Honda Dumps Civic Hybrid, CNG Models

While the rest of the world is going full speed ahead to bring alternative fuel cars to market, Honda is busy eliminating them from its product mix. This week, Honda’s executive vice-president, John Mendel, announced that the company is dumping the Civic Hybrid and the compressed natural gas (CNG) models from its product lineup, according to Green Car Reports.

The Civic Hybrid was introduced in 2003 as an alternative to the Toyota Prius. It sold well at first, but Honda reportedly had problems with battery cooling and recalibrated the cars as they were brought in for service. After the cars were “fixed”, fuel economy was often worse than it was for conventional Civics with conventional gasoline engines. The word got out and sales fell off a cliff. Honda has never had the courage to fix its mistake. Now the Civic Hybrid is history and there is nothing in the pipeline to replace it until at least 2018.

Honda tried to promote the CNG cars but demand remained weak. Annual sales never topped 700 cars. “Honda has promoted CNG for many years, but customer demand remains quite small,” says Mandel. “There appears to be no real appetite on the part of competitors or policymakers to promote it. That, plus the negligible price different, mean that consumer demand just hadn’t developed as Honda hoped — and there seems little likelihood that the situation will change in coming years.”

Mandel does say that an updated Accord Hybrid will be in showrooms soon. Availability has been an issue in many parts of the country but supplies are scheduled to increase when the new, built in Japan Accord Hybrid arrives with its advanced two motor drivetrain. It is expected to exceed the 47 mpg fuel economy offered by the present car.

Mendel says the two motor system will be offered soon in another Honda model but declined to provide specifics. He also says the company will bring three new “green” cars to market by 2018, including a battery electric vehicle and new plug in hybrid.

Honda was quick out of the gate when the whole green car movement began. Its original 2 passenger Insight, released just after y2k, had excellent fuel economy from an early version of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist system. But since then, Honda gets a failing grade for bringing alternative fuel cars to market. It is completely MIA when it comes to promoting battery recharging infrastructure, battery research, or advanced plug in technology.

Instead, it is joining Toyota in pushing for fuel cell cars — a technology that has no supporting infrastructure. It’s something nobody wants, despite all the ballyhoo coming from Japan about how wonderful it is. The company has shown a complete lack of leadership in bringing affordable alternative fuel vehicles to market. Instead, Mendel says it is concentrating its efforts on new models powered by ultra-efficient gasoline engines.

Honda just doesn’t get it. They are completely tone deaf and out of step with the transportation needs of a world experiencing climate change. Their corporate timidity could possibly lead to them losing their once dominant position in the marketplace. Honda is desperately in need of some cojones in the boardroom if it wants to remain relevant among the world’s car makers.

Slow sales cause Honda to scrub natural gas and hybrid Civics

Slow sales and falling gasoline prices have prompted Honda to stop selling gas-electric hybrid and natural gas-powered versions of its Civic compact car.

The company also said that it will discontinue a plug-in rechargeable version of the midsize Accord.

But it plans to roll out a new, more efficient version of the Accord hybrid early next year. And a new plug-in Accord will come at a later date.

Executive Vice President John Mendel said Monday in a statement that production of the natural gas Civic already has been halted, and hybrid Civic production will end after the 2015 model year.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline nationwide was $2.80 on Monday, 86 cents below a year ago.

Mendel also said the small number of natural gas refueling stations continue to be a challenge for owners. Honda sold only about 16,000 natural gas Civics since 1998. Mendel said Honda will continue to service the natural gas cars.
Through May, Honda has sold only 1,873 hybrid Civics out of a total of 129,574, according to Autodata Corp. Natural gas Civic sales for the year were not released.

Part of the reason for the slow hybrid and natural gas Civic sales is the progress that Honda and other automakers have made getting better mileage out of gaspowered vehicles. Honda plans to start selling a sleeklooking new Civic in the fall that will get a little more than 40 miles per gallon in highway driving, Mendel said in the statement.

2014 CNG Civic Arrives in Chicago, On Schedule

The 2014 version of Honda’s CNG Civic sedan debuted quietly in Chicago this week, with very little of the pomp and fanfare that accompanied, say, the Kia Soul EV’s launch. Despite being a Honda fan, I’m OK with that. The cool kids know what it is, and that’s what matters. Right?

Right.

