How the Honda Accord's Innovative Hybrid System Works

Most of the attention for Honda's Accord hybrid will come from its eye-popping 50-mpg EPA city rating and under-$30,000 starting price. But those with an eye for engineering will see a creative combination of new technology with elements from the Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion Hybrid.

"Honda put in all we had," said Koji Ninomiya, chief engineer for the Accord Hybrid, through an interpreter. "We did our best, and we ended up at 50 mpg."

The car, which gets to dealerships in late October, uses three drive modes to crack the 50-mpg figure -- something no other mid-sized car, including the European diesels, can match.

Ninomiya said 50 mpg or any specific number was not the goal when Honda engineers began nearly a decade ago studying a new hybrid powertrain to replace its current design.

"We considered everything, [including] driving resistance and regenerative braking. We made the powertrain all new, and the biggest purpose of this was to aim for the most efficient system in the world. As we tried to optimize the efficiency, we decided two motors will be best," he said.

Here's how the two electric motors work in the Accord Hybrid's three drive modes, EV, Hybrid and Engine.

• EV mode: The car is propelled only by an electric motor powered by the lithium ion battery pack. The top speed is about 60 mph, but the range is very limited, just a few miles. Once the battery is depleted, the car automatically switches to Hybrid mode.

• Hybrid mode: The Accord Hybrid works a lot like a Chevrolet Volt. The 2.0-liter gasoline engine powers a generator to create electricity for the electric motor. Honda calls the generator a motor, hence two motors. Only the electric motor, fed by the generator, moves the car in Hybrid mode.

• Engine mode: The electric motor is decoupled, and the Accord's Atkinson cycle gasoline engine drives the wheels directly through a one-gear transmission. In that highway gear -- similar in efficiency to a sixth gear on a manual transmission -- the gasoline engine runs in its sweet spot, delivering both strong acceleration when needed and high fuel economy.

Ford and Toyota hybrids also use Atkinson cycle engines. The Accord's Atkinson cycle 2.0-liter gasoline engine is a first for Honda.

In an Atkinson cycle engine, the intake valves remain open briefly during the compression stroke. That pushes some of the air in the cylinders into the intake manifold, which lowers the compression ratio. That enables fast, smooth starts, which is ideal for hybrids. The downside is that it reduces power.

To solve that problem, Honda engineers installed VTEC, a system that electronically controls the timing of the valves with camshafts that have two sets of lobes. One set of lobes is for the Atkinson cycle; the other is for normal combustion. The engine's computer switches back and forth between the two sets of lobes, based on engine speed and load.

Other new technologies include the car's innovative regenerative brakes, which send electricity to the battery. Regeneration begins the instant a driver's foot leaves the accelerator, not when the brake pedal is pressed as it does on other hybrids.

The air-cooled lithium ion battery pack fits in a compact case between the rear seat and the trunk. The pack does reduce trunk space. The hybrid's trunk is 12.7 cubic feet, while the regular Accord's trunk is 15.8.

Honda will offer three versions of the Accord Hybrid. The base model starts at $29,155; a midlevel E-XL version, at $31,905; and the loaded Touring, at $34,905. The prices exclude shipping; figures haven't been announced.

Honda is assembling the Accord Hybrid at its Marysville plant; it is the first time the Accord Hybrid has been built in North America.

The car's innovative powertrain could help win back some former Honda fans who deserted the brand for other makes with more advanced engines and transmissions.

In the past, Honda had stuck with nickel-metal hydride batteries in its hybrids while other automakers developed more efficient gasoline-electric powertrains that use lighter, stronger lithium ion batteries.

And in its gasoline-powered cars, the company has been slow to shift to automatic transmissions with more than four speeds.

The result of that strategy: middle-of-the-pack fuel economy ratings and a string of misfires dating back nearly a decade, including the failed 2004-06 Accord Hybrid, a slow selling Civic Hybrid and dismal sales for the Insight and CR-Z hybrids.

The Accord Hybrid's 50 mpg is "a pretty strong statement," said California dealer Dave Conant. He is CEO of The C.A.R. Group, which owns 13 stores, including four Honda outlets.

"For a long time Honda sort of owned the territory," he said. "I think a 50-mpg Accord is going to absolutely swing people back to thinking of Honda as a fuel economy leader. It's long overdue, honestly."

New Accord Hybrid will get 50 mpg, Honda says

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, which is built in Marysville, has a range of 673 miles.

The new Honda Accord Hybrid will have a best-in-class fuel economy rating of 50 mpg when it goes on sale later this year.

Honda released the fuel-economy figure yesterday for that vehicle, which is being assembled in Marysville.

“It’s an impressive number,” said John O’Dell, senior editor for Edmunds.com. “To have a good-size car with decent fuel economy is a good thing.”

