Honda Civic Hybrid Helps Drive Environment to Business

http://www.honda.com.au/wps/wcm/conn...nt+to+business

“Make the environment your business” is the theme of a new book launched this week offering 100 practical tips to lessen your workplace’s impact on the environment.

Honda is helping True Green’s creators, Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin “practice what they preach” by providing a Civic Hybrid to support the launch of True Green@Work – 100 ways you can make the environment your business (ABC Books, $22.95).

They advocate making small, simple changes that yield big results, such as:


* Bringing your own coffee mug to work instead of using disposable paper or plastic cups – after 3000 uses it results in 30 times less solid waste and 60 times less air pollution.
* Buying pens made from recycled materials to reduce the 700 million tonnes of plastic pens going to landfill each year.
* Using your computer’s sleep function to reduce power use while you are away from your desk.

Honda’s Civic Hybrid will allow Kim and Jenny to slash their fuel consumption – and therefore their greenhouse gas emissions – while launching the book.

"We've been driving a Honda Civic Hybrid since last year and have made significant reductions in our carbon emissions and cut our fuel bills in half," said Kim McKay, co-creator of True Green and deputy chairperson of Clean Up Australia.

"In True Green@Work we recommend that employers provide added incentives for workers who drive hybrids and car pool. Free or discounted parking is being offered by some companies.”

The Civic Hybrid combines a petrol-powered engine with an electric motor to boost power and cut fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. The Civic Hybrid uses a Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery pack to capture and store electricity for the electric motor.

During acceleration, the petrol engine works in tandem with the electric motor to propel the vehicle. During cruising, the petrol engine and/or the electric motor can propel the vehicle, depending on conditions. During braking, the petrol engine deactivates and the electric motor acts as a generator to replenish the battery pack. At a stop sign or a red light, the engine can enter an “idle stop” mode to save fuel and reduce emissions, with the engine turned off until the brake pedal is released.

The 1.3-litre VTEC petrol engine with an electric motor gives the Civic Hybrid a combined output of 85kW and 170Nm with an official fuel consumption figure is 4.6 litres per 100km.

The Civic Hybrid is equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) which keeps the petrol-electric hybrid system operating at its peak efficiency.

The Civic Hybrid is the most affordable hybrid car on the market in Australia, with a recommended retail price of $32,990.