Honda's Greener Vehicles

Honda is a leader in developing cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, including the original Honda Insight, introduced as America’s first mass-produced hybrid car in December 1999. This fall Honda is showcasing a series of greener vehicles. Honda is also a leader in the development of advanced alternatives to gasoline, including the zero-emission, hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car, the world’s most advanced hydrogen production vehicle.

The EV-N concept car is a new electric compact vehicle which Honda officially debuted at the Tokyo motor show. The car runs on an electric battery and features a large solar roof to generate additional power. The EV-N integrates the miniscule U3-X electric transporter directly into its passenger door frame -- adding an additional 22-pounds.

Although hydrogen and fully electric cars are part of Honda's automotive future, Honda's greener vehicle strategy also includes hybrids. Honda Chief Executive Takanobu Ito said fully electric cars "are likely to face difficulty in becoming a mainstream solution in the foreseeable future." Honda, is therefore "devoting our energy in getting the most fuel-efficiency out of the battery system and electric power motors to come up with a truly compelling hybrid," Ito said.

For the near term future, Honda has announced plans to increase its US hybrid sales with the introduction of a third hybrid car, based on the Honda CR-Z concept vehicle.

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid car made its world debut at the North American International Auto Show early this year. Utilizing the fifth generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology and new, more cost-efficient production methods, the 2010 Insight offers an estimated EPA city/highway/combined fuel-economy rating of 40/43/41 miles per gallon US.

Evoking the aerodynamic five-door sedan design first deployed on the FCX Clarity fuel cell car, the new Insight has a low center of gravity and seats five. The 2010 Insight was launched at Honda dealers throughout the US in April 2009 and is priced below the Civic Hybrid.

The Insight combines a 1.3-liter SOHC aluminum-alloy i-VTEC engine and CVT, with a new generation of Honda’s IMA hybrid system. The Insight’s IMA system includes a 10 kW (13 hp) electric motor that delivers 68 lb-ft (92 Nm) of torque and a compact Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) consisting of a 5.75 Ah, 100.8V NiMH battery pack, Power Control Unit (PCU), motor Electric Control Unit (ECU), and cooling system. Combined output and overall torque of the engine and motor is 98 hp (73 kW) @ 5,800 rpm, with max torque of 123 lb-ft (167 Nm) @ 1,000-1,500 rpm.

A Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system monitors throttle position, engine temperature, intake manifold pressure, intake air mass flow atmospheric pressure, exhaust gas oxygen and intake air temperature to control fuel delivery via multi-holed injectors mounted in the intake port of the cylinder head. The intake manifold is made of a lightweight, composite resin instead of aluminum for further weight reduction.

Dual and sequential ignition with two spark plugs per cylinder facilitates an intense, rapid combustion process for increased power and reduced fuel consumption. During deceleration, cylinder deactivation via Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) virtually eliminates the pumping action of the cylinders, decreasing resistance to allow the motor/generator to more efficiently generate electricity with which to charge the battery.

The lightweight engine block incorporates a thin-sleeve construction. Friction reducing measures include plateau honing, low-friction pistons, low tensile-force piston rings and an offset cylinder bore. The surfaces of the high-strength forged steel connecting rods have been hardened with a special carbon process for a more lightweight design.

The 10 kW motor assists in acceleration and some steady state cruising conditions at low-to-mid vehicle speeds, depending upon conditions. The motor also incorporates regenerative braking, steady cruising, gentle deceleration and coasting to capture kinetic energy and recharge the battery, Under certain conditions the vehicle will be propelled exclusively by the electric motor.

The battery system in the IPU consists of seven NiMH modules, each comprising 84 ”D-sized” 1.2V cells. Compared to the fourth-generation battery technology in the 2006 Civic Hybrid, power output per module is 30% higher, enabling a reduction in modules from 11 to 7. The overall IPU size is reduced by 19% and overall weight by 28%.Packaging of the ultra-compact IMA battery and IPU in the vehicle’s rear floor allows the enhanced utility of a 60/40 split and fold-down rear seat back.

To help Insight owners realize the full benefits of Honda hybrid technology, the Insight will feature a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist). Eco Assist combines multiple functions including a driver-activated ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), engine and related powertrain components to further improve vehicle fuel efficiency. A driver feedback function that uses an innovative speedometer display with changing background colors to provide real-time guidance to the driver on achieving higher fuel efficiency. A unique fuel-economy scoring function using a plant-leaf graphic to provide feedback to the driver on current-trip driving efficiency and lifetime fuel-efficient driving performance.

The Insight is not the most efficient, most luxurious, nor the most advanced but it is the lowest priced hybrid on the market.
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NEXT: Korean (Hyundai & Kia) Greener Cars / European Greener Cars / American Greener Vehicles (Ford's Greener Vehicles / GM's Greener Vehicles) / Government Investment in Greener Vehicles

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