New Honda Hybrid

Federal Tax Credits for all Honda hybrids are due to be phased out on December 31 this year. That means any Honda hybrids sold after December 31 will get $0.

Of course that might change next year, since both presidential candidates are considering new tax incentives for cars like the Volt.. But if I am looking to buy a 2010 Insight, I would go forward with the assumption that I won't be getting any tax incentives from Uncle Sam at all.

 

Both.

Like the HCH-II, the compressor will start in electric and is assisted by the engine when needed.

Cheers;

MSantos

 

Thanks for the great report, T.J. Terry

 

Yes. For most of us here, IMA is definite step down regardless of what it can do in terms of FE or emissions.

But for Honda, IMA makes a great deal of sense (and as many can tell I can see their point from a more practical point of view). While some will argue against this, in the vast majority of today's 1.7 million hybrids, the primary power source is still the ICE and for as long as it remains that way Honda has no reason to replace IMA in favor of anything else.
Also, a spinning ICE can be an indication of inefficient behavior to many HSD owners, but it is important to consider that although spinning, the Honda ICE implements a few tricks and as such may not be using fuel at all (as it is often the case).

Full electric? If they ever need a full electric car then the basic architecture and R&D poured into their FCX clarity is readily leveraged to a future derivative all EV platform. Like many, I wish we were at that stage already, but for as long as the primary power source in mass produced hybrids continues to be the "dirty old" ICE burning fossil fuel(s) then keeping the IMA system is a pretty good way to go for them.

Cheers;

MSantos

 

Once the AC in the HCH II runs down the HV battery, the car become very sluggish (due to the lack IMA assist torque), noisy and is dangerous to drive. With the lack of ability to generate electricity on demand (to recharge the battery), traffic jams in hot temp is a nightmare.

How do you avoid those situations in HCH II? Why can't IMA put the car in neutral and run the engine to generate electricity? This should be possible when the car is at rest, but not at crawling speed. I've felt the engine running when HCH II is at full stop even when the battery is full. Any explanation why?

 

It does have that ability. It's called a forced regen routine and IT IS an FE nightmare for many HCH-II owners in stop-and-go traffic. Frankly, if Stop and Go is the routine then the Prius is the best car for most people looking for a top FE car.

SoC management. There are many techniques that HCH-II owners can use and when properly applied, an HCH-II owner can get really good FE even in stop and go.

• The ICE will restart on you if the SoC falls too much (even when at rest at a red light).
• Unless the IMA enters stage 2 of the warm-up process, the ICE will not shut down even when at rest (at a red light).
• There are other reasons why the ICE may not shut down (Defrost on, AC set at too low a temp, Intrumented battery recalibration, etc)

Cheers;

MSantos