Honda hybrid uses improved technology

The 2003 Civic Hybrid, which will go on sale nationwide this spring, combines a small internal combustion engine with an electric motor to provide the best of both worlds-performance and fuel economy. Built on the current sedan platform, the Civic Hybrid features an improved version of Honda's patented Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, currently used in its smaller Insight model.

Significant advancements in the updated IMA system include Honda's state-of-the-- art i-DSI (intelligent Dual & Sequential Ignition) lean-bum combustion technology and a newly developed cylinder deactivation system, which adapts the VTEC variable valve control to increase the amount of electrical energy recovered during deceleration. Three of the four cylinders can be shut down, achieving 50% less engine friction during deceleration. The 1.3-liter i-DSI -cylinder engine features two spark plugs per cylinder. Combined with Honda's continuously variable (CVT) automatic transmission or manual transmission, this new IMA system provides a combination of improved driveability and fuel economy, which is expected to be around 50 miles per gallon.

The IMA system essentially "recycles" energy that would otherwise be lost during braking and uses that power for acceleration at a later time. During acceleration and other times of heavy engine load, the electric motor "assists" the gasoline engine by providing additional torque, resulting in improved acceleration without compromising fuel economy. At cruising speeds, when engine load is lower, the motor assist system lets the ultra-efficient gasoline engine maintain the vehicle's speed. During deceleration, the electric motor becomes a generator and converts energy into electricity (regenerative braking). The electric motor is positioned between the engive and transmission.

The engine also has an automatic idle stop feature. When stopped at a traffic light, for example, the engine shuts off automatically, then restarts immediately when the driver lets off the brake pedal or puts the car into gear (manual transmission). This contributes to both greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

Another significant improvement is the combination of the Power Control Unit (PCU) and the battery pack, which reduces the system volume by 50% and has allowed designers to locate the Civic Hybrid's IMA equipment behind the rear seat in the trunk, where it has minimal impact on cargo space and no impact on the sedan's interior volume.

Copyright Hearst Business Publishing Feb 2002
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