Honda Car Forum

It would be interesting to know how well the Accord hybrid would do if they
had one with the 4 cylinder. The new 2006 Civic does quite well though not
quite as good as a Prius but at least it is a car worth having. We test
drove the Prius several times and it is annoying as hell in many respects.


<dimndsonmywndshld@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1139487955.364284.79790@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> Kevin McMurtrie wrote:
>>snip
>>
>> It's interesting that the IMA system is less powerful now. I think it's
>> time to stop calling the Accord a hybrid. The electric motor is all
>> about stabilizing the engine during mode changes, and providing power to
>> the electric A/C. Its effect on the drivetrain is almost nothing in
>> such a heavy car.
>
> I agree. If the electric motor can't run the car by itself, it
> shouldn't be called a hybrid. Perhaps Honda engineers called it
> "assist" but Honda marketing insisted on the hybrid moniker?
>
> Toyota's 2007 Camry hybrid may be a more interesting model and 192 hp
> is more than adequate. Price and real-world mpg are still unknows. As
> evidence that the hybrid craze has abated, my local Toyota store
> (CARMAX) has 4 Prius in stock, two at $22,308 and two at $25,318. None
> priced higher. At about $22K the Prius is a pretty attractive deal for
> those who use the car in the city and want to send a one-fingered
> salute to the oil industry. The Prius works on the highway (my cousin
> consistently gets 50+ mpg) for those willing to keep the speed down
> (*everyone* passes my cousin).
>

Art wrote:

> A big savings from the Accord is its ability to turn off the engine during
> stop and go traffic. If it requires the electric motor to do that (which I
> assume it does), calling it a hybrid is reasonable. I remember a decade or
> so ago, Volkswagon promised to produce a car that shut off its engine during
> stop and go driving. To my knowledge it never happened.

As far as I know, the engine does not shut down completely. Much like
Crapsler's impostor Hemi engine, the Accord Hybrid's engine uses cylinder
deactivation, shutting off half its cylinders.

On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 18:01:04 -0500, High Tech Misfit <me@privacy.net>
wrote:

>Art wrote:
>
>> A big savings from the Accord is its ability to turn off the engine during
>> stop and go traffic. If it requires the electric motor to do that (which I
>> assume it does), calling it a hybrid is reasonable. I remember a decade or
>> so ago, Volkswagon promised to produce a car that shut off its engine during
>> stop and go driving. To my knowledge it never happened.
>
>As far as I know, the engine does not shut down completely. Much like
>Crapsler's impostor Hemi engine, the Accord Hybrid's engine uses cylinder
>deactivation, shutting off half its cylinders.

The gas engine really does shut down at a stop. Much like gas powered
golf carts. Step on the accelerator and the engine starts. It's one
of the reasons for the electric power steering and hybrid A/C system
that switches to electric when stopped.

Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) is what turns off three of the
cylinders when not needed. Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) is what
starts the engine when you press on the accelerator. Two different
systems.

"High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
newsan.2006.02.09.23.01.04.220204@hightech.misfi t...
> Art wrote:
>
>> A big savings from the Accord is its ability to turn off the engine
>> during
>> stop and go traffic. If it requires the electric motor to do that (which
>> I
>> assume it does), calling it a hybrid is reasonable. I remember a decade
>> or
>> so ago, Volkswagon promised to produce a car that shut off its engine
>> during
>> stop and go driving. To my knowledge it never happened.
>
> As far as I know, the engine does not shut down completely. Much like
> Crapsler's impostor Hemi engine, the Accord Hybrid's engine uses cylinder
> deactivation, shutting off half its cylinders.
>

Sorry but you are wrong. It has both features.

Kevin McMurtrie wrote:
> In article <GBqGf.7905$Nv2.3190@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink. net>,
> "Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>
>> http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...accord_hy.html
>>
>> Mileage goes down significantly for 2006 though emissions improve and price
>> goes up.
>
> Those numbers are more realistic.
>
> It's interesting that the IMA system is less powerful now. I think it's
> time to stop calling the Accord a hybrid. The electric motor is all
> about stabilizing the engine during mode changes, and providing power to
> the electric A/C. Its effect on the drivetrain is almost nothing in
> such a heavy car.


i dont think it meets the requirements to be able to ride solo in
california carpool lanes, either.

Art wrote:

>> As far as I know, the engine does not shut down completely. Much like
>> Crapsler's impostor Hemi engine, the Accord Hybrid's engine uses cylinder
>> deactivation, shutting off half its cylinders.
>>
>
> Sorry but you are wrong. It has both features.

After reading Dick's post, I stand corrected.