For 2014, the CNG Civic features an upgraded interior and bright blue badge work that does a better job of playing up Honda’s Earth Dreams motif than, say, the NGV stickers did on the 2011 model. Additionally, where the previous version(s) of the CNG Civic have felt a little bit like they were built as fleet specials for companies who didn’t want to save money, the newest version seems to have embraced the idea that “going green” isn’t a punishment. As such, Honda has seen fit to upgrade the interior materials and plastics of their new alt-fueler, and have added leather and alloy wheels to the mix, as well …

… the trunk space, however, is still radically compromised by the addition of the CNG tanks. While that’s not much of a problem for a company car that’s meant to shuttle project managers between job sites, it does mean that someone shopping for a clean-burning city car to put their growing family in (*ahem!*) can’t consider the CNG Civic a realistic option. Not if they’re trying to get a baby stroller into this …

… so, that kinda sucks.

Still, the continuation of the CNG Civic is great news for drivers who care about their carbon footprint and want that legendary Honda reliability. While I might lament the lack of, say, an AWD CNG Honda CR-V, however, I’m sure Honda knows what they’re doing. Expect to see more CNG Hondas in the future, then- especially if President Obama’s comments about expanding America’s natural gas infrastructure turn out to have legs. In the meantime, check out some excerpts from Honda’s official press release, below, and a few more CNG Civic pictures under that.

For 2014, the sophistication and value of the … Civic Natural Gas is enhanced with a host of new standard features, including new Display Audio with 7-inch touchscreen that allows users to pinch, swipe and tap just like a smartphone to access audio, phonebook, media, vehicle information and available navigation features. The touchscreen display is also the interface for the next-generation HondaLink™, an application-based platform that allows a seamless integration between a user’s smartphone and the car, providing access to online and cloud-based content and information both inside and outside the car.

New for 2014, the Civic Natural Gas Leather Navi model gains additional premium features such as leather seats, heated front seats, heated side mirrors and a six-speaker audio system. The Civic Natural Gas’ standard interior has also been upgraded with more premium seating materials and door panel trim.

The 2014 Civic Natural Gas will be available at Honda dealers in 37 states on February 15 with an MSRP starting at $26,640 ($29,290 for the “Navi” model) and a combined EPA rating of 31 MPG.

Obama Encourages More Natural Gas Infrastructure

President Obama encouraged more natural gas infrastructure in Tuesday’s State of the Union speech. In it, he talked about his “all-of-the-above energy strategy”, which incorporates diverse energy sources to keep America running (and driving) with less potential disruption from global political and economic changes.

He specifically mentioned natural gas as a bridge fuel. It burns cleaner than the petroleum cars have been using, and the innovation that has gone into modern CNG vehicles is impressive. In order to get more people driving natural gas vehicles, we need more natural gas infrastructure – specifically fueling stations. Obama called on Congress to create programs to employ people and get the natural gas infrastructure built.

Natural gas is in the news a great deal partly because of fracking. Fracking can be done safely, or it can cause problems, such as earthquakes or contamination of water sources. Natural gas pipelines can also rupture with spectacular and dangerous results. Even so, natural gas represents an enormous opportunity for the U.S. to reduce dependence on foreign oil while also reducing emissions.

Here is what Obama said about natural gas production and natural gas infrastructure in the State of the Union address:

Now, one of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy. The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago is working, and today, America is closer to energy independence than we’ve been in decades.

One of the reasons why is natural gas – if extracted safely, it’s the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change. Businesses plan to invest almost $100 billion in new factories that use natural gas. I’ll cut red tape to help states get those factories built, and this Congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas. My administration will keep working with the industry to sustain production and job growth while strengthening protection of our air, our water, and our communities. And while we’re at it, I’ll use my authority to protect more of our pristine federal lands for future generations.

Image: Mariordo59/CC

2013 Honda Civic, Hybrid & Natural Gas: Ultimate Guide

The Honda Civic originally made its name in the 1970s, arriving at the perfect time to attract tens of thousands of customers scared out of larger, thirstier vehicles by the oil crisis.

Four decades down the line and the Civic still has a reputation as a gas sipper, though the modern car is unrecognisable from its first-generation counterpart.

Now, you get a choice of ways to be green, by either selecting a regular, gasoline engine, or picking a hybrid or natural gas version. We've collated a selection of articles on the Civic and its various models, to bring you our ultimate guide.

Click here to read a full review of the 2012 Honda Civic.

On this page, you can find details of Honda's greenest Civics, the Civic Hybrid and the Civic Natural Gas. Click through to page 2 for more general details on the Civic range.

