Robert M.'s  Profile

2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, way to go!

This 1st edition Civic Hybrid has a modest electric motor wedged between the 1.3L gas engine and the CVT transmission. Power seems less than a regular gas Civic but is adequate. The electric motor kicks in when accelerating or hill climbing, otherwise it's mainly a gas driven car. The electric motor becomes a generator to the batteries when low or braking, and also starts the gas engine silently. The brakes convert kinetic energy into electric energy when stopping or hill decending, and pads last a little longer due to this generation. The batteries only can help with acceleration for about 3 minutes total before needing a charge from the motor/generator requiring a little extra gas to maintain speed. The engine automatically shuts off when stopped, and restarts when the brake is let go, so it is idle-free. I can drive up to 1000km between gas tank fulls on the hwy. The batteries are guaranteed for 10 years, and hidden behind the back seat.
Gas milage for me in Canada is about 4.5Litres/100km or 62 Canadian MPG hwy or 52 US MPG. I get about 6.0L/100km in town driving, or 42 Cdn.MPG or 35 MPG in US. I drive conservatively, so drivers who are "racers" will get much worse MPG. Gas engine needs an oil change only every 10,000km with the rarer grade 0W20 oil, so dealer does it.
With the wind, I've achieved up to 3.9L/100 km or 70 MPG. This is an ULTRA-LOW Emissions Vehicle and pollutes 1/10th of a 80's Civic, which pollutes 1/10th of a 70's large car, so 100 Hybrids will pollute as much as one 70's large car!
Newer Civic Hybrids have a stronger HP electric motor and higher MPG and longer lasting batteries.
This is a beautiful reliable car, my dream car, but I hope to get a full electric car when they are available from ZENN .

keywords: Honda, Hybrid, Civic

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