The Honda Hybrid Civic released in 2004 is a hybrid version of the Honda Civic sedan. In 2006, Honda redesigned the Honda Hybrid Civic as part of its second-generation Civic platform.
Honda Hybrid Car Technology
Hybrid technologies added to the Civic in 2003 were a Dual and Sequential Ignition with a gasoline engine and electric motor (Integrated Motor Assist system), and a continuously variable transmission that transformed the car into a fuel-efficient hybrid sedan.
Fuel Economy
With the use of this Hybrid Technology, Honda was able to extend the fuel efficiency of the Civic. The Honda Hybrid Civic has earned an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rating of 30/40-mpg (miles per gallon) for city/highway driving compared to the Civic rating of 49/51 mpg rating.
Honda Hybrid Civic can travel 650 miles on a single tank with 50-80 percent lower emissions qualifying it as an Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV).
The Integrated Motor Assist System (IMA) in the 2006 model was modified so that it can now run on battery alone. However, it is still unable to start the engine using battery power only. The IMA system is fully automated which causes itself to adjust to any driving conditions.
Another modification is the deactivation of the four-cylinder gasoline engine when cruising at low and steady speed. As with the 2004 model, the gasoline engine can stop when the car slows down to a stop but the engine restarts when you release the brake pedal.
The Green Car
Honda Hybrid Civic is a green car because it has achieved reduced exhaust emission without loss of power. The Dual and Sequential Ignition (DSI) takes full control of combustion by employing two spark plugs per cylinder igniting more fuel and air as much as possible.
A comparison of the 2003 Honda Civic and 2003 Honda Hybrid Civic conducted by Environmental Defense showed significant difference in terms of a per year fuel consumption and vehicle emissions indicated in pounds.
The ordinary Civic model runs at 370 gallons per year compared to only 263 for the hybrid. Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced from 7,176 lb to 5,089 lb, and and carbon monoxide from 135 lb to 79.9 lb. The 2003 Honda Civic emitted 7.4 lb of nitrogen oxide compared to only 0.8 lb in the Honda Hybrid Civic model.
The redesigned Honda Hybrid Civic is part of the continuing improvement of Honda’s Civic platform and an essential contribution to the hybrid green car phenomenon.
