Article Directory :: Automotive Articles The 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid Has Vastly Improved Over Last Year's Model By Craig Clemmings Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 07Dec2011 Word count: 2082 Viewed: 120 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site For the first time, the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid is using a lithium-ion battery, and the EPA fuel economy has been increased from 41 mpg to 44 mpg. For cars that don't plug into the grid, the Civic Hybrid has solidified its second-place position with the improvement in fuel economy. With the increase in mileage, the Civic is closer to the Prius, and now ahead of the Lexus CT 200h. Since the Civic Hybrid is not a hatchback, Honda claims that it is the most fuel-efficient sedan on US highways. The fifth generation hybrid powertrain system that the 2012 Civic Hybrid uses is called the Integrated Motor Assist, which is an electric motor/generator that is a thin, pancake-type. It only assists the gasoline engine by being integrated between the engine and transmission, making it similar to the hybrid systems from Ford and Toyota. The vehicle can be powered by electric power alone, but normally the electric motor assists the gas engine. The car does run briefly on electric power only in certain instances when the Civic Hybrid engine cuts off fuel, but all of the engines parts still move. When the car stops the engine shuts off, and starts up again when it is time to go, like other hybrid vehicles. The 2012 Civic Hybrid has a larger gasoline engine, along with the shift to lithium-ion batteries. The 1.3-liter engine has been increased to a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, but the combined horsepower of the electric and gas is unchanged. The engine runs at lower RPMs because of the larger displacement, which produces a quieter ride by having the electric motor used more frequently. To get optimal efficiency, every aspect of the hybrid system was tweaked, like the increase of the motor output from 15kw to 20kw. To better manage temperature, it now uses plastic spacers, along with using more coils and magnets that are widely spaced. The motor has been increased three horsepower over the previous motor, going up to 23 horsepower. The nickel-metal hydride battery has been replaced by the more powerful 20-kw Li-ion battery, which is 5 kw more and 30% lighter. With the battery's 35% increase in efficiency and the IMA system's greater power, the Civic Hybrid now has the capability of using only electric motor power more often, in certain times of cruising at low speeds. The car has numerous complaints due to battery failures, so the upgrade to the lithium battery should fix that problem. A continuously variable transmission completes the IMA system. It operates kind of like a 10-speed bicycle with a drive pulley and a driven pulley that are linked with a steel belt. It is a combination of a manual transmission along with a conventional geared automatic transmission. With the improvements made on the 2012 Civic Hybrid in fuel efficiency and upgraded battery, it is now a car to be reckoned with. It is catching the Prius in efficiency and Honda has long been a favorite for many people. Want to work in a pharmacy? Check out pharmacy technician to learn about a great job. Also visit pharmacy technician salary to learn about the average pay for this job. EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here More articles by Craig Clemmings

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