Honda Civic Hybrid
Encyclopedia
Honda Civic (seventh generation)
The seventh generation of the Honda Civic was released in September 2000 as 2001 model. Compared to its predecessor, it retained similar exterior dimensions, but increased significantly in interior space thus bumping up Civic to a compact car size segment. There was a flat rear floor, giving better...
, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model. It is the first hybrid vehicle to be certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero- Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) from California's Air Resources Board.
Design
The first generation of the Honda Civic Hybrid was based on the seventh generationHonda Civic (seventh generation)
The seventh generation of the Honda Civic was released in September 2000 as 2001 model. Compared to its predecessor, it retained similar exterior dimensions, but increased significantly in interior space thus bumping up Civic to a compact car size segment. There was a flat rear floor, giving better...
Honda Civic. It was the first mainstream vehicle from Honda equipped with a gasoline-electric hybrid system and became the second hybrid model of the company after Insight
Honda Insight
The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by Honda and the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. The first-generation Insight was produced from 1999 to 2006 as a three-door hatchback...
. Model with manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was rated 46 mpg city / 51 mpg highway according to United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) fuel mileage estimates, about the same combined mileage as for the Toyota Prius, and became the most fuel-efficient five-passenger sedan ever sold in North America at the time.
The following is a list of its technical features
-
- Twin spark plugs light the lean fuel-air mixtures sent to the two-valve combustion chambers.
- 1.3 liter single overhead cam i-DSI lean-burnLean burnLean burn refers to the use of lean mixtures in an internal combustion engine. The air-fuel ratios can be as high as 65:1, so the mixture has considerably less fuel in comparison to the stoichiometric combustion ratio ....
internal-combustion engine with VTECVTECVTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
Cylinder Cut-off System, which allows three cylinders to deactivate during deceleration. The engine generates 85 hpHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
at 5,700 rpm and 87 ft·lbs of torque at 3300 rpm. - features idle stop. When stopped at traffic light, the engine shuts off automatically, then restarts immediately when the driver takes their foot off the brake, contributing to both greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
- 10 kW (13 hp) brushless, permanent magnet assist motorElectric motorAn electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
, which functions as a generatorElectrical generatorIn electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
during deceleration recharging the batteries (regenerative braking). - Combined output of both engine and electric motor is 93 hpHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
at 5,700 rpm. Maximum torque is rated 116 ft·lb at 1,500 rpm for manual transmission models and 105 ft·lb at 3,000 rpm for CVT models. - 144 V Nickel-metal hydrideNIMHNIMH or NiMH may refer to:*Nickel-metal hydride battery, a type of rechargeable battery*National Institute of Mental Health, a part of the United States National Institutes of Health...
batteriesBattery (electricity)An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
with 6.0 A·h capacity. - Honda Multimatic S continuously variable transmissionContinuously variable transmissionA continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
or 5-speed manual transmissionManual transmissionA manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. - ULEV or AT-PZEV certification by the California Air Resources BoardCalifornia Air Resources BoardThe California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB or ARB, is the "clean air agency" in the government of California. Established in 1967 in the Mulford-Carrell Act, combining the Bureau of Air Sanitation and the Motor Vehicle Pollution Control Board, CARB is a department within the...
(CARB). - Low rolling resistance tires (P185/70R14) on aluminum wheels and regenerative braking.
- Electric power-steering.
The motor in Civic hybrid is about a quarter-inch thicker than that of the Insight. Through improvements to the magnetic coils of the DC brushless motor, it achieves 30 percent greater assisting and regenerative torque than the previous model without increasing the size.
It generates more torque (46 versus 36 pound-feet) than the motor in Insight. The electricity is stored in a battery consisting of 120 1.2-volt Ni-MH D-cells wired in series. The battery can charge and discharge more rapidly and efficiently though the total capacity is reduced from the Insight's (6.0 versus 6.5 AH). Efficiency of the battery modules is increased, through a reduction in energy losses. The battery is housed with the electrical controller in a package called the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU). The new packaging reduces the size of the system by 50 percent and allowed to place the IMA equipment behind the rear seat in the trunk. The unit weighs only 63 pounds and is one-third smaller than that of the Insight.
The two spark plugs in each cylinder can fire either sequentially or simultaneously, enabling more efficient burning during lean-burn mode and more often lean-burn operation.
The engine can operate at a lean 22:1 air-to-fuel ratio more than 60 percent of the time on a flat road.
The VTEC cylinder idling system of the engine closes the valves in three of the four cylinders when the car is decelerating, reduces the power lost to the engine by 50 percent and allows the IMA to extract more electrical energy during braking. The rocker arms operating the intake and exhaust valves have two modes: valve-lift mode or idle mode. They are engaged via a synchronizing piston. During deceleration, the synchro piston disengages the lift-mode rocker arm so that the valves remain at rest, effectively sealing off the cylinder.
