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Honda’s Civic Hybrid Achieves Fuel Efficiency of Clean Car Standard and Meets Stringent Emissions Standard

Honda’s recently released gas-electric Civic Hybrid is the first car positioned in a mainstream market segment that meets the Clean Car Standard for fuel efficiency and achieves the stringent ULEV tailpipe emissions standard. With a driving range of 600 miles between fill-ups, side air bags, electronic steering, steel alloy wheels, air conditioning, ABS and other appealing features, this car offers a solid choice for environmentally-oriented new car buyers. The hybrid Civic also delivers 30% better fuel economy than a conventional Civic, which is already one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles on the road.

Impressive Fuel Economy

The U.S. version of the Civic Hybrid achieves impressive fuel economy: approximately 50% higher than comparable vehicles in its compact class. Since the innovative hybrid-electric drive can regenerate energy normally lost during braking, the Civic Hybrid achieves a remarkable 46 mpg city and 51 mpg highway with its manual transmission, and 48 mpg city and 47 mpg on the highway with its automatic transmission, according to EPA tests.

Exceptionally Low-Emissions

The Civic Hybrid also employs state-of-the-art emission control technologies that allow it to meet California's stringent ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) standard. California's ULEV standard is one of the most stringent a gasoline-powered vehicle can achieve, and is currently the cleanest rating available nationwide. When compared to the existing national Tier 1 standards, the Civic Hybrid design reduces both hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions by as much as 82%. Honda plans to introduce a California version of the Civic Hybrid in 2003 meeting the even cleaner California SULEV standard. Achieving this more stringent standard requires the use of low-sulfur fuel, which currently is not available outside of California.

Clean Manufacturing and Materials

Honda has not yet provided detailed information about the manufacturing aspects of the Civic Hybrid.

See http://www.cleancarcampaign.org/standard.html for a full description of the Clean Car Standard.