Plug-in hybrid

Plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is any vehicle powered by a combination of internal combustion engine and electric motor with storage batteries that can be recharged by connecting the vehicle by plug to an external electrical power source. Plug-in hybrids typically have characteristics of both conventional hybrid electric vehicles and of battery electric vehicles. While PHEVs are usually passenger vehicles, plug-in hybrid technology has been implemented or proposed in delivery vans, trucks, buses, military vehicles, and other medium- to heavy-duty vehicles.

The cost for electricity to power PHEVs in California is about one fourth the cost of gasoline. If their batteries are charged from renewable energy such as wind or hydropower, PHEVs use minimal amounts of fossil fuel for their all-electric range, and may thereby reduce dependence on petroleum and mitigate global warming by alleviating the greenhouse effect. Plug-in hybrids have been identified as having significant potential as alternative fuel vehicles.UNIQ13a008212792c924-ref78178390706c535e00000001

Plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles are not in mass production as of early 2007, although some manufacturers have indicated that they intend to introduce PHEV production models. Prototypes have been built to demonstrate the technology and to encourage its widespread adaptation. Conversions of production model hybrid vehicles may be available from conversion kits and conversion services pending commercial production. Most existing PHEVs are conversions of Toyota Prius hybrid cars. These prototypes retain the Prius's "idle-off" capability and regenerative braking, among other characteristics, while adding extended electric-only drive capability, and electrical plug charging.

All-electric range is designated by the form PHEV-(number) representing the number of miles the vehicle can travel on electric power alone. For example, a PHEV-10 can travel ten miles without the use of petroleum gasoline.

Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Review

Lexus RX 400h Hybrid Review

Currently, Lexus is using the fourth generation of Hybrid Synergy Drive from Toyota. The Lexus RX 400h, Lexus ES 350, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Highlander are all built on the same platform with slight modifications between the sedans and the SUVs.

The gasoline-powered part of the engine system is a 3.3L 3MZ-FE V6, very similar to the one found in the RX 330. It produces 268 HP when aided by the two additional electric motors. Under normal driving conditions, only the front motor and gasoline engine will be used. The rear motor will only be used under full-throttle acceleration or when the front wheels lose traction (if so equipped). The gasoline engine will switch off automatically when the vehicle is either stationary, decelerating, or being driven at a slow speed and the electric motor will take over. A Ni-MH battery is responsible for powering the motors, and it is charged during deceleration and from the heat energy caused from braking.

Contents [hide]

1 High Points

2 Low Points

3 Performance and Handling

4 Gas Mileage

5 Safety

6 Pricing

7 Reliability and Maintenance

8 Interior and Comforts

9 Exterior

10 Styles and Major Options

11 Main Competitors

12 External Links

 

High Points

Acceleration

Fuel economy

Headlights

 

Low Points

Body styling

Floaty suspension

Rear visibility

 

Performance and Handling

The assistance of the electric motor increases the vehicle's performance, the RX 400h Hybrid can reach 60 mph (97km/h) in less than 8 seconds which is quicker than the normally aspirated RX 330. Despite the increased performance, the RX 400h consumes roughly the same amount of fuel as a compact four-cylinder sedan and it qualifies as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) in America.

The great downfall of all the power offered up in the RX 400h, is that the suspension stuggles to find the balance of "supple yet sporting" this Hybrid strives to acheive. Reducing radius turns and older roads with higher speed limits bring this crossover SUV to its knees.

 

Gas Mileage

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim

2006 RX 400h FWD

2006 RX 400h AWD

MPG

33/28

31/27

 

Safety

Front seat-mounted side airbags (SRS)

Driver's and front passenger's advanced airbag system (SRS) with crash-severity sensors

Front and rear roll-sensing side curtainairbags

Driver's knee airbag

Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM)

ABS with Brake Assist

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)

Reinforced Body

Three-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners seatbelts for all seats

Daytime Running Lights

Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

Traction Control (TRAC)

Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System

Theft-Deterrent System with engine immobilizer

LED tailights

 

Pricing

Today's actual prices for the Lexus RX 400h can be found at CarsDirect.

Model Trims

FWD

AWD

MSRP

$44,660

$46,060

Invoice

$39,746

$40,992

 

Reliability and Maintenance

 

Interior and Comforts

Brushed-aluminum accents lend to an upscale and modern look. Hybrid specific instruments consist of an illuminated meter on the left that displays the level of power generated by the hybrid powertrain, instead of a tachometer. Gas-electric power distribution can also be monitored through the multi-information display or on the optional navigation system.

The cabin as a whole is simply luxurious. Leather seating is soft although the slightly bunched up ruffles may turn off some buyers. Entry and exit is easy, there is no need to climb up or duck down. The front seats are positioned off the floor at a comfortable height. Lateral support is good, foldable armrests on both front seats provide additional comfort on longer trips.

Rearward visibility is rather poor. The RX 400h benefits from having the optional navigation system and rear-view camera. The camera is automatically activated when the transmission is shifted into reverse. You can't drive backward by simply watching the screen, however. The system includes Bluetooth and voice activation. Downsides to this amount of integration is pressing two buttons to change the fan speed rather than one and a difficult to read trip odometer. Audio controls are at the bottom of the center console. The radio has big knobs for volume and tuning, that are easy to use. The Lexus premium audio is a 132-watt, eight-speaker system with AM/FM/cassette with six-disc in-dash CD changer. The optional Mark Levinson audio system features 11 speakers and 210 watts.

