Honda's Unconventional Hybrid Organization Has A One-Speed Gearbox (W/ Video)

Gasoline-electric hybrids are typically known for ane thing: environmentally-conscious motoring. With that, human face sky-high fuel mileage too depression tailpipe emissions at the expense of a sordid driving experience. Luckily for enthusiasts, Honda realized that the typical hybrid solution likewise didn’t fit good amongst their sporty nature. And so, they’ve developed this: the Sports Hybrid Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive or Sports Hybrid i-MMD.

While the advert itself is clunky, the technology scientific discipline behind it is amazing. It automatically switches betwixt iii driving modes to render the highest possible efficiency when driving. These modes comprise: EV Drive, where the lithium-ion battery supplies ability to the electrical propulsion motor directly; Hybrid Drive, where the engine supplies ability to an electrical generator motor, which inwards plow supplies it to the electrical propulsion motor; too Engine Drive, where the engine is connected straight to the wheels via a lock-up clutch.

In most urban or urban marrow driving situations, the i-MMD volition shuffle betwixt Hybrid Drive too EV Drive. In Hybrid Drive, excess ability from the petrol engine tin likewise survive diverted to recharge the battery via the generator motor. EV Drive permits pure-electric propulsion too tin laissez passer on a aught emissions make of almost ii kilometers depending on the driving status too battery charge.

Meanwhile, the Engine Drive way is the most efficient set-up for cruising at higher speeds too it tin survive supplemented yesteryear an on-demand ability ‘boost’ from the electrical propulsion motor to supplement engine torque nether for sure conditions. At a lx km/h cruise, the i-MMD volition typically run inwards EV Drive for to a greater extent than than one-half the time. At 100 km/h, it volition survive inwards EV Drive for some ane 3rd of the time.

The software ‘brain’ of the i-MMD organization decides when to shuffle betwixt these modes to maximize efficiency, without disturbing the driver or requiring whatsoever farther idea or input from them.

Now, spell the set-up resembles other hybrid vehicles—where an Atkinson bicycle gasoline engine, propulsion motor, generator motor, too ability command unit of measurement are all located nether the hood, too a lithium-ion battery dorsum housed nether the trunk, the i-MMD does bring ane innovation: a fixed gear transmission.

Rather than using a conventional transmission, a unmarried fixed-gear ratio creates a guide connective betwixt moving components, resulting inwards a smoother transfer of torque. This format agency Honda’s organization is to a greater extent than compact than a planetary eCVT typically flora inwards other hybrid vehicles, as good as beingness to a greater extent than refined.

Moreover, the transfer betwixt ability sources, including the engine stop-start function, is virtually imperceptible. The smoothen transfer of torque agency at that spot is no driveline shunt or undesirable feedback through the pedals or steering wheel, too the near-silent powertrain agency a vehicle equipped amongst i-MMD boasts outstanding NVH.

The commencement application of the i-MMD organization happens to survive larger Honda vehicles, specially the likes of the CR-V too the Accord. In this set-up, the 2.0-liter i-MMD makes a respectable 184 horsepower too 315 Nm of torque—figures that agree their conventionally-powered counterparts featuring the 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo engine. But, based on WLTP exam protocols, it does 18.87 km/L. However, the to a greater extent than interesting application of the i-MMD organization is flora inwards the Civic-based Honda Insight. With a smaller, 1.5-liter displacement, it nevertheless makes a good for y'all 151 horsepower too 267 Nm of torque—yet, it delivers 22.1 km/L. Though Honda hasn’t confirmed it but yet, if this is the real same engine that they’ll fit inwards the all-new Jazz Hybrid, so you’re looking at a formidable steal rocket.

As component of their 2030 Vision, the Honda Sports Hybrid i-MMD volition shape the cornerstone of their project design to cut down their emissions. Yet, it’s every bit clear that spell they desire to create environmentally-sound vehicles, they nevertheless aren’t willing to laissez passer on upwards their sporty nature yet. By coming upwards amongst unique methods to electrify their vehicles such as the i-MMD system, Honda is able to nautical chart a unique path, driven yesteryear ane thing: their challenging spirit.