Honda City e: HEV- Into the Hybrid League

Honda Motors has launched the hybrid version of the most popular sedan calling it Honda City e: HEV. The competition in the electric vehicle segment is gaining traction day by day, but Honda Motors have found a way in between the conventional IC engine and the electric engine making it all a hybrid. Let us see the mechanism behind the hybrid Honda City and how it differentiates from other electric cars available in the market.

Honda City e:HEV hybrid engine explained-

The hybrid engine is seen in the Honda City e: HEV comprises mainly four parts:

1. 1.5L DOHC i-VTECH engine
2. Two motors e-CVT namely Traction motor and Generator motor
3. Lithium-Ion battery
4. Clutch

The hybrid motors work basically in three drive modes that are as follows:

1. Engine Drive
2. EV Drive
3. Hybrid Drive

1. Engine Drive- This is the conventional drive system through which every car is running. This ensures the optimal performance of the car on highways. In this method, the clutch is engaged and the engine sends the power directly to the wheels. The electronic motor in this case is not utilized for power delivery.

2. EV Drive-In this mode the engine is completely shut down and the car is running purely on electricity. This is mainly suitable for driving it in cities where you are free from using the clutch in hectic traffic conditions.

3. Hybrid Drive- This is the best part of this car where both the engine and the electric motor are functioning. In this condition, the engine supplies the power to the generator motor and the electric motor drives the wheel. This combination results in the strong acceleration of the car.

Click on the slideshow below for more.

So this is how the all-new Honda City e: HEV differentiates itself from the fully electric vehicles and the conventional, making it the real hybrid altogether.

Technical Specifications of Honda City e: HEV-

The datasheet depicts the technical specifications of the Honda City e: HEV. The maximum power and torque figures are available in three modes of driving i.e. Engine Drive, Hybrid Drive, and EV Drive. The tyre configuration is 185/55 R16 87H. This car also utilizes the Electric Regeneration Braking System (through Electric Servo Brake) to store the energy for recharging the car’s battery.

Safety Features of Honda City e: HEV-

The list of mechatronics components involved in this car is quite long. Let us have a glimpse of what Honda City e: HEV has on offer in terms of safety features.

1. Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)- This system provides alert signals through audio and visual signals. It also applies brakes in order to slow down the vehicle to avoid a collision.
2. Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)-   This system provides warning signals in the form of audio and visuals when the car deviates from the lane. Apart from this technology also helps in better steering of the car.
3. Lane Keeps Assist System (LKAS)- This system helps in keeping the car in the middle of the lane when cruising on the highways.
4. Adaptive Cruise Control (ADC)- This system helps in braking and acceleration on the highways in order to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle.
5. Auto High Beam- This technology switches between high beam and low beam automatically at the night to support good visibility to the driver as well as the preceding /oncoming car.
6. Lane Watch Camera- It is fitted in the outside rear mirror to give an outside rear view of the object coming from behind while changing the lane.
7. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System- It shows the pressure available in each tyre and also gives warnings against a deflation of the tyres.
8. Hill Start Assist (HSA)- This feature helps in starting the vehicle on an upward slope without skidding the vehicle in the backward direction.
9. 6 Airbags- The Honda City e: HEV comes equipped with 6 airbags,

FAQS-

1.  Is Honda City e: HEV a fully electric vehicle?

ANS- No, the Honda City e: HEV is a hybrid vehicle.

2.  Do we need to change the driving mode continuously?

ANS- No, the driving mode shifting happens automatically. For instance, during the start of the engine, the car runs only on EV drive mode. As we increase the speed the mode changes to Hybrid drive mode and finally at higher speeds the Engine drive mode is active.

3. Do we need to charge the battery in this Honda City e: HEV?

ANS- No, you do not need a charger to charge the battery. It gets charged automatically through the generator motor present inside.

4. Does the car has a manual transmission?

ANS- No, this car comes with the e-CVT transmission.

5. How does the hybrid engine affect the fuel efficiency of this car?

ANS- When you are driving at low speed or stuck in slow-moving traffic then this car will operate on electric drive mode which will benefit you by saving the expense of refilling.

6. What can be the probable cons of Honda City e: HEV?

ANS- The cost of owning and maintaining the car seems the most obvious cons in this case. As the car deploys a lot of electronic components timely service and parts availability plays a major role in overall maintenance.

The Honda City e: HEV is priced starting from 19.50 Lacs ex-showroom New Delhi. What is your opinion regarding the price of this hybrid electric vehicle? Does this car justify the price tag of 20Lacs? Give your views in the comments section below.