Honda’s Insight is back. Introduced as North America’s firstgas-electric hybrid vehicle in 1999, the Insight was an aluminum-bodiedtwo-seat economy car that offered great fuel economy and performance inthe same package. Now the Insight name has been applied to a new 2010model with more advanced technology and room for five passengers.
The original Insight used Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist)technology which placed a thin but powerful electric motor between thegas engine and the transmission. This motor would assist the gas engineas needed to improve fuel economy and performance. Several Civic andAccord models have used succeeding generations of the IMA technologyand the new Insight will incorporate the fifth generation of Honda’sIMA hybrid powertrain.
The IMA powertrain is really an integrated three part system: the1.3-litre three-cylinder gasoline engine uses low-friction featuressuch as offset cylinder bores, low tension rings and low frictionpistons to reduce parasitic drag. The single overhead cam engineutilizes two valves per cylinder with dual-stage rocker arms that arecontrolled by the engine computer to change valve lift and timing formaximum economy and performance. This i-VTEC valve control systemallows the engine operation on only some cylinders, and can alsomaximize electrical regenerative braking by reducing the gasolineengine braking during deceleration.
The electric motor located between the engine and the transmissioncan put out 13 horsepower at 1500 rpm and 58 lb-ft. of torque at 1000rpm. Combined with the gasoline engine, maximum power is 98 hp and 123ft lbs of torque. The ultra-thin brushless DC electric motor will startthe gas engine quickly during AutoStop events (during a stop at atraffic light) and can assist in accelerating the car away from a stop.It can also assist during steady state cruising situations and is ableto propel the car by electric power only in the mid- 40 km/h range ifdriving load conditions are light.
During deceleration, the IMA unit becomes a generator, while thecomputer operates the gasoline engine valvetrain to minimize enginebraking. Regenerative braking from the electric motor is then used torecharge the battery module.
Honda refers to the IMA power source as the Intelligent Power Unit(IPU). This module contains the battery assembly, the electric motorcontrol unit and a compact cooling system. The IPU is located below therear cargo area, allowing for a 60/40 split folding rear seat andmaximum cargo capacity.
The battery consists of 84 individual Nickel Metal Hydride “D” cellsconfigured into seven modules with a total output voltage of 100.8volts and a capacity of 5.7 amp-hours. Compared to the 4th generationbattery in the 2006 Civic, this battery unit is 19 per cent smaller and28 per cent lighter but has a 30 percent higher power output.
The CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) unit is the third partof the hybrid powertrain. By keeping the gear ratios at their optimum,the CVT enables both the gasoline engine and the electric motor tooperate at peak efficiency. It can also be quickly controlled to othergear ratios during deceleration for the greatest regenerative braking.
The gas engine, electric motor and CVT all work together to providethe best performance and economy but there is still another variable –the driver.
Honda helps the driver operate the vehicle for maximum economy withtheir Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist). By pressing the ECONbutton on the left side of the dash, the computer programming ischanged to enhance the efficiency of several vehicle systems, includingthrottle control, transmission operation, air conditioning, cruisecontrol and idle stop time. It also changes the colour of thespeedometer background to notify the driver how they are driving. Greenis good, while less efficient driving causes the display to change toblue-green and aggressive driving will change it to blue.
Finally, the driver can monitor the results on the dashmulti-information display. Fuel economy, driving efficiency and brakingefficiency are shown. There is also a lifetime performance display andECO Guide, which rewards efficient drivers by displaying a number of“leaves” on the display. Five leaves are the best reward. With thedriver now more aware of vehicle economy and how driving style affectsit, fuel economy is sure to improve even more. |
發表於 2009-3-3 10:23 AM
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