Sierra Mazda’s Guide to Green Driving: Part 11

Ken Liu’s Hybrid Discussion Part 2

Mazda-3 5-door

The electric motor also acts as an electric generator, used for charging the hybrid’s battery pack. In simple terms, when the electric motor is not assisting the engine with power, the electric motor becomes a large alternator, and charges the battery pack located behind the rear bulkhead (rear seat). When you apply the brakes to slow down the vehicle, the brushes in the electric motor produces electricity. The electricity is then transferred to the battery pack. New improvements in Honda’s IMA system allows the IMA system to charge the battery pack while coasting or very during light acceleration, compared to the old system which relied mostly on the braking to charge the battery. All of this means that you never have to plug the car in to charge the batteries – in fact you cannot charge the batteries except via the on-board charging features.

Honda employs a CVT (Constant Velocity Transmission) to maximize the efficiency and available power. A transmission’s job is to accelerate the vehicle under various engine speeds. To achieve acceleration to higher speeds the transmission ratios have to change. On a regular transmission, whether it is an automatic or manual, the ratios are changed by shifting the gears. Unlike a “regular” automatic transmission which employs planetary gearsets to change gears (thus ratios), the CVT changes its “gear” ratios by utilizing a 2 sets of tapered pulleys and a metal belt. The metal belt is suspended by the pulleys. To change ratios, the pulleys will expand and contract. The distances of the metal belt changed by this movement alters the transmission ratios. How and why is this superior to a traditional automatic or manual transmission? In a “regular transmission, the gear ratios are determine by the gears. If there are 5 gears there are 5 different gear ratios to work with. The number of ratios are predetermined and fixed. In a CVT transmission, the gear ratios are infinite within a given range (determined by the pulley size and distance). A CVT constantly alters its ratio to compliment the hybrid’s engine maximizing power and efficiency as much as it can.

All this technology is a bit overwhelming to someone unfamiliar with this system, and may cause people to doubt its durability and long-term benefits. Keep in mind the battery pack itself is designed to “last the life of the vehicle”, as attested by its TEN YEAR, 150,000 mile warranty backed by Honda. If Honda had no confidence in its system it would not offer a term this long. In fact many of the hybrid-related components have a warranty up to 15 year, 150,000 mile (consult with the owners warranty manual supplement for specific components). It is an AT-PZEV rated vehicle (Alternative Technology- Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle), so it is great on emissions as well as miles per gallon

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