Honda Civic Hybrid
44 mpg city, 44 mpg highway, 44 mpg combined

The Civic Hybrid is currently the greenest of the Honda Civic range, using a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine, paired to a slim electric motor as part of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. All that drives through a continuously-variable transmission.

The car is now in its third generation and though the current Civic is nothing to write home about in most areas, it's still one of the most fuel-efficient cars on sale today.

• Honda Details Future Small-Car Hybrid System; We Drive It (New!)
• Six High-Mileage Hybrids That Will Keep You Invisible (New!)
• 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid Will Be Made In U.S., Not Japan 
• Honda Wins Round In Long-Running Hybrid Gas-Mileage Lawsuit
• Used report: Best Used Green Cars To Buy: 2006-2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
• Honda Starts Hybrid Battery Pack Rare Earth Metal Recycling
• Gas mileage: 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid: Hammer It, How High Is Gas Mileage?
• Woman Wins Suit Against Honda For Low Civic Hybrid Gas Mileage
• 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid: Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2012 Nominee
• Why An Old, Used Honda Civic Hybrid Is Good For Your Health
• Our MPGs Vs Consumer Reports: Volt, Civic Hybrid, Jetta TDI, Lexus CT 200h, Fiat 500
• Drive review: 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid: Multi-Day Drive Review
• Recall notice: Honda Recalls 2006-2007 Civic Hybrids To Replace DC-DC Converter

2012 Honda Civic EX

Honda Civic Natural Gas
27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, 31 mpg combined

Look at the numbers above, and you might wonder what's green about the Civic Natural Gas. Well, the clue is in the name--although it's little more efficient than a regular Civic, natural gas burns more cleanly than petroleum products and emits less CO2 when burned.

Of course, it's less energy dense too, meaning the power and economy figures are nothing special, but it's also relatively cheap and the U.S. has its own natural gas reserves--so there are no foreign oil concerns for buyers.

• Buy A 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, Get A $3,000 Fuel Card (New!)
• Truck Stop Natural Gas May Spur On Alt-Fuel Car Adoption
• Drive review: 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas: First Drive
• 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas Sedan Priced At $26,905, Cleanest Combustion Car Sold
• 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas: Video Of Alternative-Fuel Car
• 2012 Honda Civic: Video Rundown Of The Complete 5-Car Lineup

Honda Civic and HF
29 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, 33 mpg combined (HF)
28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, 32 mpg combined (1.8 auto)

Neither interested in the hybrid Civic, nor wish to fill up with an unfamiliar fuel? The Civic and Civic HF might be your cars of choice, then. The latter is a higher-economy version of the regular car, using a few aerodynamic tweaks and some low rolling resistance tires to offer an extra few mpg on the highway and an extra mpg in the city too.

Neither is a fireball to drive--though select a Civic with the larger 2.4-liter and the performance/economy curve shifts towards the former--but each is a relatively inexpensive way of getting into a popular, reliable gas-sipper.

Honda has updated the Civic for the 2013 model year, improving the styling, and giving it a much-needed boost on interior quality. Fuel efficiency remains the same, however.

• 2013 Honda Civic: Updates And Live Photos From LA Auto Show (New!)
• 2013 Honda Civic: Revised Model Debuts At L.A. Auto Show (New!)
• Honda Civic: Even Thieves Want High Gas Mileage... (New!)
• Honda’s 2016 Civic Will Be Developed, Built In The U.S. (New!)
• 2012 Honda Civic Models Recalled For Possible Assembly Error (New!)
• 5 Good Green Cars For Your Teen: Frugal, Fun, But Responsible Too (New!)
• Honda: Okay, We Know You Hate The New Civic, So We’ll Redesign It (New!)
• Drive review: 2012 Honda Civic HF: Quick Drive Of Higher-MPG Civic
• Honda Civic Joins Mustang, GTO, Cadillac, Gets Its Own Song
• Gas mileage: Honda Civic Gas Mileage
• 2012 Honda Civic: Two-Minute Video Review Of New Sedan
• 2012 Honda Civic HF 41-MPG Model: Video Tour, NY Auto Show
• Tell Us: Is 40 MPG Highway Irrelevant, Or Crucial To Save Gas?
• 2012 Honda Civic: What Do You Want To Know About The Redesign?
• 2012 Honda Civic HF Joins The 40-MPG-Plus Parade, Hybrid Too

2012 Honda Civic EX

Source: Green Car Reports

Fighting Pain at the Pump, Honda Joins with Clean Energy to Provide $3,000 Fuel Cards to New Civic Natural Gas Vehicle Customers

Honda just released an incentive, a big one, for those interested in buying the Civic Natural Gas. American Honda has an alliance with Clean Energy Fuels to provide a debit card pre-loaded with $3,000 that can used at Clean Energy fueling stations around the country. Another perk, for those living in California, is the ability to drive a 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle in the High Occupancy Vehicle carpool lanes through January 1, 2015.