The gas-electric hybrid will have an EPA fuel-economy rating of 50 mpg in the city,

45 mpg on the highway and a combined rating of 47 mpg. It will have a driving range of

673 miles, which is the most in its segment.

As is often the case with hybrids, the city rating is higher than on the highway because the vehicle uses the brakes to help charge the battery in stop-and-start situations.

The Accord’s fuel efficiency is the same or better than other midsize hybrids. The closest competitor is the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which has a rating of 47 mpg in the city and a combined rating of 47 mpg.

The Accord Hybrid is the first hybrid assembled in Ohio by any major automaker. Honda spent $18.8 million and added 50 jobs in Marysville to add hybrid production, the company said.

“We are extremely proud of that 50 (mpg) number,” said Steve Rodriguez, engineering project leader for the Accord Hybrid. “It’s great to be part of that.”

He pointed to several engineering decisions that helped to reduce the vehicle’s weight and improve its fuel economy. For example, the Accord Hybrid has a rear bumper beam made of aluminum instead of steel, he said.

Pricing for the vehicle has not yet been disclosed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets guidelines for automakers to test vehicles and come up with the fuel-economy figures that appear in the window sticker.

In some cases, the companies get it wrong and have to revise the numbers. That is what happened this summer with the Ford C-Max hybrid, following complaints from customers. Ford dropped the rating on the compact crossover from 47 mpg to 43 mpg and agreed to compensate buyers for the error.

“People should never take the EPA mileage rating as gospel,” O’Dell said. “It’s just a guide.”

Check out the Route 23 Honda Inventory here.

2014 Honda Odyssey First Minivan to Earn Top Safety Pick+ Award [w/video]

You know an automaker is confident about the safety of its vehicles when it asks one of the top crash test agencies to destroy one of its newest models. That's exactly what happened with the 2014 Honda Odyssey. According the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Honda requested that the agency run the updated Odyssey through its full barrage of tests, and for good reason.

Aside from slight styling upgrades and a new optional HondaVac built-in vacuum cleaner, the 2014 Odyssey was also given a more rigid passenger compartment using high-strength steel to help better protect occupants. It obviously worked. Following the crash tests, the 2014 Odyssey became the first minivan to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating, but, more importantly, it did so with "Good" ratings in all five crash categories (four "Goods" and one "Acceptable" are enough for the TSP+). Impressive.


 

New Honda Accord Hybrid Poised to Return Class-Leading Fuel Efficiency

As a pioneering manufacturer of hybrid vehicles since the introduction of the Insight in 1999, it is no surprise that Honda keeps pushing the boundaries of gas-electric technology. The latest example is the all-new 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, which is aiming to shake up the midsize-sedan category with class-leading fuel efficiency. Though official figures from the EPA are still pending, Honda estimates that the upcoming hybrid version of its best-selling vehicle will return 49 mpg in the city, topping every other hybrid midsize sedan.

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid will achieve its leading efficiency thanks to a brand-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine paired with a 124-kilowatt electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Three different driving modes will be available, including the options of running in gas- or electric-only modes, or using them in combination for maximum power. The Accord Hybrid will also be able to transition intelligently between modes when needed, delivering optimal power to the transmission while minimizing fuel consumption.

"Honda is going for the hybrid crown by taking its most popular vehicle and giving it similar fuel economy to the Prius," said Frank McLaughlin, general manager of a Greater Boston Honda dealership. "When the Honda Accord Hybrid goes on sale this October, it will attract those drivers who have been waiting out for a hybrid that doesn't require them to compromise on performance, space or refinement."

Technological innovations are not limited to the powertrain in the Accord Hybrid. Buyers will be able to opt for some of the most advanced safety features on the market, including Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and the industry-first LaneWatch blind-spot display. A multi-angle rearview camera will provide additional points of view while displaying guidelines for increased safety. Drivers will also have available access to detailed information on performance, efficiency, entertainment and navigation through easy-to-read console and dashboard screens, including an eight-inch color display.

Bolstering Honda's lineup of electrified and alternative-fuel models, the Accord Hybrid joins its Accord Plug-In sibling, which went on sale earlier this year in certain regions and returns 115 MPGe combined on the city and highway. The Honda Insight remains an efficient option on the market, and the Honda Civic sedan offers both hybrid and natural-gas models. For a subcompact car that is also 100 percent electric, the limited-release Honda Fit EV is rated at an impressive 118 MPGe combined, while buyers who like to optimize responsiveness in their hybrid can opt for the sporty Honda CR-Z.

"Honda is continually expanding its line of green vehicles, and the popular midsize sedan category was the next logical step for developing its most advanced hybrid model to date," added McLaughlin. "The value of the Accord Hybrid comes not only from its fuel efficiency, but also from its intuitive safety features that you can expect to find in luxury sedans."