An idle stop feature shuts off the engine automatically when stopped, then restarts immediately when the driver removes their foot from the brake. This auto idle stop system contributes to both greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
During stop and go driving, the engine will turn off when the car comes to a stop for the first time, however, if the car does not go above 10 mph and stops again, the engine will not turn off unless the car is stopped for more than 15 seconds.
With assistance from the electric motor, the combined torque at below 3,700 rpm is greater than that available from the non-hybrid Civic's 1.7-liter engine.
Fuel efficiency further improved by six percent by utilizing: a new front air dam and rear spoiler, along with revised underbody panels, reducing the drag coefficient from 0.30 to 0.28; replacing traditional power steering with electrical power result as reduction in parasitic losses and special lower rolling resistance tires. The Dunlop tires improves ride quality and reduces road noise compared with other hybrids like Insight and Prius. When compared with Insight, a wider tire improves stability at highway speed.
Car and Driver reported that the car can accelerate 0-60 mph in 10.9 seconds.
Fuel economy
The Civic hybrid is estimated to be 40 percent more fuel efficient than its non-hybrid counterpart. In reality, a very low consumption as specified can be reached by very moderate acceleration, keeping the engine speed below 2000 rpm, and avoiding speeds above 50 mph. Driving at higher speeds or uphill will increase fuel consumption.Award and recognition
- The Civic Hybrid's engine won the International Engine of the YearInternational Engine of the YearThe International Engine of the Year is an annual competition for automotive industry internal combustion engines, judged by a panel of automobile journalists from around the world. It is organised by the United Kingdom's largest technical motoring, aerospace and traffic management publication...
"1 litre to 1.4 litre" size category award for three years straight from 2002 through 2004 as well as the "Best Fuel Economy" category for 2003 and 2004. - 2003 recognized by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy amongst the top ten Greenest Vehicles: tied for the third best score with Toyota Prius
Second generation (2005–2011)
The second generation Civic Hybrid is based on the eighth generation CivicHonda Civic (eighth generation)
The eighth generation of the Honda Civic was introduced in 2005. Trademarks of this generation include its futuristic sleek body, and its "two-tier" instrument panel. In many countries , all models come standard with power windows, anti-lock brakes , and side/curtain airbags...
. As with other Civics, there are some styling differences between the North American and the Japanese market models.
Design
The powertrain of the second generation Civic hybrid is similar to that of the first generation.The following is a list of major changes:
- Updated to fourth generation Integrated Motor AssistIntegrated Motor AssistIntegrated Motor Assist is Honda's hybrid car technology, introduced in 1999 on the Insight.It is a specific implementation of a parallel hybrid. It uses an electric motor mounted between the internal combustion engine and transmission to act as a starter motor, engine balancer, and assist...
(IMA) - more powerful electric motor of 20 hpHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
. - 158.4 V (132 x 1.2 V) Nickel-metal hydride batteries with 5.5 A·h capacity that is 12% smaller.
- Updated to three stage i-VTEC and VCM (Variable Cylinder Management)Variable Cylinder ManagementVariable Cylinder Management is Honda's term for a variable displacement technology. It uses the i-VTEC system to disable one bank of cylinders during specific driving conditions to save fuel. The 2008 Accord takes this a step further allowing the engine to go from 6 cylinders, down to 4, and...
, which permits deactivation of all four cylinders when cruising at moderate speed to run on electric power only. Engine output is increased to 93 hp (69 kW) at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque to 89 ft·lb at 4,500 rpm. - Combined output of both engine and electric motor is 110 hpHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
at 6,000 rpm. Maximum torque is rated 123 ft·lb at 2,500 rpm. - A new hybrid compressor for the air-conditioner.
- The continuous variable transmission provides a 9% wider range between the maximum and minimum gear ratios for better acceleration and reduced engine rpm at high speeds.
- Discontinued manual transmission option.
- The U.S. EPAUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
fuel economy estimate is increased to 49 mpg (US) city, 51 mpg (US) highway. (In 2008: EPA revised the way it estimates fuel mileage, as a result, the EPA rating for the 2008 model is: 40 mpg (US) city, 45 mpg (US) highway). - Updated to 15-inch lightweight aerodynamic alloy wheels (later featured on the Civic DX-G in Canada as well).
- Certified as AT-PZEV throughout 50 states.
By using high-performance magnets and high-density windings, Honda is able to increase the power output of the electric motor by 50% to 20 hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
at 2,000 rpm when compared with the first generation. The inverter that controls motor speed is integrated with the motor's ECU for more precise control, resulting in greater efficiency and fuel economy. The output of battery is increased by around 30 percent to 158.4 V. The battery storage box is designed for better cooling performance and vibration resistance to enhance long-term reliability. The higher output of electric motor enables the car to run on electricity only, at a steady 15 to 20 mph when cruising on a flat surface.
