2012 Honda Civic Hybrid: Upgraded Compared To Last Year's Version

Posted by The Popular News Today on Friday, August 31, 2012

By Edmont Pescatelini


The 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid has improved upon its gas economy from 41 mpg to 44 mpg and is now using a lithium-ion battery for energy. The Civic Hybrid is now in second-place for gas economy for cars that still rely on fossil fuels. Aided by the increase in mileage, the Civic is nearer to the Prius, and now ahead of the Lexus CT 200h. It really is considered the most fuel-efficient four door on the market today.

A new 2012 Civic Hybrid makes use of the Integrated Motor Assist, which is the fifth generation hybrid powertrain system that is made up of a thin, pancake like electronic motor/generator. It solely assists the gasoline engine by staying integrated between the engine and transmission, making it similar to the hybrid systems from Ford and Toyota. The vehicle could possibly be driven by electric power alone, but normally the electric motor assists the gas engine. All engine elements still keep moving even when the car runs temporarily on electric power. When the car quits, the engine shuts off just like other hybrids.

Along with the switch to lithium-ion batteries, the 2012 Civic Hybrid also comes with a bigger gasoline engine than before. It now has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine instead of 1.3-liters but the combined horsepower of gas and electric remain the same. The engine uses the electric motor with greater frequency because the engine runs at a lower RPM due to the larger displacement, which results in a quieter ride. Honda attained optimal efficiency by adjusting the hybrid system like improving the motor output from 15kw to 20kw. Plastic spacers as well as widely spaced coils and magnets enable the system to better regulate the temperature. The motor has been elevated three horsepower beyond the previous motor, running up to 23 horsepower.

The nickel-metal hydride battery has been succeeded by the stronger 20-kw Li-ion battery, which is 5 kw more and 30% lighter. Together with the battery's 35% boost in efficiency and the IMA system's greater power, the Civic Hybrid is now offering the capability of using only electric motor power more often, in certain times of cruising at low speeds. There were stability problems linked to the battery so the switch to lithium battery should resolve this problem. Rounding out the IMA system is going to be the continuously variable transmission. It operates a lot like a 10-speed bicycle with a drive pulley and a driven pulley that are linked with a steel belt. It's a combination between the conventional geared automatic transmission and a manual transmission.

Aided by the improvements made on the 2012 Civic Hybrid in fuel efficiency and upgraded battery, it's now a car to be reckoned with. This kind of advancement has definitely made Prius look over its shoulder.




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