Honda says that the natural gas vehicle offers fuel savings up to 40 percent compared to a typical gasoline-powered subcompact car with its 31 miles per gallon combined EPA rating. Natural gas was costing customers $2.05 per equivalent gasoline gallon in July, according to the most recent Deptartment of Energy data. While not covered in its press release (see below), there are other considerations that car shoppers should research, such as:

• Finding a natural gas station: Clean Energy doesn't state the specific number of public fueling stations that there are in the US, but the numbers are limited. A lot of these stations are behind locked gates at government and business fleet facilities, airports, and bus and utility vehicle gas pumps. Looking over Clean Energy's map, it looks like there are about 180 public natural gas stations, about forty percent of them in Southern California.
• Range limitations: The regular Honda Civic sedan has a gas tank that can hold up to 13.2 gallonsand has a combined city/highway mileage rating of 32 miles per gallon for the automatic transmission version. That would mean it could travel 422 miles on a tank of gasoline. Honda gives the Civic Natural Gas a range estimate of 220 miles. Part of the reason for this conservative estimate is that different stations refill CNG differently, and ambient temperature has an effect on how much gas can make it into the tank. There's also a limit to how much natural gas the pressurized tank can hold.
• Price comparison: Natural gas is appealing for those interested in reducing their out-of-pocket fuel expense, with a $2.05 per equivalent gasoline gallon the number cited by Honda, compared to the current national average for gasoline at about $3.80 a gallon. The downside is that the Civic Natural Gas is the most expensive version of the Civic, with its sticker price starting at $27,065 after destination.

So, the $3,000 fuel card is appealing, but it makes sense to look before you leap. Does it make sense for you?



Source: Honda

The CNG Civic GX Returns!

The CNG Honda Civic GX has returned to the Chicago Auto Show this year. Named the 2012 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal, the unassuming sedan looks just like any other 2012 Civic. The only indication that this is not a car running on standard gasoline is the CNG badge on the back, proudly but quietly claiming that this car is one of the cleanest-burning in the world.

CNG vehicles (NGVs) are still somewhat of a niche, mostly due to natural gas stations being a little hard to find (the US Department of Energy does have a locator application to find alternative fuel stations), but natural gas burns very cleanly. Just about the only way to be greener with your vehicle is to get something purely electric and then power it with solar panels alone.

In addition to being much cleaner-burning than gasoline-powered cars – the Civic GX has an AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle) rating as certified by CARB – the mileage is great. The Civic GX has a 31mpg EPA rating (combined – 27mpg city and 38mpg highway, gasoline-gallon equivalent). The actual volume of fuel burned, since it’s natural gas, is a little higher, and that brings us to the one sacrifice that an NGV driver will be making.

The 2012 CNG Civic has not solved the problem of the 2011 CNG Civic, which is namely this:

There’s very little trunk space, since the fuel tank has to be quite a bit larger than a standard Civic. On the other hand, low emissions plus good mileage plus eligibility for energy efficiency incentives more than make up for a lack of trunk space in my book. The Civic GX is available in California, New York, Utah, or Oklahoma.

Source: Gas2.0

New Mitsubishi i-MIEV Unseats Honda Civic Natural Gas after 8 Consecutive Years at the Top

PRESS RELEASE

With the auto industry back on its feet and fuel economy standards shifting into high gear, automakers provided American consumers with a huge array of vehicles and technologies to choose from in 2012. Today at greenercars.org, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its 14th annual comprehensive environmental rankings showing how these offerings stack up.

The "Greenest" list saw a considerable shake-up this year, with the Mitsubishi i-MIEV battery electric vehicle claiming the top spot from the Honda Civic Natural Gas, which has held on to first place for eight years in a row. Making its model year 2012 debut on the American market, the i-MIEV earns a score of 58, the highest Green Score awarded since the rankings began in 1998. With a combined city and highway fuel economy of 112 miles per gallon equivalent, the i-MIEV outpaces all other vehicles currently sold in United States. "Even taking into account the emissions generated from the electricity used to power the i-MIEV, it still handily outscores other vehicles on the market today," said ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan.

