Redesigned 2013 Honda Accord will include Plug-In Hybrid version. PHV available winter 2012

this is pretty exciting for the world of hybrids.

 

120 kw -- that is a monster motor. I hope Honda is not falling once again into the trap of the previous Accord hybrid, of an expensive 'performance' hybrid. I also have to admit to skepticism that Honda will in one fall swoop compete well with Toyota, after a decade of poor value IMA.

I have my fingers crossed I am wrong.

 

you need big motor to recover the energy well/fast... sounds good to me actually.
Previously they had tiny ones and it showed.

 

My mom and I are Honda fans admittedly. And while this new model looks and sounds cool...I just don't know if this can help them that much. It seems like too little too late when entering the market in the year of the PiP, V, and C.

 

It looks like everyone is coming out with plugins 10-20 miles EV range below 62 mph. These blended plugin hybrids from Honda (Accord PHV), Toyota (Prius PHV) and Ford (C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi) should provide the best bang for the buck.

 

Yep, similar specs. Price is going to set these car apart one from the other. I remember bubbling excitement over the Ford entry -- until Ford announced pricing.

 

they did? i missed the memo - whats the pricing?

 

Keep in mind, the graph is for weekdays only. Weekend trips are longer where MPG in hybrid mode become more important.

20 km = 12.4 miles
30 km = 18.6 miles

 

That puts the volt on an island by itself. Looks like lots of exciting choices, consumer homework will be crucial more than ever.

 

Its good to see honda making a phev. The more choices, the more likely the car companies will find one that gets traction (pun intended). Does anyone know the technical details on how this one works.

The more powerful traction motor should allow the accord phev to stay all electric under heavier acceleration. It should also allow a non-blended phev with a bigger battery. I'm guestimating the fusion phev will beat this thing in range and efficiency, ford just has more experience doing these things. The prius phv should have around the same range, but more efficiency once that big battery is spent. The big thing will be execution and price - and that is a big unknown.

 

why would ford have more experience than honda?

 

Ford is simply adding a bigger battery to its 3rd gen hybrid system. Honda is creating a new first gen hybrid system. Without knowing what is in the honda system, I can not tell which is technically better.

 

Yea, the choices will be mostly 5 seater midsize sedan/hatchback/wagon or 4 seater compact Volt.

It'll be interesting to see the prices and MPGe. 2012 will be the year of the plugins.

 

It is "one day trip" so it includes all the miles from multiple trips in a day.

As for fuel consumption vs. driving distance, the data in the graph below was collected by the Prius PHV prototype.

 

usb, the ideas in the chart are good, the content though is not. The prius liftback line is misleading, as it should be a range, with decreasing average as distance goes up. At least that is my experience. This is what gives a phev its better cumulative efficiency. In hot weather with precondition air this should even be a bigger gap. There is ofcourse some electricity used not on the chart, as you always point out, but most of us would make that trade off. The shorter the trip, the bigger the payoff, as the prius engine does not have the warm up penalty.

 

Yup, the graph is just for gasoline consumption. The prototype Prius PHV requires about 3.6 kWh for a full charge. The production model is said to take 3 kWh in the Japanese model.

Interesting, the prototype model gets about 10 miles before switching to HV mode. The production model should get a few more miles from 3 kWh charge.