The Civic Hybrid is getting rave reviews for engineering the harmonious blend of an electric motor with a 1.3-liter, 8-valve VTEC® 4-cylinder engine.
The lightweight, compact masterpiece of hybrid efficiency at the core of this remarkable vehicle is called the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA®) System, and it incorporates many of the innovative technologies Honda has perfected over four decades of development. Thanks to the bank of nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries that recharge themselves through regenerative braking, the Civic Hybrid never needs to be plugged in. And if your Civic Hybrid ever needs servicing, all you have to do is drive on over to your nearest Honda dealer.
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When accelerating or climbing hills, additional horsepower and torque are needed. The electric motor assists the gasoline engine using electric current stored in the nickel-metal-hydride battery pack.
Electrical power for the IMA™ System is stored in a bank of nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries. These batteries are recharged through regenerative braking, which converts the vehicle's forward momentum into electrical energy. So they never need to be plugged in.
Honda engineers improved on the basic strut design by installing a high-mounted steering rack with long tie-rod links. These links move in long arcs that, in turn, effectively govern the front-wheel toe angles throughout suspension movement. The result: a big improvement in handling precision and stability versus a conventional strut system.
Primary power comes from the engine when cruising. The motor functions as a generator and charges the battery pack.
The IMA™ electric motor works in conjunction with the gasoline engine, and supplies additional torque in assist mode. The motor's ultra-thin design allows it to be mounted between the engine and the transmission. The motor also functions as the generator for the IMA System during deceleration, and as a starter, quickly spinning the engine up to idle speed.
The Integrated Motor Assist System (IMA™) is composed of a gasoline engine and an electric motor, and has several important functions. Located between the engine and transmission, the electric motor supplies additional power during acceleration. It also functions as a high-speed starter and as a generator for the charging system during regenerative braking.
Grade Logic Control avoids gear hunting on uphills and descents, and downshifts for added engine braking.
The Hybrid's intelligent dual-point sequential ignition system (i-DSI) utilizes two spark plugs to ensure the cleanest and most complete combustion possible.
The IMA™ power flow is controlled by the Power Control Unit (PCU), which is located between the passenger compartment and the trunk, along with the battery pack. The PCU controls the flow of electricity between the IMA motor and battery pack, supplying energy to the motor when needed. It also regulates charging of the system's nickel-metal hydride batteries and controls the automatic idle-stop feature.
The Civic Hybrid uses an intelligently designed engine to achieve greater fuel efficiency. It's a 1.3-liter, 8-valve VTEC® engine with i-DSI that creates a lean air-fuel mixture. The engine uses a newly designed intelligent dual-point sequential ignition (i-DSI) that uses two spark plugs to ensure complete combustion.