The rear seats fold down, however they don’t fold down perfectly flat due to the battery packs. Once the rear seats are folded, there is 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space. This slightly surpasses most competitors, the BMW X5 and the Infiniti FX. The RX 400h does not offer a third-row seating area.

 

Exterior

Subtle styling differences which separate the RX 400h from its siblings include; a new front bumper for increased cooling, a new grille, new fog lamps and new tail lamps with LEDs instead of traditional incandescent bulbs. In addition, Lexus has supplemented the RX 400h with specific 18-inch wheels. The wheels are 7 inches wide and the tires are designed to provide grip in corners rather than offer low levels of rolling resistance. This says a lot about the intent of the RX 400h. Lexus could have gone the other way and improved fuel efficiency further with hard Low Rolling Resistance Tires, but chose to enhance handling instead.

The body design resembles something unoffensive more so than something attractive. It fails to meet the efforts of its non-hybrid rivals Volvo XC90 and Land Rover LR3

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Camry Hybrid Review

Camry Hybrid shown in Blue Ribbon Metallic

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is a hybrid version of Toyota's popular Camry sedan, introduced for the 2007 model year in May 2006. The Camry Hybrid utilizes a four-cylinder gasoline engine together with electric motors to produce a peak of 187-hp (140 kW). Estimated U.S. sales are

 60,000 per year or 15% of total Camry sales.

The Toyota Camry is a mid-

size car that has been the best selling car in the United States for eight of the last nine years starting in 1997. The Camry name comes from the English phonetic of the Japanese word "Kammuri," which means "Crown." Over 400,000 American families buy Camrys each year because of its roominess and reliability, in addition to a good value to cost ratio. The Camry also sells very well in Australia and a number of Asian markets, in particular Cambodia where the vast majority of cars are Camrys, but it has not sold as well in Europe. Related luxury models which share major chassis components with the Toyota Camry are the Lexus ES, sold in the United States, and the Toyota Windom, sold in Japan until 2006.

The Camry is primarily configured as a four-door sedan but at different times has also been available as a five-door hatchback, two-door coupé, and a station wagon. The Camry name was first launched in 1980 with the Toyota Celica Camry. The first model line independently named the Toyota Camry was launched in 1982 for the 1983 model year. An offshoot of the Camry, the Toyota Camry Solara, has been available as a coupe and a convertible.

The Camry underwent major redesigns and upgrades in model years 1987, 1992 (1990 in Japan), 1997, 2002 and most recently in 2007. Other than the original Celica Camry, the Toyota Camry has always been an FF layout vehicle. This means the engine is transversely mounted to drive the front wheels. Some models have been offered with all-wheel drive.

The second and third-generation Camrys were rebadged to be sold as the Holden Apollo in Australia. The Holden equivalents were not successful even though they came from the same factory as the Camry. Since 2000, Daihatsu has sold a Camry twin named the Altis.

Nissan Altima Hybrid

Nissan Altima Hybrid

The Altima Hybrid is built off Nissan's redesigned 2007 Altima sedan. It is being introduced for the 2007 model year and expected to be released early in the 2007 calendar year. The hybrid version will give better fuel economy and lower emissions.

Nissan is licensing the drive system technology from Toyota; however they will offer the same 2.5-liter engine from the current 4-cylinder Altimas. Although they are rivals, using Toyota's technology will move the Altima Hybrid to market faster and Toyota can recapture some of their technology investment.

The standard and options on the Altima Hybrid and the current Altima are expected to be the same. The only difference for the customer will be the gasoline-electric engine and the advanced Xtronic CVT™ (Continuously Variable Transmission) combination.

The Smyrna, Tennessee plant is being readied to assemble the new hybrid. Estimated U.S. sales are 50,000 units in its first year of production. The plan is to roll these vehicles out in 8 states where the market for hybrid vehicles is higher and across Canada as well. These include California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey.

Saturn Aura Green Line

Saturn Aura Green Line

The Saturn Aura Green Line

Following in the footsteps of the Saturn VUE Green Line, the Aura Green Line will feature the same 2.4L inline-4 and will be the first production hybrid passenger car for General Motors, however will not be available to consumers until early 2007 as a 2008 model.

Saturn launched the 2007 Aura at the New York International Auto Show to rave reviews. The announcement that the same vehicle will be produced as a hybrid model is a giant step for the company. Until now, GM has only focused on hybrid technology in trucks and buses.

Early reports indicate that GM will likely use their belt alternator starter (BAS) hybrid system coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), similar to what is available currently for the Saturn VUE Green Line.

The BAS system combines engine controls with a precision electric motor/generator, providing an estimated fuel economy savings of 10-15 percent. This system is widely known as a mild hybrid. If successful, the system could be readily available on other mid-size car models as demand warrants. Since the Aura shares it's Epsilon platform with the Chevy Malibu, GM has speculated that car will also receive hybrid trimmings. See WikiCars' Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

General Motors Corporation is using the BAS-based Green Line hybrid system to try to deliver a simple hybrid architecture flexible enough and at a low enough cost to use on a global scale.

See WikiCars' comprehensive Saturn Aura review.

Pricing

Pricing is speculated to remain close to the 2007 Saturn Aura with a slight premium for the hybrid technology. It would not be unreasonable to expect the Saturn Aura Green Line to have an MSRP between $21,000 and $26,000 depending on trim level.

