Honda’s new line of plug-in hybrids can go 15 miles in electric-only mode

Honda Motor Co. will introduce a new line of mid-sized plug-in hybrids that will be able to travel up to 15 miles in electric-only mode, according to Hirohisa Ogawa, a chief engineer of battery research at Honda. This is made in response to criticism that Honda's current hybrid technology doesn’t have the strength to offer extended motor-only travel. The Integrated Motor Assist system that is featured in the Honda Insight, Civic and CR-Z hybrids uses the electric motor mainly to assist the gasoline engine.
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Lexus - 3/11/2011 11:13:42 PM

0 Boost

They're kidding me right between 9-15 miles only on electric mode?

MorePower - 3/13/2011 8:12:51 PM

0 Boost

Honda was smart to do this. The biggest two problems with plug-in hybrids or pure electric vehicles are cost and informing the public.

By limiting the pure electric range, Honda has reduced weight, probably gained an extra percentage points in reliability and has cut costs(hopefully) to the end user.

That being said, I would have been better for Honda to boost the electric only range to say 20 miles. By doing this, most people could make it to and from work on a single charge and not use any gas.