How To Properly Test Drive A New Car

Consumers are willing to buy a new car -- the second most expensive purchase for most people -- without actually testing it out first!!

The reality is there is no replacement for testing out a car, despite having so many shopping tools at one's fingertips. We absolutely recommend that you use our shopping tools to do your research, but you need to actually experience a car yourself.

If you're unsure of what to do or what to expect during a test drive, read on to learn how you should evaluate a car. You don't have to be a pro to make the right decision:


1. Take Your Time; Too often, drivers rush through the test drive, due to schedule crunches, not wanting to be around the salesman or just plain apathy about cars in general. Trust us -- take a good, long time when you're on the road. It will pay off in the long run.

2. Park It; Is it easy or difficult to parallel park? Are there big blind spots that interfere with backing out of a space? Is it maneuverable enough to meet your daily parking needs? Can you get in and out with ease? These are aspects of car ownership that a lot of people don't think about, which can turn into issues after it's already too late.

3. Play with the tech and other features; So much goes into driving a car in addition to working the gas, brakes and steering that you should absolutely devote some time to testing these things out.

4. Test the handling as the driver and the passenger; Get a feel for how the car drives from the perspective of the driver and the passenger. A vehicle's handling can be a very important aspect of your ownership experience. 

5. Listen for Anything and Everything; At some point during your test drive, turn the radio off and, since many car salesman will talk throughout the drive, ask them to kindly zip it for a few minutes so you can listen for any issues with the car

6. Don't Fall Into a False Sense of Security; New or Used - You should be just as meticulous as you would testing a used car.

7. Bring a Friend; Finally, and perhaps most importantly, two sets of eyes and ears are always better than one. Bringing a friend or family member who can help you notice things that you may not catch yourself. 

Schedule a test drive at our dealership today!

Call (888) 452-3896

Honda to Build NSX Supercar

Honda will build the NSX supercar and assemble its 480-horsepower engine in Marysville, Ohio, starting next year.

About 100 workers from Honda’s other Marysville operations will be chosen to make the NSX. The engine will be assembled at the nearby Anna, Ohio.

Ohio will be the sole source of the sports car that will be sold as an Acura in North America and a Honda in the rest of the world.

Honda is spending $70 million to transform a former logistics center into what it calls a Performance Manufacturing Center. Honda of America CEO Hidenobu Iwata and Ohio Governor John Kasich unfurled a banner proclaiming the building as the “Future Home of the Acura NSX.”

“We have an outstanding team of engineers just down the road who will lead the development of the NSX,” Iwata said in a speech. “It makes sense that we will renew the dream and build this high-tech, supercar right here in Marysville, Ohio.”

The original NSX was Honda’ first car with an all-aluminum body. It was built at Honda’s Takanezawa< Japan, plant from 1990 to 2004 when production moved to the Suzuka plant for one year.

Honda sold about 18,000 over 15 years, but sales fell to a few 100 which led to the decision to discontinue the NSX in 2005. Enthusiasts have called for its return ever since.

The 184,000 square-foot Performance Manufacturing Center will be Honda's third assembly plant in Ohio. Unlike the other Marysville and East Liberty plants, the new facility will have less automation. Much of the car and its engine will be hand-built.

“In the coming days, we will begin to transfer about 100 associates from other plants to this project,” Iwata said. Honda executive Clement D’Souza will lead the production team.

Motor Trend estimates the NSX will be a $130,000 hybrid with a 3.7-liter V6 and three electric motors combining for 480 horsepower. Honda has said the engine will be mated to an all-wheel-drive system.

John Spoltman, manager of the Anna plant, said the engine will be built on a separate line by workers who will be rewarded to produce it.

Honda was the first Japanese automaker to assemble vehicles in the U.S. beginning in 1982. Last fall Honda marked the 30-year anniversary of the Accord rolling off the Marysville line.

Over three decade Honda has invested more than $12.3 billion in the U.S., including $8 billion in Ohio. The 900 engineers in Ohio are taking on increased responsibility for global development of Honda vehicles - including the NSX under chief engineer Ted Klaus - and the next-generation Civic for 2016.

Honda’s seven plants in North America can produce 1.63 million vehicles a year. That will grow to 1.92 million cars when a new $800 million plant in Celaya, Mex., starts production in 2014.

Honda Odyssey's New Onboard Vacuum

A Honda Odyssey with a vacuum cleaner? What' s not to love?

Surprisingly, the idea came from the 6 year-old daughter of a Honda engineer.  While on a family road trip in her family's Honda Odyssey, she lamented there was no vacuum cleaner aboard to clean up her spilled food.  Her father, a Honda engineer, brought the idea to the company's development team.  Three years later, Honda has installed a vacuum cleaner in the Touring Elite trim level of its 2014 Odyssey due at dealerships this summer called the HondaVac.

