I was engaged by Honda to research on the IMA technology. The car of the future is going to be the hybrid car. What is a hybrid car? Cars with two types of engine that run on petrol and also electric is call the hybrid car as defined by the United Nations .
Honda has several models of hybrid cars like :
• Insight
• Accord Hybrid
(above two car models are not available yet in our Malaysian market)
• Civic Hybrid
I have spent a long time trying to figure out the hybrid car works. Luckily, Honda has a very informative site where they have clear graphics to show how the Integrated Motor Assist or IMA is Honda latest car technology works.
To simplify things, I have noted the followings :
How the hybrid system works/the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) unit
• The hybrid car has both engine and motor. When the car is stationary, there is no fuel consumption and emission are zero.
• However, when the car is at standing start, the electric motor delivers maximum torque to assist the engine which reduces fuel consumption.
• At low speed cruising, the car runs only on the electric motor and there is no fuel consumption at all.
• At high speed cruising, the engine runs on engine power, saving electric power because engine efficiency is high when the car runs at high speed.
• Both engine and motor work together when the car accelerates from cruising speed.
Honda’s Environmental Technology-Integrated Motor Assist
The Integrated Motor Assist or IMA is Honda latest car technology. Cars with two types of engine that run on petrol and also electric is call the hybrid car as defined by the United Nations .
Both of these engines either work together or individually.
How the hybrid system works/the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) unit
• The hybrid car has both engine and motor. When the car is stationary, there is no fuel consumption and emission are zero.
• However, when the car is at standing start, the electric motor delivers maximum torque to assist the engine which reduces fuel consumption.
• At low speed cruising, the car runs only on the electric motor and there is no fuel consumption at all.
• At high speed cruising, the engine runs on engine power, saving electric power because engine efficiency is high when the car runs at high speed.
• Both engine and motor work together when the car accelerates from cruising speed.
So, you may ask –
How different is the hybrid car from a conventional car
• Hybrid cars highly reduced fuel consumption and also reduce the emission of CO2 or carbon dioxide because the engines run on both electric and fuel.
• CO or carbon monoxide emission is also lessened with the IMA.
On the road, the car using Integrated Motor Assist technology is found to drive exactly the same as a normal car. The benefit is the low fuel consumption which is reported to be less than half the amount of petrol in city driving. (source : http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/6/15/lifefocus/21536487&sec=lifefocus)
People who cares about the environment and those who have the social responsibility to minimize global climate change will certainly opt for Honda’s Environmental Technology-Integrated Motor Assist vehicles. (http://world.honda.com/automobile-technology/IMA/)
I heard the car is more expensive but for those who can afford it and wish to make a statement that they are part of this green movement, I am sure they do not mind paying extra because it benefits the earth and our future.
For more information, please visit Honda Hybrid cars website.
I always wanted Honda Civic Hybrid!! It’s even featured in the Men’s Health as the most petrol saving car lor! Damn tempting D:
Can charge the car like handphone isit? Habis-lar you punya condo ada wires turun macam Spaghetti. Developers shhould think of covered car parks with individual charging ports. Condo + Cost. What is the environmental cost to generate electricity to charge the cars? need clean electric source eg: Hydro, Wind, Solar… hmmm
R1zlan´s last blog post..TONIGHT YOU BELONG TO ME- ORIGINAL VS ZEE AVI
Well, Hybrid cars do product less CO2 for the environment, however, the carbon footing of an hybrid car may not be that good as well. Hybrid cars uses a lot of battery that has two environment issue. First, the Nickel in the battery are being extracted from land all over the world and many has to terraform and destroy trees. Secondly, the disposal of these batteries are also hazardous to the environment if they were to just thrown like that. Like all other batteries, they need proper disposal methods. So, because of this, the Hybrid car may not be that environmental friendly car overall, however, it does produce less CO2.
What I am excited about is Honda Hydrogen Car, which runs on Hydrogen, and the byproduct of the car is water, this car does not product CO2, neither it has the Nickel Battery Hadzards. And this car is already a reality, but to be on Malaysian road, maybe 10 years away.
Malaysiana can think of ways to curi Petrol, Diesel and Palm Oil. Nanti dia fikir macam mana curi Elektrik pulak. har har har. TNB have to jaga tiang Elektrik depan rumah…
R1zlan´s last blog post..TONIGHT YOU BELONG TO ME- ORIGINAL VS ZEE AVI
I just test drive the car last Friday. The salesman offers me a good value for my Honda Civic. However, hubby found that the drive is not as smooth as my Civic, and of course, 1.3cc cannot beat my 2.0cc. So, we decided to put off the idea. But I was told by a friend that they can drive up to 46km per liter. That is really a big $$$ saving.
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I know it’s good going green but the car is so expensive…….so if 5xmom reader got better discount ah?
Wah, now also become grease monkey…….really jack of all trades!
2 words…use yr feet…tht’s 3 words!! kanineh….lol
I swear…. i use my bike to the nearby shops and to office (abt 15km) if the weather is nice. I do this not because I wanna be green like the HULK, because I refuse to pay to join a gym!!
the are ard hydrogen buses operating in Lon-don. Fuel cells is the future, honda, toyata and chrysler each has their own prototype liau.
JT´s last blog post..unusual golfing experience 1
forgot to say tht abt 5 yrs ago when Honda wheeled out their hybrid cars, they were making a lost of RM50K per car sold, now they are the most popular urban family vehicle choice.
JT´s last blog post..unusual golfing experience 1
JT – Where you live, can lah. Cold, not humid, proper road system, proper bike. Here, you die of inhalation of carbon monoxide, hot, humid, hazy, get rolled over by vehicles and all those sweating make you feel faint.
Still expensive…government should reduce the tax for this car. Desah-desuh..petrol will going up. This car memang save our pocket money
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Yes, fuel cell is the future. Hybrid will quickly become a intermediate tech for transition from petrol to fully electric car. Tesla had progressed very well in a short time, will be putting electric car on the road end of the year.