 

Gas Mileage

It is estimated that the Saturn Aura Green Line will achieve 12-15 percent greater fuel economy over the non-hybrid version, which is not currently rated by the Environmental Protection Agency EPA

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

A hybrid powertrain option will be available on the Chevrolet Malibu for model year 2008. Early reports indicate that GM will likely use their belt alternator starter (BAS) hybrid system coupled with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), similar to what is available currently for the Saturn VUE Green Line.

The BAS system combines engine controls with a precision electric motor/generator, providing an estimated fuel economy savings of 10-15 percent. This system is widely known as a mild hybrid. If successful, the system could be readily available on other mid-size car models as demand warrants.

While much of the emphasis on the redesigned Malibu will be on style and design, GM engineers will be looking to keep all of the practical features of the current generation Malibu while integrating them with the new Hybrid system so as not to lose the main buyers of this vehicle. Typically young families and the rental car industry are key buyers that will not sacrifice practicality easily.

It is not confirmed whether GM has plans to also offer the hybrid powertrain option in it's Maxx version at this time. However GM does report that the Malibu Hybrid will be built at their Kansas City facility. The Malibu shares it's Epsilon platform with the Saturn Aura so it is most likely that the Aura Green Line will be released first as a 2007 Model.

Pricing

Pricing is speculated to remain close to the 2008 Malibu (when it is released) to remain competitive in this market.

 

Gas Mileage

The new Malibu Hybrid will most likely have a 4 cylinder, 2.4-liter engine with front-wheel drive and achieve 12-15 percent greater fuel economy over the non-hybrid version, which is currently rated by the Environmental Protection Agency at 32 mpg highway and 24 mpg city. EPA

Honda Insight Review

The Insight is Honda's lowest priced Hybrid car offering. After having been on sale since late 1999, it will not be offered after the 2006 model year. A replacement model has been rumored for 2009

High Points

Best Fuel economy of any gasoline powered car in America

Fun to drive (one of the fastest stops in the world)

Unique teardrop design (100 mpgs behind trucks)

Exclusiveness (extremely rare and possibly collectible)

Digital speedometer (including mileage gauge)(If you like it)

 

Low Points

Extremely focused design

Digital speedometer (including mileage gauge)(If you hate it)

Limited practicality

Loud roadnoise

 

Performance and Handling

All things considered, it is quite good. Even with its meager power output of 67 horsepower (73 with Integrated Motor Assist), the Insight is reasonably peppy in urban driving conditions (when equipped with the 5-speed manual). The Insight's low curb weight helps add to driving enjoyment. The 5-speed manual transmission models have a crisp and accurate gear lever which makes clean and fast shifting easy. Drivers looking for an automatic option will find the CVT much to their liking. The seemless operation does come at the expense of acceleration, although only to a minor degree. An idle engine-off feature aids economy but can be jerky at times (on manual transmission models).

 

Gas Mileage

The 2006 Honda Civic is ranked as the most economical vehicle, with 60/66 MPG.

 

Safety: 4 Stars (out of 5)

ABS 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS)

Front Impact Airbags driver and passenger

Side Impact Beams

Front and rear crush zones

Box-sectioned cabin floor

Reinforced hexagonal frame extrusions

3-point seat belts with pretensioners

4 Star National Highway Traffic Safety Agency NHTSA crash test rating

 

Interior and Comforts

The Insight's interior blends modernism with minimalism. This is exaggerated somewhat by the digital dash and Integrated Motor Assist display screen. The Insight's instrument panel provides a simplistic and stylish presentation of data, in addition to an excellent view of the instrumentation. Two large cub holders are in a convenient place yet do not disturb drivers who opt for the manual gearbox. Material quality is typical Honda, being tastefully selected and precisely assembled. There are no rear seats and the rear hatchback load area is quite shallow due to the battery pack below the carpet. Anyone planning to take an Insight out to pick up some shopping should kept this in mind. Both of the seats offer excellent lateral and back support. Visibility is quite good, with the exception of shorter drivers possibly having difficulty with the rearward view due to the slope of the rear hatch.

 

Exterior

Aerodynamic aids abound on seemingly every single exterior surface. The Insight was, clearly, the product of a very focused effort from Honda. The teardrop silhouette of the exterior, combined with the rear fender skirts and aerodynamically styled light alloy wheels produce one of the lowest coefficients of drag (Cd) of any production automobile in the world at 0.25. It's interesting to note that the front fenders and rear wheel skirts are plastic, and few people notice the difference in design or style.

 Styles and Options

The Insight is available only as a two-door hatchback. There are only two trims available: Manual or CVT. The manual transmission version can be optioned with air conditioning, while the CVT model gets automatic climate control as standard equipment.

Honda Insight

Honda Insight

The Honda Insight is a 2-seat hatchback hybrid automobile manufactured by Honda. It was the first mass-produced hybrid automobile sold in the United States, introduced in 1999 (in Japan, however, the first generation of the Toyota Prius was launched in 1997). According to the EPA, the 5-speed manual transmission variant of the Insight is the most fuel-efficient mass-produced automobile sold in the United States. The Insight is also one of the cleanest: the CARB rated the 5-speed variant ULEV and the CVT variant SULEV. This trade off is due to the 5-speed's lean-burn ability which increases efficiency at the expense of slightly higher NOx emissions.

