Honda launches its first hybrid in India, Civic Hybrid

Mumbai: In a pioneering move Japanese car maker Honda Motor Company has launched the first hybrid car in the Indian market, the petrol-electric sedan Civic Hybrid  through its Indian subsidiary Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI).

Civic Hybrid A hybrid vehicle is driven by a conventional petrol engine but also has a battery-powered  electric motor that helps nealy double the fuel efficiency while reducing pollution.The electric motor helps to reduce the size of the petrol engine without reducing the driving performance, though with higher higher fuel efficiency and reduced exhaust emissions.

In the case of the Civic Hybrid the fuel efficency is nearly 47 per cent higher than a regular petrol version - in the range of 19-23 km a per litre when measured with the existing petrol based model, that offers approximately 15 km per litre.View video of Honda Civic Hybrid

The Civic Hybrid would come with a 1.3 litre petrol engine. From the start-up and acceleration, the engine and the motor function together. However, when the car is driven at a high speed the vehicle runs on the engine. When the car is idling , the petrol engine automatically stops and the battery keeps the vehicle running, saving fuel. At between 40-50 km per hour the hybrid operates only on the battery and offers the maximum fuel efficiency.

According to the company, the fuel efficiency of Civic Hybrid is in the range of 19-23 km a per litre when measured with its petrol variant that offers approximately 15 km per litre.

The Hybrid's engine system features a 3-stage i-VTEC + IMA that employs Honda's 1.3L i-VTEC (variable valve timing and lift electronic control) engine to provide three stages of valve timing (low-speed, high-speed, and cylinder idle mode), combined with a compact and efficient electric motor, Honda's IMA (integrated motor assist) system.