’.
*2 Honda calculations
*3 Honda survey (resource: Dentsu Research)
Key Features of the Pianta FV200
Three features that contribute to outstanding ease of use 1) Easy fuel handling
· The Pianta FV200 is powered by readily available, easy to handle home-use butane canisters. The compact canisters are easy to carry and to store.
· The butane canister is inserted into a special canister case for one-touch re-fueling.
· The use of gaseous fuel eliminates problems with clogged fuel lines, for smooth start-up even after long periods of storage.
· A structure which eliminates impurities from the canister gas is built into the regulator, preventing impurities from entering the mixer. This improves start-up performance and durability after long periods of use.
2) Easy transport and storage
· The FV200’s foldable handle saves storage space and make it easy to transport by vehicle. The front guard and carrying handle are optimally positioned for easy hand carrying.
· The tiller can be put in the carrying box without lifting it off the ground, allowing the tiller to be transported without soiling the user’s clothes or the transport passage.
· A carrying stand with built-in wheels (standard equipment) ensures smooth, easy transport.
3) Easy operation
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