Developed from the original J-VX design study, it was introduced for the 1999 model year. Honda has announced that production of the Insight will end in September 2006. A new hybrid model, a car smaller and less expensive than the Civic is slated for release in 2009.

The Insight pairs a three-cylinder gasoline engine with a brushless electric motor located on the crankshaft. Behind the driver's and the passenger's seats there is a set of 144 V NiMH batteries. Under heavy acceleration, the electric motor provides additional power while during deceleration, the motor acts as a generator and recharges the batteries using a process called regenerative braking. A computer control module regulates how much power comes from the internal combustion engine and electric motor, to find the optimal combination of power or effeciency from the driver inputs. The current battery charge is shown on the dashboard, as is the instantaneous fuel efficiency and current state of the electric motor, whether it is assisting the engine or charging the batteries.

While the emphasis has been clearly placed on economy, Honda engineers have still managed to make the Insight pleasant to drive. Many new car reviewers have glossed over the lively steering and precise 'snap and click' gear lever offered in the 5-speed manual trim. The narrow low-rolling-resistance P165/65 R14 78S tires aid toward meeting the economy objective, while also exhibiting excellent ride quality characteristics.

Honda Civic Hybrid Review

Driving

Power consuming accessories, such as air conditioning, also take a larger toll on fuel efficiency than they do in a non-hybrid vehicle.

For maximum efficiency with a manual transmission, shift as early as practicable, and floor the gas. This results in great electric assist, combined with increased efficiency in the gasoline engine. Because the combined torque peak is at 1500 rpm, it is practical to shift at 1500–2000 rpm. This is more efficient than a part-throttle acceleration, shifting at a higher rpm.

 

High Points

Impressive economy

Practical body design

Very little compromises made in this model's quest for economy

 

Low Points

Driving style seems to have a larger effect on MPG than it would in a non-hybrid Civic.

Tepid styling

Price premium over normally aspirated civic models (forced to have a model completely loaded)

 

Performance and Handling

If you like the regular Honda Civic EX sedan you'll like the Civic Hybrid. Despite it having a different drivetrain it drives, for all practical purposes, just like a regular Civic.

 

Gas Mileage

Real Hybrid Mileage Database

The Honda Civic Hybrid has an EPA estimated gas mileage of 40/45 MPG (City/Highway), however, as seen on the Real Hybrid Mileage Database at GreenHybrid.com, the Civic Hybrid gets roughly an observed 47 MPG.

 

Safety

3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions

Front 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System

Adjustable Front Seat Belt Anchors

Driver's and Front Passenger's Seat Belt Reminder

Dual-Stage, Dual Threshold Front Airbags (SRS)

Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)

Side Curtain Airbags

Active Head Restraints

Anti-Lock Braking Sytem(ABS)

Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)

Brake Assist

Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

Side Impact Door Beams

Outboard Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)

Child-Proof Rear Door Locks

Emergency Trunk Opener

 

Reliability and Maintenance

The Honda warranty on new vehicles is a 3-year / 36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year / 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.[1]

At time of purchase, if your car is within American Honda's new-car warranty (3 years / 36,000 miles), the 12/12 limited warranty will begin at the expiration of the new car warranty, giving you a 4-year/48,000-mile limited warranty.

If your new-car warranty has expired, at time of purchase, the 12/12 limited warranty begins on the date of purchase and expires at the earlier of 1 year or 12,000 miles.

 

Interior and Comforts

The interior is an attempt from Honda to add stylistic flair to the civic which fails miserably. The steering wheel design is baulky and the door cards have a bunch of superfluous grooves in them. Compounding the problem is the bizzare instrument cluster with digital speedometer. The A-pillars are supremely sized and hinder outward visibility. Small quarter windows try to help, but end up exacerbating the problem. Looks aside, the AM/FM/XM Ready®/CD audio system with Digital Audio Media|MP3/Windows Media™ Audio (WMA) playback capability works well and is within easy reach. The available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition helps when travelling. A fuel range consumption indicator encourages you to drive conservatively. The seats are attractively upholstered, shaped comfortably and have adequate lumbar support. The parking brake has is in an ideal location, placed in close proximity to the gear selector. Storage pockets are plentiful in supply. The assembly quality and materials are typical Honda, which is to say very good.

 

Exterior

The 2006 Civic Hybrid has a forward thinking bodystyle. Some may enjoy it, others may shudder upon first glance. The car does have a certain modern flair to it, aided by the aerodynamically styled alloy wheels, which are a welcome departure from the typically dim and uninspired 5-spoke offerings so commonplace today. A long windshield angles dramatically into the hood, to the detriment of outside vision. Body-colored power side mirrors with integrated turn indicators aid safety measures.

 

Styles and Options

Honda Civic Hybrid optional Satellite-Linked Hybrid Navigation System

5 seat four-door front wheel drive sedan

1.3 Liter Inline-4 cylinder engine with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)™, producing 110 net horsepower

Idle stop feature

Front wheel drive

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Optional Equipment

Honda Satellite-Linked Hybrid Navigation System - $1,500

Dealer Accessories

Auto day/night rearview mirror with compass

Fog lights

Half nose mask

Full nose mask

All-season floor mats

Leather steering wheel cover

Wheel locks

Chrome exhaust finisher

Car cover

Splash guards

Honda Civic Hybrid

Production 2003 - present

Class Hybrid

Body Style 4-door Sedan

Length 176.7 in.

Width 69.0 in.

Height 56.3 in.