While you may find this to be a humdrum advancement, any parent who has ever cleaned up crushed Cheerios from the inside of a car will rejoice.  Designed with some help from the good folks at Shop-Vac, the vacuum is housed in a small compartment on the left side of the trunk.  The hose is long enough to reach even the front of the car.  It has a one-gallon collection tank along with an on-off switch.  Spilled a snack up by the drivers side? No worries, it comes along with two attachments, perfect for reaching those crevices in between the seats.  It works for up to eight minutes with the car turned off. It works indefinitely when the engine's running.

In our monthly Route 23 Honda Newsletter, we were interested to know what you all thought about the HondaVac....

We were actually shocked at the results, it was rather close! 58.8% of the voters gave it a Thumbs Up while 41.2% gave it a Thumbs Down!

Interested in an Odyssey? Check out our Odyssey Inventory!

2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid

So what's new for 2014 you ask? The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid is an all-new model!

Introduction

Honda recently redesigned the Accord for its ninth generation, improving the sedan's interior and exterior styling. For 2014, the Honda Accord gains a new model, the Accord Plug-In Hybrid. With this new addition to the lineup, Honda becomes one of the few automakers to offer a midsize family sedan in a plug-in hybrid configuration.

Unlike Honda's other hybrids such as the Insight, the Plug-In has an all-new hybrid system that's capable of accelerating the car using pure electric power. And as its name implies, the Plug-In can be recharged externally, thereby minimizing gas usage. Honda says the Accord Plug-In provides about 10-15 miles of pure electric range, after which point it switches over to normal hybrid operation. In regular hybrid mode, this Accord earns EPA estimates of 47 mpg city/46 mpg highway and 46 mpg combined.

Like the standard Accord, the plug-in hybrid offers similar features and comes in one well-appointed trim level based on the standard Accord Touring trim. That includes LED headlights, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a navigation system and monitoring of vitals like charge status, charging stations and even enabled remote charging controlled by smartphone apps. Honda says a full battery charge on a 120-volt outlet will take three hours, while charging on a 240-volt outlet takes less than one hour.

For now Honda will only sell the Accord Plug-In Hybrid in California and New York, so consider yourself lucky if you're interested in the car and happen to live in one of those states. We've yet to fully test the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In, but check back for a complete evaluation in the coming months.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid comes in one well-equipped trim level.

Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, foglamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, special "bio-fabric" upholstery, heated front and rear seats, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar), driver memory settings and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Electronic features include Bluetooth connectivity, an 8-inch touchscreen interface, voice recognition, a navigation system and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio, an iPod/USB interface and smartphone app integration (HondaLink). Adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and a blind-spot monitor are also standard.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor. Together, they send a total of 196 horsepower to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A 6.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack powers the electric motor.

The Accord Plug-In Hybrid offers three driving modes: full electric, gas/electric (switches when battery capacity depletes to a specific threshold) and gasoline (for higher speeds or under high demand for acceleration). Additionally, two sub-modes tailor the Accord Plug-In's hybrid mode. "HV" acts as a conventional hybrid, blending gasoline and electric power for optimum fuel efficiency, while "HV Charge" does the same, while feeding energy back into the battery.

The EPA estimates stand at 47 mpg city/46 mpg highway and 46 mpg combined.

Safety

The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid comes with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems are also standard.

Of note is the LaneWatch blind-spot system, which instantly switches the 8-inch screen's display to a low and expansive view of the passenger side of the car when the right turn signal is engaged. A camera in the right-side mirror dedicated to this function provides a confidence-inspiring view, and acclimating to catching the view in the center-dash display is quick and natural.

Interior Design and Special Features

With a few exceptions, the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid features an elegant and well-constructed cabin trimmed with high-quality materials that you could almost mistake for an Acura. The center stack embraces the spirit of legibility with an effective three-tier layout, capped at the top with an 8-inch display.

Despite the new Accord's slightly smaller exterior dimensions compared to the previous generation, its interior room remains impressive. There is plenty of leg and shoulder space for front occupants, and rear-seat passengers should be quite comfortable and happy. Road and tire noise -- often among Honda's traditional weaknesses -- are noticeably reduced in the 2014 Accord thanks in part to two active noise-cancellation systems plus improved aerodynamics.

We're also fond of the visibility afforded by the Accord cabin, which offers a lower beltline, slimmer roof pillars and a generous amount of glass. Unfortunately, the presence of the plug-in hybrid's battery pack means the rear seat does not fold down, thus limiting the Accord's cargo usefulness. The trunk, at 8.6 cubic feet, is also considerably smaller than the regular Accord's.

Driving Impressions

We've yet to test the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid, so check back for impressions on the car's new plug-in hybrid powertrain and handling capabilities.