While most automobile makers are breaking their sweat to bring out the most competitive pure electric vehicles, Honda is one of the few brands that is focusing on hybrid automobiles. As previously stated by the Japanese automaker, all-electric vehicles will be evaluated for introduction in India only if the technology is economically viable. In the interim, Honda will introduce certain hybrid vehicles in the United States, one of which has already been announced. Honda City e:HEV, the company’s first electric vehicle, has been unveiled for the Indian market. The City e:HEV, a hybrid version of the City sedan, has been on sale in numerous international markets since its global debut in Malaysia in 2020. Honda has announced that it will begin accepting bookings for the City e:HEV in India, with prices to be revealed next month.
Features of City e:HEV :
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- Looks: With the exception of updated badging, a reworked front grille, rear diffuser, trunk spoiler, and new fog lamp garnish, the Honda City hybrid has the same design as the standard City. The interior arrangement is identical to that of the current City, but the standard model’s all-black motif has been swapped with an ivory and black theme on the e:HEV.
- The hybrid city has the Honda’s intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain, which combines a gasoline engine with two electric motors to make the vehicle more fuel-efficient than mild-hybrid versions already on the market.
- The 1.5-liter petrol engine given in the car will produce 97 horsepower and 127 Nm of peak torque. This is much less than the 119 horsepower and 145 Nm offered by the petrol Honda City already on the Indian market.
- The City hybrid, on the other hand, features two electric motors, one of which serves as an integrated starter-generator (ISG), while the other drives the wheels.
- Engine drive, hybrid drive, and electric drive are the three driving modes available on the City e:HEV, and the powertrain alternates between them automatically based on vehicle speed. The engine transmits power to the generator to generate electric power, which is then transmitted to the traction motor to push the car in hybrid drive mode. While doing so, the generator can also charge the lithium-ion battery. However, in Electric drive mode, which operates at speeds below 40 km/h, the battery pack transmits power directly to the traction motor, thereby powering the car on electricity and turning off the combustion engine. A clutch is engaged in Engine drive mode (typically activated between 80 and 120 km/h) to allow the engine to directly power the vehicle.
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- The company claims that the fuel economy of this car is 26.5 km/l.
- The Honda City e:HEV has a single-gear electronic CVT instead of a traditional gearbox.
- Aside from the hybrid powertrain, Honda Sensing Tech, which incorporates advanced driver support systems like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation system, lane departure warning, and more, distinguishes the City e:HEV from the normal Honda City.
- A seven-inch TFT screen for the instrument panel, an electric sunroof, ambient lighting, automatic air conditioning, automatic full LED headlamps, rear AC vents, push-button start/stop, keyless entry, an eight-inch touchscreen, an updated Honda Connect system, cruise control, and other features are included in the hybrid sedan.