Wheelbase 106.3 in.

Weight 2875 lbs.

Transmission Continuously Variable (CVT)

Engine 1.3 liter inline-4 combined with a 

70mm permanent magnet and 158-volt battery

Power 110 hp @ 6000 RPM 

123 lb-ft @ 1000-2500 RPM

Similar Toyota Prius

Designer

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a hybrid version of the Honda Civic sedan.

The Civic Hybrid was first introduced for the 2003 model year. The 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid is an an assist hybrid utilizing an Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system similar to that of the Insight and a Continuously Variable Transmission for improved fuel efficiency.

The Civic Hybrid, similar to the whole Civic lineup, was redesigned in 2006 and based off the new Civic platform.[1] Before the 2006 model year, the electric motor was not able to drive the car itself but provided useful assistance to the gasoline engine during heavy load situations like accelerating. Starting in 2006, however, the electric motor is able to maintain the car at a low speed cruise (20-30 mph) without power from the gasoline engine.

Honda Accord Hybrid Review

The existing Honda Accord sedan is a fine car. The Honda Accord Hybrid model offers six-cylinder Accord beating performance with four-cylinder Accord like fuel economy. Honda Accord Hybrid comes at a price premium that places it in competition with entry-luxury sedans. Honda has equipped the car for such cross shopping. After wading through glossy scribes of how technically advanced this car is, you'll be happy to know this car actually drives well. Smooth and potent power is delivered through the drivetrain almost imperceptably. The extra torque and speed inherent to the Honda Accord Hybrid becomes readily apparent, after driving "lesser models". The Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system smoothly delivers when needed and is nearly impossible to detect when it isn't. Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)™ technology has been borrowed from the Honda Odyssey minivan and adapted for Hybrid use. The system can shut down half the V6's cylinders in cruising mode, using the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system to assist in low power cruising conditions.

The Honda Accord Hybrid is the perfect hybrid for people who value power and pace of outright MPG. It also makes it easier for people to enter the Hybrid world, without compromising on valued attributes such as brisk acceleration and quiet refinement.

High Points

Powerful acceleration

Additional torque provided by the electric motor

Nearly seemless operation

 

Low Points

Lackluster mileage (for a hybrid)

Costly (the Accord Hybrid is comparable in price to entry level luxury models)

No Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) offered (at the expense of economy)

 

Performance and Handling

Most of the weight of the hybrid system is over the front wheels. Honda has adjusted the Accords suspension to compensate for this additional weight. The front springs and dampers were given a slightly firmer rate, even though these changes are difficult to notice from driving a regular V6 powered Accord. The electric motor provides 90 percent of its 100 lb-ft peak torque at less than 4,000 rpm, which has a noticeable effect on the feeling you get when you press the accelerator pedal liberally. The Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) acts as both a generator (for the battery pack) and a power booster. It captures wasted heat energy caused from braking and stores it as electricity in the small nickel-metal hydride battery pack. When you call for more power (by pressing down on the accelerator pedal), the electric motor (mounted between the gasoline engine and the five-speed automatic transmission) provides its 16 hp and 100 lbs-ft of torque.

Slightly wider tires do not aid traction, but do aid in the economy effort, at the expense of handling. The low rolling resistance tires clearly point to economy but seem out of place with the performance offered in the Honda Accord Hybrid. They have difficulty providing traction on wet roads. These tires, combined with a switch to an electric power assisted steering rack make for numb steering feel. Performance minded drivers will be disappointed.

Recent Changes

The Honda Accord Hybrid retains unique exterior styling elements, even after the 2006 model year freshening. The decklid spoiler, roof mounted whip antenna and aerodynamically styled alloy wheels remain. New is the revised dual exhaust with finished tips and another pair of Hybrid specific tailights.

 

Styles and Major Options

The Honda Accord Hybrid has one four-door sedan body style with front wheel drive.

Standard Equipment

Air Conditioning

Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)™

Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)™

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

Power sunroof

Perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel

HomeLink® remote system

Leather-trimmed interior

Heated front seats

120-watt 6-speaker audio system with AM/FM/6-disc in-dash CD changer

XM® Satellite Radio

Optional Equipment

Honda Satellite-Linked Hybrid Navigation System - $2,000

Dealer Accessories

Auto day/night rearview mirror with compass

Cargo net

Trunk tray

Half nose mask

Full nose mask

Fenderwell trims

Door visors

Door edge guards

Tow-hitch receiver

Removable roof rack

Roof rack attachment – ski/snowboard

Roof rack attachment – bike

Wheel locks

Gold exhaust finisher

Car cover

Splash guards

 

Safety

Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

4 wheel disc Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)

Front, dual stage airbags (SRS)

Front side-impact airbags

Side curtain airbags

Vehicle Stability Control (VSA®)

5 Star National Highway Traffic Safety Agency NHTSA crash test rating

 

Reliability and Maintenance

 

Interior and Comforts

Leather-trimmed heated seats, climate control, Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), traction control, and side curtain airbags are all standard. The Accord Hybrid also has extra noise-damping equipment, to combat the intrusions from the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) powerplant.

The only option on the Honda Accord Hybrid is a touch-screen satellite-linked navigation system. It offers voice-operated commands, just like in the Acura TSX. One switch left blank on the 2005 model year cars, the power glass sunroof, stripped to help keep the curb weight down, has since been added to the standard equipment list for the 2006 model year.

