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Featured Honda Accord Hybrid Returns To U.S.

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Jeff N, Jul 19, 2016.

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  1. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    #1 Jeff N, Jul 19, 2016
    Tideland Prius, bwilson4web, tpenny67 and 1 other person like this.
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    It's about time !!
    . . . . . . . but what about the plug-in - will it remain virtually un-obtainable & overpriced?
    .
     
    #2 hill, Jul 19, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2016
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i heard it was done.
     
    #3 bisco, Jul 19, 2016
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    .
     
    #4 hill, Jul 19, 2016
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agred. but what we really need is more dedicated models with better battery placement, so folks won't move on when the see the trunk size.
     
    #5 bisco, Jul 19, 2016
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  6. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    #6 bwilson4web, Jul 19, 2016
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    apparently, that family has no luggage. oh wait, there's no metric for boot volume. i suppose you could put it in the back seat with the kids.
     
    #7 bisco, Jul 19, 2016
  8. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The Accord PHEV was only intended as a compliance vehicle. It was available in fewer states than the Fit EV.

    After the Clarity FCEV arrives in California, a BEV and PHEV, using the Accord hybrid drive train, will be arriving for the rest of the country.
     
    #8 Trollbait, Jul 19, 2016
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Isn't the Clarity taking care of that? It looks to me that Honda wants to keep the hybrid with the Accord but push a different name for the "new and advanced" technology. Honda seems to be looking at Toyota and GM and taking the best parts of their playbook - keep the hybrid in their popular car, create a separate line for leading edge technology.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Jul 19, 2016
  10. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    I don't know many details about the new Clarity platform but presumably the unibody structure is substantially different to allow for the hydrogen storage tanks and perhaps the PHEV version of the Clarity can reuse those spaces for its 40+ mile battery pack with less intrusion of the cabin space than the Volt. I wonder if Toyota could do something similar with the Mirai platform?

    Honda hasn't said how ambitious their range goals are for the BEV model so it isn't clear if they will need a full skateboard-style pack under the floor.

    I was told to expect the BEV first in summer of 2017 with the PHEV coming in the fall of 2017.
     
    #10 Jeff N, Jul 19, 2016
  11. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Even presuming it were possible - you'd still just end up with a 4 seat compact, whereas the clarity is a(t least) mid sized 5 seater. Those of us over 6' - or the arthritic - or even the overweight, aren't looking forward to having to fold in ½ just to get into their cars.
    .
     
    #11 hill, Jul 19, 2016
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It probably can if it's designed properly. The Mirai has two hydrogen tanks. The issue with battery placement is weight and centre of gravity. With the hydrogen tank behind the rear seats, the Mirai has a decent size trunk that's deep and wide. But if you replace it with a battery, it's better for centre of gravity if the battey was placed horizontally on the floor instead of vertically behind the rear seats.

    The fuel tank will have to be relocated (e.g. under the front seats like the last gen Fit) so that the battery can lay flat from under the rear seats, extending rearward to the spare tire area. That way, engineers can maintain a large trunk and fold-down rear seats.


    Currently, the only hybrid (non-plug) 4-dr sedan that has the same sized trunk as the regular version is the IS300h. The battery sits in the spare tire wheel well.
     
    #12 Tideland Prius, Jul 19, 2016
  13. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Maybe, although I wonder what swapping in an engine under the front hood of the Mirai will do for its weight balance.
     
    #13 Jeff N, Jul 19, 2016
  14. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

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    Have you been in a Mirai? I did a test drive at a dealer last year and also rode as a passenger in the backseat and it felt more like a mid-size than a compact inside. That was last year so my memory is a bit fuzzy. Looking at the specs, it has a vehicle width more like a compact but has a mid-size wheelbase of 109.4 -- 3.1 inches longer than the 2016 Prius at 106.3. I can't find any interior cabin specs for the Mirai but I would expect reasonable headroom and legroom.

    The edmunds.com review says:

    Here's a backseat picture:

    image.jpeg
     
    #14 Jeff N, Jul 19, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2016
  15. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Yea - front or back - that looks punishing on my 6'-5" frame. Heck for me - I was elated (as were many orhers) when Danny started carrying the extend my seat brackets in the Prius store.
    .
     
    #15 hill, Jul 19, 2016
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Good point. I forgot about the engine swap. Depends on the size. Toyota has two sets of hybrid systems in the fuel economy end - the 1.8 and the 2.5. The competitors seemed to have settled with a 2.0 litre (Ford and Honda). The 2.5 litre might be a better suit since it's a bit more powerful and therefore doesn't have to strain as much and will match the more luxury oriented Mirai. I'm excited to see how the new Gen 4 Prius changes will affect the 2.5 litre HSD units.

    Finally, someone else that remembers its a midsize. Like you, it was a while since I've been in a Mirai but I do recall it being reasonably spacious. I think it's on the smaller side of midsize (larger than Prius, smaller than Camry)

    How many 4-dr sedans fit you, hill? Just curious.
     
    #16 Tideland Prius, Jul 19, 2016
  17. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Not much, as most of the steering wheels don't telescope - only ones that cone to memory are the Accord, & Lexus GS . . .

    and of course, the model S ...

    .
     
    #17 hill, Jul 19, 2016
  18. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    It seems Toyota never released any interior measurements. Which left the Fueleconomy.gov site listing it as a subcompact.
     
    #18 Trollbait, Jul 19, 2016
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah I think it was mentioned before somewhere here. There were test drives available across the country but yeah it's definitely bigger than a subcompact. It's most likely bigger than a compact. Again, I recall it was mentioned as a midsize. I fit in the Mirai better than in the Prius (probably because of the sedan shape vs. the sloping roof in the Prius).
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Jul 19, 2016
  20. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    It's exterior size is close to that of the Camry's.
    I do except the passenger space to be decent, but the fuel cell, battery pack, and two sizable hydrogen tanks are all eating into the interior space in some way.
     
    #20 Trollbait, Jul 19, 2016
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