Following the
launch of the all-new Honda CR-V in Europe this summer with a 1.5-liter
turbocharged gasoline engine, it is time for the compact crossover to add a
second powertrain. It’s the long-awaited hybrid system that makes the CR-V the
first Honda hybrid model ever sold in Europe. Replacing the previous CR-V’s
diesel variant, the CR-V Hybrid uses two electric motors, a 2.0-liter i-VTEC
Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine, a direct transmission with a single fixed-gear
ratio, and a lithium-ion battery pack.
Total system power
is 184 PS while peak torque is 315 Nm. We haven’t got
detailed specs yet so we can’t tell you how economical the CR-V Hybrid is, but
we can tell you how the intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) technology works.
Honda’s i-MMD
automatically switches between three driving modes to provide “the highest
possible efficiency.” In EV Drive mode, the system draws energy from the
lithium-ion battery pack to power the electric propulsion motor and drive the
wheels, with the gasoline engine switched off.
In Hybrid Drive
mode, the ICE powers a second motor/generator that supplements electrical
energy from the battery pack. Finally, Engine Drive mode activates a lock-up
clutch mechanism which creates a direct connection between the petrol engine
and the wheels.
During city
driving, the Honda CR-V Hybrid will toggle between Hybrid Drive and EV Drive
most of the time to achieve optimum efficiency. During high-speed highway
cruising, however, the Engine Drive mode is the most efficient.
At moderate
cruising speeds, Honda says the CR-V Hybrid will run in EV Drive for more than
half of the time, while at faster speeds, the car will use EV Drive for
approximately one-third of the time. The drive status is displayed on the CR-V
Hybrid’s Vehicle Driver Information Interface (DII) screen that also shows the
battery charge, a graphic of the current power flow, and the recharging status
of the system.
The i-MMD system
will shuffle between the driving modes automatically, without any input from
the driver. Honda claims the transition from one power source to another is
“virtually imperceptible to the occupants” — and that includes the engine
stop-start function.
Thanks to the
smooth transfer of torque, the automaker says there is no driveline shunt or
undesirable feedback through the pedals or steering wheel. Furthermore, the
CR-V Hybrid is said to boast “outstanding quietness” thanks to the “near-silent
powertrain.” Honda will start production of the CR-V Hybrid in October 2018,
with the first customer deliveries scheduled for early 2019.