An internal electric motor is added to the air-conditioner, so it can be powered by either the engine, an electric motor, or both. At a stop, the compressor powered by the battery keeps the cabin cool. An additional compressor that is powered by the petrol engine also engages if rapid cooling is required. When the interior temperature is stable, air conditioning is provided by the battery solely. As soon as the brake pedal is lifted, the petrol engine comes back to life again.
The new three stage i-VTEC valvetrain has low-rpm, high-rpm and cylinder idle mode. High output valve timing help the engine to increase its output by 9 percent. During deceleration, the engine is kept idle. There are no combustion in all four cylinders and the cylinders are sealed shut, reducing pumping losses by engine. As a result, recovery of energy wasted during braking is improved by 10 percent.
A digital display is incorporated in the instrument dash showing how much electricity is sent to the battery or how much is used. When the car is braked moderately, maximum number of green LEDs light up showing energy recaptured. When the car is braked harder, the conventional brakes are activated.
Car and Driver found the car, when compared with previous generation, faster, offered greater refinement, quieter at highway speed, has a stiffer body and a revised suspension that handles bumps better and quietly.
Fuel economy
It is estimated that, when compared to a gasoline engine only Civic sedan of 2006 with an automatic transmission, the Civic hybrid provides an increase of fuel economy in city driving of about 63 percent and an increase of fuel economy in highway driving of about 27 percent.Market reception
The Civic hybrid ranks as the second best selling electric hybrid car in the U.S.Cost of ownership
Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
ran an article in April 2006 stating that hybrid vehicles would not pay for themselves over 5 years of ownership. However, there was an error in the calculation of depreciation for the hybrid vehicles. It resulted in overstating how much extra money the hybrids would cost their owners during the first five years of ownership. When corrected, the Honda Civic Hybrid did have a payback period of slightly less than 5 years.
In October 2010 Vincentric performed a hybrid cost of ownership analysis for USA market. In this analysis it compared hybrid's 5 year cost of ownership to their all gas counterparts. The analysis showed that 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid costs an additional $1830 dollars over a 2010 Honda Civic EX 2D Coupe with an Automatic Transmission (the report assume 15,000 miles are driven annually and fuel prices are based on a weighted average over the five months prior to October 2010).
In August 2010, Autoblog reports that a replacement battery for Civic hybrid retails at $2,100.
Other markets
The Civic hybrid was introduced to Malaysia in August 2007. It was launched in China in November 2007 and in India in June 2008.24 Hours Nürburgring
Honda Civic Hybrid has competed in 24 Hours Nürburgring24 Hours Nürburgring
The 24 Hours Nürburgring is a touring car and GT endurance racing event on the Nürburgring Nordschleife . With a lap length of over , it allows the participation of more than 200 cars, and over 700 drivers.-Overview:...
in 2007, finished in 108th. The twenty-four hours race around the Nürburgring, one of the world's most grueling courses. To race successfully in that course is considered a testament to the capability of Civic's hybrid powertrain.
Awards and recognition
- 2006 North American Car of the Year, along with the rest of the Civic range
- 2006 Motor Trend Car of the Year award, along with the rest of the Civic range.
- 2006 Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) Award for Alternative Power Vehicle.
- 2006 Winner of the World Green Car
Third generation (2011- )
The Civic Hybrid, launched in 2011 in the U.S. and Canada as a 2012 model yearModel year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
, has a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and a lithium-ion battery pack instead of nickel-metal hydride. The 2012 Civic Hybrid delivers a combined EPA rating of 44 miles per US gallon for both city and highway driving cycle, an improvement from 40 miles per US gallon city/highway for the previous model.
It comes with improved aerodynamics and Honda ECO Assist technology. The ECO Assist technology is an information system to help the driver adopt a more fuel-efficient driving style, and is proven to improve fuel economy by about 10% for Honda's hybrid vehicles in Japan.
The hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
version of the Civic Hybrid is under the development, said to be released in 2011 or 2012 to replace its sedan version, which is very unpopular in Europe.
Sales
| Cumulative Sales by Region (as of the end of January 2009) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region | Start of Sales | Cumulative Sales |
| Japan | Dec 2001 | 22,899 |
| North America | Mar 2002 | 191,493 |
| Europe | May 2003 | 34,757 |
| Asia/Oceania | Feb 2004 | 5,514 |
| China | Nov 2007 | 280 |
| Others | May 2006 | 306 |
| Total | 255,249 |
It is reported that over 50,000 Civic hybrids were sold during 2007 world-wide.