With DREAMS Magazine Vol.4 - Honda Malaysia

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our newest dream If you have ever worried about the rising price of petrol and its negative effect on your wallet, or if you’re worried about the environmental damage caused by burning fossil fuels, then you owe it to yourself to read this article. Because not only are hybrid vehicles far more gentle on the environment, they’re also a great way to save a lot of money in the long run. But just what exactly is a hybrid vehicle? Though it might seem like something straight out of science hybrid t e c h n o l o g y h a s b e e n u s e d i n t h e transportation industry for some time now. The concept behind it is really quite simple. Basically, any mode of transport that relies on energy supplied by two distinctly different sources is a hybrid vehicle. You’ve probably seen a few already, though you might not have known it. The most recognisable examples are interstate trains (which are quite often diesel-electric hybrids), mopeds (which rely on pedal power and a petrol engine) and electric bicycles (which can be pedalled or run by electric motor). And today, it’s that same basic principle being applied to cars. The most common type of hybrid passenger car available to consumers today is the petrol-electric, though other possible combinations (namely diesel-electric) are currently under development. L e t ’ s t a k e a l o o k a t t h e H o n d a Civic Hybrid, touching on that model when necessary as a good example of just how a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle works. Though there are a few different methods of combining the petrol and electric power sources, the Civic Hybrid is what’s known as a parallel hybrid. In this very effective and versatile the car can be powered by petrol and electricity at the same electricity exclusively, depending on driving demands. As a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle in a parallel the Civic Hybrid can be broken down into a basic list of components that create the power: petrol engine, fuel tank, electric motor/generator, battery pack and transmission assembly. The petrol engine in a hybrid can be smaller than in a normal car, because it’s working in conjunction with the electric motor, so weight is saved and performance can actually increase. The Civic Hybrid represents Honda’s fourthgeneration engine/motor combination, with the 1.3L i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and 20-hp electric motor putting out an impressive 115 PS. And since a hybrid uses so little fuel compared to a normal car, the fuel tank can be smaller yet still allow you to cover the same distances you would in a non-hybrid model, all while taking up less space and saving even more weight. Of course, what really makes a hybrid unique is the integration of an electric motor in the car’s design. And the electric motor in a Honda hybrid i s a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f h i g h l y developed automotive technology. The latest Civic Hybrid features an improved magnet design and special rectangular wiring with a larger surface area that creates better conductivity. An improved integration of motor and control units has resulted in more precise digital control, with a corresp o n d i n g 5 0 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n horsepower and 14 per cent increase in maximum torque. Beautiful rear view design of Civic Hybrid. 04 I w i t h d r e a m s
our newest dream In low intensity stop-and-go city driving, the car is powered solely by the electric motor. On the highway, the electric motor turns off and the petrol engine takes over. And when passing another car or going uphill, the petrol engine and electric motor will combine forces to provide the necessary power. As a happy by-product, the electricity makes the petrol last longer than ever before. Since the electric energy comes from a rechargeable battery pack built into the car, there needs to be a way to replenish the energy. The electric motor has the answer to that, too. Because not only is the electric motor able to give power to the wheels, it is also a generator that takes power from the wheels when you’re braking or slowing down and then feeds that energy back to the battery pack as electricity to be stored for later use. The entire process is what we call Honda IMA, which stands for Integrated Motor Assist, and it’s clear that this new approach allows for a t reduction in complexity and weight, p r o v i d i n g h i g h p o w e r o u t p u t a n d l o w f u e l c o n s u m p t i o n i n a w i d e r a n g e o f s i t u a t i o n s f r o m c i t y t o highway driving. Hybrid technology is all part o f H o n d a ’ s c o m m i t m - ent to the environment, and to you as a Honda driver. Because there’s no real point in designing and building the the best cars we’re capable of producing if we’re not also looking after the world we live in. After all, where else are we going to drive? A cutaway view of Civic Hybrid’s 3-Stage i-VTEC engine, with the electric motor’s copper coils clearly visible. Vehicle speed 1 Vehicle stationary Automatic Idle stop 2 Start-up and acceleration Engine + start-up motor assist 3 Gentle acceleration Engine-powered operation 4 Low speed cruising Engine + start-up motor assist 5 Acceleration Engine + acceleration motor assist 6 Rapid Acceleration Engine + acceleration motor assist 7 High speed cruising Engine-powered operation 8 Deceleration Regenerative braking (IMA battery recharge) ASST ASST ASST ASST ASST ASST ASST ASST CHRG CHRG CHRG CHRG CHRG CHRG CHRG CHRG 1 Vehicle stationary (automatic idle stop*1 mode): Engine automatically stopped. Zero fuel consumption and zero exhaust emissions. Automatic Idle Stop warning lamp on. Engine automatically re-starts as driver releases brakes. 2 3 Start-up and acceleration (engine + motor assist): Engine running in low rpm mode. Motor assist provides necessary additional power to accelerate. Gentle acceleration (engine only): Engine running in low rpm mode. 5 Acceleration (Engine + motor assist): Engine running in low rpm mode. Motor assist provides necessary power to accelerate. 6 7 Rapid acceleration (engine + motor assist): As speed rises, engine switches to high rpm mode for higher power output. Motor assist provides additional power for strong, powerful acceleration. High speed cruise (engine only): Engine running in low rpm mode. 4 Low speed cruise (motor assist only): When cruising at around 40 km/h, all 4 cylinders are de-activated and fuel supply is stopped. The vihicle runs on power from the motor alone. 8 Deceleration (IMA battery recharge mode): All 4 cylinders are de-activated and fuel supply is stopped. The motor switches to regenerative braking and energy recovery is maximized to recharge the IMA batteries. Known as a parallel hybrid, the Civic Hybrids switches between using either petrol or electricity, depending on driving demands. w i t h d r e a m s I 05
Page 1 and 2: With VOL.04 SEPT 2007 breakthrough
Page 3: honda hybrid technology w i t h d r
Page 7 and 8: our newest dream Whether you want t
Page 9 and 10: Friend for Life users’ voice “T
Page 11 and 12: Friend for Life users’ voice “T
Page 13 and 14: eakthrough The new Honda Jazz and C
Page 15 and 16: motor sports The team poses for a n
Page 17 and 18: product history transmission in con
Page 19 and 20: AUTHORISED HONDA DEALERS’ CONTACT

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