 

Exterior

Honda has kept the Accord Hybrid understated in the styling department. This is "par for the course" in terms of Honda and body styling. This is not to say that the car is unattractive. Truth is, the Honda Accord Hybrid is virtually indistinguishable from a conventional V6 Honda Accord sedan, something many buyers could find appealing. Detailing on the Accord Hybrid is limited to a hybrid badge, unique wheels, trunk-mounted lip-spoiler, whip attenna and tailights. Adding up all these aerodynamic aids, the lightweight alloy wheels, lip-spoiler, front diffuser and whip antenna, the reduction in coefficient of drag (Cd) drops from 0.30 to 0.29. That little reduction is good enough to slim highway fuel consumption by 5 percent.

 

Styles and Options

The Honda Accord Hybrid comes in one four door sedan bodystyle. The only option remains a satellite-linked navigation system ($2000).

Pricing

2006 Base MSRP of $30,990 (excludes delivery charge of $550). The U.S. Federal Income Tax Credit is $1,300 for models purchased prior to December 31, 2010.

Honda Accord Hybrid

The Honda Accord Hybrid was launched in 2005. EPA estimates are 25/34 mpg for city/highway driving. A real time mileage survey of more than 100 drivers on greenhybrid.comconfirms a blended average of 29.5 mpg. The Accord Hybrid somewhat competes with the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The two vehicles are reflective of the differing objectives of each respective automaker. The Camry Hybrid is clearly made for economy rather than power and performance. It has just 147 HP but manages EPA estimates mpg of 38/40.

The Accord Hybrid makes 253 HP from a 3.0L V6 derived from the regular seventh-generation Accord and an electric motor with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)™. Performance bests that of the naturally aspirated V6 Accords. The Accord Hybrid can shut off 3 of the 6 cylinders under certain conditions for better fuel economy, a technology that Honda calls Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)™.

Performance and Handling- Toyota Prius

Performance and Handling

2007 Toyota Prius' Hybrid Synergy Drive

While performance is much better than the previous generation of Prius, performance isn't anything remotely 'sporty'. It ranks 3rd in performance in the compact class on Autos.com (albeit in a many-way tie). The Prius does ride smoothly though and handles well at low speeds.

Driving the prius can be both annoying and pleasant. Pressing the accelerator pedal to the floorboard from a dead stop produces a pleasant surprise. Doing the same on the highway will just induce a big sigh. The Prius launches without hesitation thanks to the electric motor's 295 pound-feet of torque from almost a dead standstill. Accelerating onto freeways isn't much of a fuss, but things go downhill quickly from there, as speed builds. Frequent highway travellers should look elsewhere. A top speed of around 100 miles per hour, takes what seems to be an eternity to get there. Speeding requires horsepower in addition to torque, and the prius doesn't have much of the former. As the Prius approaches normal freeway speeds, it relies increasingly on its gasoline engine. Toyota says the Prius can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds. The gasoline engine is supplemented by an electric motor which, together, Toyota calls Hybrid Synergy Drive™. Hybrid yes, 'synergistic' no. Not according to the definition of the word, anyway.

Toyota claims the Prius produces only one-tenth as much pollution as the average new car. By complementing the gasoline engine's horsepower with the electric motor's torque, the Prius makes better use of the energy stored in each gallon of gasoline, while leaving fewer nasty chemical compounds in its wake. The electric motor, which begins cranking out its maximum torque virtually the moment it starts spinning, gets the car moving and helps it accelerate while it's underway. The gasoline engine steps to the fore at more constant speeds, especially during highway driving, where horsepower is more critical for maintaining a car's momentum.

The hybrid system improves fuel economy further by turning off the gasoline engine when it's not needed, like when you are waiting at a stop light or even when puttering around town at low speeds. Any time the driver's right foot requests more motivation than the electric motor alone can provide, the gasoline engine fires up and joins in.

The transmission is non-traditional, too. Prius uses an electronically controlled, planetary gear transmission that functions much like a continuously variable transmission. This system constantly and automatically selects the most efficient drive ratio to get the car moving and to keep it moving.

 

Gas Mileage

According to 692 drivers at GreenHybrid, the current generation of Prius averages 47.6 MPG. The official EPA numbers are 51 MPG Highway and 60 MPG in the city. Most people can't achieve the EPA numbers due to the Testing Methodology which doesn't use real world conditions to test fuel economy.

Styles and Major Options

Styles and Major Options

Standard Equipment

1.5L Inline-4 cylinder VVT-i gasoline engine with 76 horsepower and 82 lb-ft of torque

650V electric motors with 140 horsepower and 296 lb-ft of torque

Nickel Metal Hydride Battery Technology pack with a maximum output of 40 horsepower (30 kW)

Continuously variable transmission (CVT)

Automatic Climate Control that can run with the engine off

Electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering

Traction Control, Brake Assist

Split-folding rear seat

Remote entry

Push button starting

Liquid crystal multi-information display panel with energy monitoring, climate control, outside temperature and audio status modes

Central instrument display with digital speedometer, fuel gauge, shift-lever indicator and odometer with twin tripmeters and warning lights

Use of wheel spats and underbody pans resulting in a low coefficient of aerodynamic drag (Cd) of 0.26

AM/FM CD with six speakers S

Package #1 -GY- $650 Includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags.

