Honda Motor Co. today announced it will release the all-new Accord Plug-in Hybrid and Accord Hybrid on June 21 in Japan.
Based on the Accord Hybrid, the Accord Plug-in Hybrid can be charged using an ordinary household electrical outlet. Delivering fuel economy of 70.4 km/L, the advanced plug-in hybrid system allows drivers to do most of their daily driving in EV mode.
Honda said, the Accord Plug-in Hybrid will be available for lease, primarily to corporations and government agencies.
The all-new Accord Hybrid features Sport Hybrid i-MMD (intelligent Multi-Mode Drive), a revolutionary Honda-developed powertrain. This advanced hybrid system belongs to the Earth Dreams Technology series of next-generation powertrain technologies, which combine enjoyable driving with outstanding fuel economy.
Sport Hybrid i-MMD uses three different engine modes to power the Accord Hybrid. For off-the-line starts and low- to mid-speed cruising, EV Drive uses the battery to provide power and the drive motor to propel the vehicle. For acceleration, Hybrid Drive uses the gasoline engine to generate electricity and the drive motor to propel the vehicle. Finally, for high-speed cruising, Engine Drive uses the gasoline engine to provide power directly. By switching automatically among these three modes, Sport Hybrid i-MMD is able to deliver fuel economy of 30.0 km/L, making the Accord Hybrid competitive with high-fuel economy mini-vehicles. In addition, the drive motor is able to produce maximum torque in off-the-line starts and Sport Hybrid i-MMD offers powerful acceleration performance and a completely new driving feel along with a smooth, comfortable ride and exceptional quietness.
Also leveraging the power of Sport Hybrid i-MMD and its high-output, high-torque drive motor, the Accord Plug-in Hybrid features a newly developed plug-in hybrid system with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. At full charge, this battery allows the vehicle to travel up to 37.6 km in EV mode, making EV driving possible for a wide range of daily uses. Beyond the EV driving range, the Accord Plug-in Hybrid offers the same efficient cruising as the Accord Hybrid, turning in spectacular combined fuel economy of 70.4 km/L.
Sport Hybrid i-MMD supports both ultra-high fuel economy and a powerful but smooth driving experience. Further highlighting these performance characteristics are linear handling and a comfortable, even ride.
The suspension and related parts have been made even more lightweight, while a large number of new technologies contribute to outstanding handling and ride comfort. In fact, the handling is so light and the ride so smooth that the additional weight of the hybrid system battery is hardly felt.
The electric servo braking system is a next-generation regenerative braking system originally developed for the Fit EV. Honda has further refined this system and now applied it in a production vehicle for the first time. Vastly superior to previous systems, it is able to convert a much higher amount of kinetic energy into electricity during deceleration. In addition, it offers the refined braking feel expected of a premium sedan while effectively supporting the function of Hill Start Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and the newly enhanced Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS).