"SoCalMike" <Mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ks-dnUEfUqW5r3HenZ2dnUVZ_tmdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Kevin McMurtrie wrote:
>> In article <GBqGf.7905$Nv2.3190@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink. net>,
>> "Art" <begunaNOSPAMPLEASE@mindspring.com> wrote:
>>
>>> http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006...accord_hy.html
>>>
>>> Mileage goes down significantly for 2006 though emissions improve and
>>> price goes up.
>>
>> Those numbers are more realistic.
>>
>> It's interesting that the IMA system is less powerful now. I think it's
>> time to stop calling the Accord a hybrid. The electric motor is all
>> about stabilizing the engine during mode changes, and providing power to
>> the electric A/C. Its effect on the drivetrain is almost nothing in such
>> a heavy car.
>
>
> i dont think it meets the requirements to be able to ride solo in
> california carpool lanes, either.

I can understand why the Accord Hybrid doesn't get to use the Holy Carpool
Lanes, but how about the Civic Hybrid? Does the Prius get to use the holy
ground because it's better or just because it looks odd while the Civic
Hybrid looks like every other Civic?

In other words, BFD.


--
Kent Finnell
From the Music City USA

In article <kfqnu1h6iq9amilqmoi04ilo9cm4gg932a@4ax.com>,
Dick <LeadWinger> wrote:

> On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 18:01:04 -0500, High Tech Misfit <me@privacy.net>
> wrote:
>
> >Art wrote:
> >
> >> A big savings from the Accord is its ability to turn off the engine during
> >> stop and go traffic. If it requires the electric motor to do that (which
> >> I
> >> assume it does), calling it a hybrid is reasonable. I remember a decade
> >> or
> >> so ago, Volkswagon promised to produce a car that shut off its engine
> >> during
> >> stop and go driving. To my knowledge it never happened.
> >
> >As far as I know, the engine does not shut down completely. Much like
> >Crapsler's impostor Hemi engine, the Accord Hybrid's engine uses cylinder
> >deactivation, shutting off half its cylinders.
>
> The gas engine really does shut down at a stop. Much like gas powered
> golf carts. Step on the accelerator and the engine starts. It's one
> of the reasons for the electric power steering and hybrid A/C system
> that switches to electric when stopped.

The A/C system only runs off the gas motor when it needs a lot of
cooling. Normal dehumidification and light cooling is done using
varying amounts of electric power. It's nice in that you don't get the
rapid hot and cold cycles. You can hear its power supply rev the motor
up and down on some AM radio frequencies.

I've tried turning off the A/C for a while to see if it helped milage.
It doesn't. The car just uses regenerative braking less.

> Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) is what turns off three of the
> cylinders when not needed. Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) is what
> starts the engine when you press on the accelerator. Two different
> systems.

I wonder what happens to this car in 150K miles when the front cylinders
are a little low on compression. What happens in 200K miles when it's a
little prone to stalling? My HAH hardly idles smoothly now.

"Kevin McMurtrie" <mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:mcmurtri-81E5FB.23230510022006@sn-radius.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
> In article <kfqnu1h6iq9amilqmoi04ilo9cm4gg932a@4ax.com>,
> Dick <LeadWinger> wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 09 Feb 2006 18:01:04 -0500, High Tech Misfit <me@privacy.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >Art wrote:
>> >
>> >> A big savings from the Accord is its ability to turn off the engine
>> >> during
>> >> stop and go traffic. If it requires the electric motor to do that
>> >> (which
>> >> I
>> >> assume it does), calling it a hybrid is reasonable. I remember a
>> >> decade
>> >> or
>> >> so ago, Volkswagon promised to produce a car that shut off its engine
>> >> during
>> >> stop and go driving. To my knowledge it never happened.
>> >
>> >As far as I know, the engine does not shut down completely. Much like
>> >Crapsler's impostor Hemi engine, the Accord Hybrid's engine uses
>> >cylinder
>> >deactivation, shutting off half its cylinders.
>>
>> The gas engine really does shut down at a stop. Much like gas powered
>> golf carts. Step on the accelerator and the engine starts. It's one
>> of the reasons for the electric power steering and hybrid A/C system
>> that switches to electric when stopped.
>
> The A/C system only runs off the gas motor when it needs a lot of
> cooling. Normal dehumidification and light cooling is done using
> varying amounts of electric power. It's nice in that you don't get the
> rapid hot and cold cycles. You can hear its power supply rev the motor
> up and down on some AM radio frequencies.
>
> I've tried turning off the A/C for a while to see if it helped milage.
> It doesn't. The car just uses regenerative braking less.
>
>> Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) is what turns off three of the
>> cylinders when not needed. Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) is what
>> starts the engine when you press on the accelerator. Two different
>> systems.
>
> I wonder what happens to this car in 150K miles when the front cylinders
> are a little low on compression. What happens in 200K miles when it's a
> little prone to stalling? My HAH hardly idles smoothly now.

My Honda minivan has the same feature. The issue is not limited to the
hybrid.