Package #2 -HE- $825 Includes AM/FM CD with six speakers, auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability, Smart Key System, and backup camera

Package #3 -HF- $1,475 Includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags, AM/FM CD with six speakers, auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability, Smart Key System, and backup camera

Package #4 -HG- $1,825 Includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags, AM/FM CD with six speakers, auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability, Smart Key System, backup camera and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)

Package #5 -HI- $3,205 Includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags, anti-theft system and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver, Smart Key System, backup camera, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations, auxiliary audio jack, MP3/WMA playback capability and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® wireless technology

Package #6 -HK- $3,830 Includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags, anti-theft system and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver, Smart Key System, backup camera, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps, and JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations, auxiliary audio jack, MP3/WMA playback capability and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® wireless technology

Package #7 -NL- $5,730 Includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags, anti-theft system and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver, Smart Key System, backup camera, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps, JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations, auxiliary audio jack, MP3/WMA playback capability and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® wireless technology, and voice-activated DVD navigation system

Package #8 -NW- $6,890 Includes driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side and front and rear side curtain airbags, anti-theft system and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver, Smart Key System, backup camera, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and integrated fog lamps, JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations, auxiliary audio jack, MP3/WMA playback capability and hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth® wireless technology, voice-activated DVD navigation system, and leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel

Pricing

2006 Base MSRP Pricing (excludes delivery charge of $580). The U.S. Federal Income Tax Credit is $3,150 for vehicles purchased prior to September 30, 2006. For vehicles purchased between October 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007 the credit is $1575 (50%), and for vehicles purchased between April 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007 the credit is $787.50 (25%). There is currently no credit on vehicles purchased on or after October 1, 2007 as it is phased out due to sales volume.

Toyota Prius Review

2007 Toyota Prius with available Package #6

Out of the gate there were waiting lists and positive raves for the latest generation of Prius, and not a lot has changed since it first went on sale in late 2003: it's still in high demand and commands a premium even though Toyota has doubled production capacity since the launch. Especially with oil shortages and high gas prices, consumers are eyeing alternatives like hybrids more than ever, and the Prius is the clear king of the hybrid class. 

Since the outset, many reviewers have favored the Prius's hybrid technology over that of Honda's, since the two motors can work independently or together in the Toyota (due to the advanced technology of the Hybrid Synergy Drive), as opposed to in the Honda technology wherein both motors always run in parallel. Moreover, the Prius's sleek, aerodynamic form, while offputting to some, has a certain aesthetic appeal that has drawn in enthusiasts from across the spectrum.

Toyota Prius

2010 Toyota Prius (4th Generation)

The Toyota Prius is the first mass-produced hybrid automobile. The G21 team of 1,000 engineers threw out 80 designs to get to the first prototype that doubled fuel efficiency and later became the Prius Concept. It was first sold exclusively in Japan starting in 1997, and entered the worldwide market in 2001. By the end of 2003, nearly 160,000 units had been produced for sale in Japan, Europe, and North America, and as of April 2006, Toyota had sold 504,700 Prius models.

 In Latin, prius means "before" or "first." The Prius (2000 to 2003 model years) is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). With the 2004 model, the Prius was redesigned as a midsize hatchback, and certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV). The Japanese 2006 model can back into a parking space by itself. The Prius has won numerous awards including Car of the Year awards for Europe, Japan and North America.

The 1st generation Prius was rated at 32% vehicle efficiency. The 2nd generation improved to 37% efficiency and earned up to 52 mpgs. The 3rd got 60 mpgs in the city and the 4th generation has targeted 40km/l or 94 mpgs with Lithium Ion batteries. The 5th generation is rumored to be plug-in that will be able to travel an estimated 20 miles on electricity alone.

Automotive Technologies

Automotive Technologies of Australia Pty. Ltd. was incorporated in 1991 (after several years in business as a sole trader). A major part of the business involves importing quality automotive spare parts for the restoration and maintenance of vehicles of North American origin.

Initially, the business started importing windscreens and auto glass, then extended to body rubberware; emblems; lenses; original seat upholstery materials & carpets; body hardware; and now includes mechanical and electrical parts too. In fact, virtually any part that is presently available can probably be supplied for vehicles of North American origin built from 1949 to present day, with an emphasis on General Motors vehicles.

The need for such items was identified after the firm's founder, Leigh Grigg, experienced difficulty in obtaining quality parts from either Australia or USA while restoring one of his Chevrolets in the early 1980's. (Leigh has a reputation for undertaking a fastidious restoration, as close as possible to the way the factory made the vehicle). This led Leigh to investigate the best quality products available after dissatisfaction with much of what was supplied by some restoration parts suppliers at that time.

Leigh has over 30 years practical experience in the restoration and maintenance of his own vehicles covering every era from the 1920's to the present day. (The Grigg family owns over 2 dozen Chevrolet cars and trucks from 1925 to 1980's, several other cars and motor cycles, vintage tractors, and even an interest in old aeroplanes too). Leigh also worked as a Project Engineer in the Chassis Design section of General Motors-Holden in the early 1970's where he gained immense design and practical experience relevant to these vehicles.

During 2004, Arnold Millane joined Automotive Technologies as a partner and manager of the firm. Arnold has many years practical experience in restoring cars too, presently working on a mid 50’s Chevrolet. Arnold has over 25 years experience in the automotive parts industry, the last 17 of which he has specialized in parts for vehicles of North American origin, so he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help clients with their projects.

