Ma Ruofei
Hybrid versions of the CR-V are exclusively available in China.
Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co., Ltd. recently unveiled a new generation of Accord, its key model in both the U.S. and China. The new Accord will continue to offer hybrid models as one of its primary configurations.
According to media reports, Honda is planning to introduce a hybrid vehicle based on an entirely new platform, set to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in October this year. This new platform signifies a vehicle designed specifically for hybrid use, rather than simply retrofitting a gasoline-powered model with a hybrid powertrain. The advantage of this approach is that it allows the battery to be placed in a way that doesn’t encroach on trunk space. This is a common issue with the current Accord hybrid, where the batteries prevent the rear seats from folding down for additional cargo space, a feature commonly found in other midsize vehicles.
At the same time, Honda aims to expand its hybrid lineup. Reports suggest that Honda will equip its U.S.-bound MPV minivan, the Odyssey, with its most advanced three-motor hybrid system, SH-AWD.
Honda isn't new to the hybrid game. As early as 1999, it introduced the Insight sedan with the IMA system. However, the hybrid system didn’t match the success of Toyota’s first Prius, which sold 37,000 units compared to Honda’s 17,000 units for the Insight.
Following this, the IMA system underwent several iterations without making significant waves. Honda’s hybrid technology gained more attention in 2014 with the introduction of the i-MMD dual-motor hybrid system, which later became prominent in the ninth-generation Accord.
Compared to Toyota, Honda’s hybrid technology is relatively straightforward. Toyota’s Prius, which has been in production since 1997, uses the THS hybrid system. This technology serves as the foundation for all subsequent hybrids under Toyota and Lexus. The core of this system is a planetary gear with an electric motor and generator installed within. The internal combustion engine runs on the Atkinson cycle, coupled with a battery pack of smaller capacity.
In general, this system leverages the electric motor’s startup advantage to assist during the most fuel-efficient phases of the internal combustion engine. The motor also aids during mid-cycle acceleration. During these stages, the battery is consumed. While cruising and braking, the generator reverses its role, charging the battery. Throughout, the engine remains mechanically linked to the wheels, meaning Toyota’s hybrids aren’t as fuel-efficient at higher speeds.
While this plan might sound simple, Toyota secured a tight series of patent protections for this technology path. From 1997 to 2015, the Toyota Prius sold 8 million units, while other hybrid vehicles struggled to find a foothold in the market.
In contrast, Honda’s i-MMD system lacks a planetary gear transmission structure. Instead, it employs an internal combustion engine and two motors—one for generating electricity and the other for driving. In medium and low-speed operations, the engine doesn’t directly drive the wheels; it only functions at an economical speed, charging the battery. During this phase, the car essentially becomes an electric vehicle.
Above 110 km/h, the engine takes over to directly drive the wheels at the most fuel-efficient speed. The current Accord hybrid sedan, available in mainland China, achieves a fuel efficiency of 4.4 liters per 100 km according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This is 4 liters less than the 2.4-liter gasoline version of the Accord and lower than the 5.3 liters per 100 km achieved by the Toyota Camry hybrid.
New CR-V/MotorTrend
The Accord hybrid system is now available in the domestically produced CR-V SUV, launched in July. The CR-V is the world's best-selling SUV model, selling 750,000 units in 2016. The U.S. and China are its primary markets. However, the CR-V previously offered in the U.S. featured only internal combustion engine models, with hybrid versions sold exclusively in mainland China.
According to spy photos, Honda will soon launch an i-MMD system for the CDX, a compact SUV exclusive to China's luxury market, offering a hybrid model sold only in China.
Consulting firm AlixPartners noted that consumer interest in hybrid vehicles in the U.S. declined in 2016. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid sales accounted for just 2% and 0.4% of total vehicle sales since 2015, marking the lowest point yet.
Analysts suggest that advancements in drilling technologies have driven down oil prices in the U.S., reigniting consumer interest in high-performance vehicles. This could explain why the CR-V, a top-selling model, doesn’t have a hybrid variant in the U.S.
Currently, there’s no policy incentive for hybrid vehicles in China, leaving them to compete at higher price points against conventional gasoline vehicles. Perhaps Honda seeks to establish a clean energy brand image ahead of introducing its exclusive electric vehicles to the Chinese market in 2019.
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