Automotive Technologies does not offer the cheap inferior parts which are available from some sources, but assures customers that only the finest quality parts, at reasonable cost, from over 20 different American companies, are supplied to ensure you have the best materials to assist you with the restoration or maintenance of your American vehicle. And, as a no-cost bonus Automotive Technologies can offer invaluable hints about the application and installation of most of the parts they supply.

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Design

Although the sizes and types of components used in a series hybrid drive train may vary, their

functional roles remain pretty much the same. An onboard generator maintains the state of charge of

an energy accumulator and the energy from this accumulator is transformed by an energy converter

into torque to drive the wheels. The main design parameters in a series hybrid are the selection

and sizing of the generation and storage devices. Generators can be an ICE/generator pair, a gas

turbine generator, fuel cells, and many others. Candidates for the accumulator include batteries,

ultra capacitors, °ywheels, and hydraulic accumulators. Typically, an electric motor is used to

provide torque at the wheels. Conventional design methodology for a series hybrid consists mainly

of sizing the propulsion motor to provide the desired performance and then choosing a generator

and storage device to provide the required range on a speci¯c drive cycle. Although the devices

chosen to ¯ll those roles might be distinct, their functions keep unchanged. Thus, a series power

plant can be designed based almost entirely on the functional roles and then components can be

selected to best meet power requirements. Figure 2 shows the design variables of di®erent system

components involved in the system-level series HEV design. We can see that the HEV has a number

of design variables as well as multiple design objectives, and thus HEV design is a complicated and

cumbersome task. Di®erent design objectives of HEV performance should be optimized while the

con°icting design constraints should also be ful¯lled simultaneously.

The design problem can be formulated based on the HEV operation principles. The major

components are identi¯ed and their characteristics are de¯ned. The important equations relating

the components to the performance characteristics, as well as the inter-relating components are

4

derived. The derived equations, which involve these design variables, are used to design the power

train. The formulated problem is the basis for the future system level design of the series hybrid

drive train. In the conventional HEV design, the design °ow is unidirectional and predetermined.

It goes from the performance speci¯cations to the other components as shown in Figure 3. The

conventional design process looks at the design problem from a physical perspective; each variable

has its own distinct identity; it has its characteristics, importance and in a conventional design, is

always calculated in a speci¯c way. For example, acceleration is a performance speci¯cation, while

gear ratio is a physical variable. For design, acceleration has to be de¯ned before hand; otherwise

conventional design is not possible. The gear ratio will be calculated from the maximum velocity of

the vehicle and that of the motor. The designer always starts with the performance speci¯cations

and work towards the parameters. A major drawback of this approach is its low e±ciency and

the fact that it is not able to consider multiple design objectives simultaneously. A reasonable

tradeo® is hard to achieve in this way. The hybrid electric vehicle design optimization used to

be a multivariable constrained nonlinear problem. Unfortunately, conventional local optimization

methods may often lead to an undesired local solution dependent on the chosen starting points.

HEV design should be treated as a globally constrained problem. This allows the designers to use

more design variables and fewer simpli¯cations. The optimized HEV design can only be reached

with the correct balance of multiple criteria, because the improvement of one criterion will be at

the expense of at least one other objective. This research intends to develop a multi-objective

optimization approach to the HEV design, which controls the searching process toward the global

solution via an evolutionary algorithm.

Nissan

Nissan developed the Tino hybrid electric vehicle which was launched in Japan in March 2000. The

development goal of the Tino hybrid is to achieve a fuel economy twice as good as that of the

conventional vehicle. The following measures were used by Nissan to achieve the reduction in fuel

consumption: [7]

Recover braking energy to store in the battery

Eliminate idling

Enhance engine efficiency and increase the frequency driven under such efficiency range

Drive with motor-generated power in low engine load ranges using the power recovered from

deceleration energy or generated under high engine efficiency ranges

Honda

Currently, Honda has two hybrid electric vehicles on the market: the Insight and the Civic Hybrid.

The Insight is a two door coupe that was introduced in 1999, and is the first vehicle to contain the

Honda IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system. The Civic Hybrid was made available in 2002, and

has a modified IMA system that is fitted to the Civic s 5-passenger 4-door sedan body. The Insight

achieved a fuel consumption rate of 3.4L/100km, while the Civic Hybrid with the manual

transmission attained 5.1L/100km and 4.6L/100km in the city and on the highway respectively. [1, 6]

Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) System

The IMA system schematic is shown in Figure 2-7. In this system, a permanent magnet DC brushless

motor is placed with direct crankshaft connection between the engine and the transmission. The IMA

system uses the engine as the main power source, while the motor acts as an auxiliary power source

when accelerating. By using the motor as an auxiliary power source, the overall system is simplified,

and it is possible to use compact and light-weight motor, battery, and power control unit, thus

reducing the overall weight of the vehicle. [1]

THS-C (Estima) System

The Toyota Estima Hybrid is the hybrid vehicle marketed by Toyota in the mini-van segment in

Japan. Figure 2-5 depicts the configuration while Table 2-2 summarizes the specification of the

Estima THS-C. This system is based on the THS (Prius) system with the addition of an electric

motor to power the rear wheels, thus creating a rear drive unit that is mechanically separated from the

front system, eliminating the need for transfers or propeller shafts. The result is the construction of a

4WD system that satisfies the demands of a mini-van. The transaxle of the front drive unit

incorporates a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) that achieves excellent driving comfort with

smooth speed change. [2, 3]