The Honda Civic Natural Gas, despite its improved fuel economy this year, appears in second place, tied with the Nissan Leaf. Rounding out the top six are the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, and the Smart ForTwo. This year, hybrids dominate the "Greenest" list occupying half of all spots. Highly efficient conventional gasoline vehicles also continue to have a presence on the "Greenest" list, claiming three of the top twelve spots.

"It's increasingly obvious that automakers are fully invested in providing consumers with the widest possible array of vehicle choices. Earning a spot on the " Greenest" list is proving to be a real challenge for automakers given the variety of vehicle technologies on the market and the proliferation of highly efficient conventional vehicles. Just using the latest technology does not guarantee a top spot," said Vaidyanathan. This year saw the arrival of a number of new hybrid options for drivers from Hyundai, Kia, and Infiniti, but none broke into the top twelve.

Widely regarded as the pre-eminent buyer's guide to environment-friendly passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, greenercars.org provides the facts necessary to examine the eco-performance of any 2012 model.

Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a "Green Score," a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and emissions of gases that contribute to climate change.

This year, a number of updates were made to the Green Book® methodology to more accurately estimate vehicles' environmental impacts. These include improved emissions estimates for the vehicle manufacturing process, changes reflecting current natural gas extraction practices, and consideration of upcoming shifts in the generation mix for the electricity used to power electric cars.

The greenercars.org website also identifies top, widely-available models in each vehicle class. This "Greener Choices" list includes trucks and SUVs such as the Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Canyon, Honda Odyssey, and the Ford F-150 (FFV). Cars such as the Chevrolet Sonic-5 and Hyundai Sonata top their respective classes. As the list demonstrates, consumers can make "greener choices" whatever their vehicle needs may be. Domestic manufacturers claimed five of the twelve spots.

The "Meanest" list this year sees a number of heavier light-duty vehicles, pushing out European sports cars as the highest emitters. The dirtiest vehicles for 2012 are the twin Chevrolet G3500 Express and GMC G3500 Savana cargo vans, followed by the Ford E-350 Wagon and the Bugatti Veyron sports car.

In addition to highlighting the year's "Greenest," "Meanest," "Greener Choices," and best-in-class lists, the greenercars.org website features informational write-ups on model year 2012 highlights, a consumer primer on vehicles and the environment, and advice on how to buy green when shopping for a new car or truck.

Summary "Green Scores" of the 1,000+ configurations of all model year 2012 vehicles are made available to subscribers of ACEEE's Green Book® Online interactive database along with each configuration's fuel economy, health-related pollution impacts, and greenhouse gas emissions. Subscribers can also build custom lists for comparing vehicles. Monthly and annual subscriptions to ACEEE's Green Book® Online are available at greenercars.org .

About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org.

Civic Hybrid driver Heather Peters wins $9,800 judgment from Honda in small claims court

This is why some people didn't want to settle with Honda. Heather Peters, who took Honda to small claims court in Torrance, CA recently over claims of the Civic Hybrid's fuel economy, has been awarded $9,867.19 in damages. That's almost the maximum allowed in small claims court ($10,000) and is a decision that might have a big impact on future class-action litigation.

A refresher on the situation: In 2007, John True sued Honda because, he said, the automaker made misleading claims about the fuel economy of the Civic Hybrid. In 2009, after it became a class-action lawsuit, Honda settled with Civic hybrid drivers, giving them either up to $1,000 off the purchase of a new Honda or a $100 check. This didn't sit right with Peters, so she sued.

The court commissioner ruled that Honda "negligently misled" Peters with claims that Civic Hybrid could get 50 miles per gallon, the LA Times writes. In a statement, Peters said:

I am absolutely thrilled at the reports that I won, even though I won't see the actual judgment until it comes in the mail. It's a victory for Civic Hybrid owners everywhere! Sometimes big justice comes in small packages.

Honda says it plans to appeal, and this may all just be the beginning. Peters is encouraging other Civic Hybrid owners who are disappointed in their real-world mileage to file suits against the automaker in small claims courts across the country.

Source: Autoblog Green

Truck Stop CNG Station May Spur on Alternative Fuel Movement

Natural gas has forever been a "nearly" fuel. While offering several advantages over gasoline or diesel, such as low cost of refueling, HOV-lane stickers in California and cleaner running, the disadvantages are even greater.

One of those has been the availability of natural gas, limiting its suitability for longer trips, where access to a natural gas pump might be scarce.

That could be about to change, according to Associated Press. Natural gas developer Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is planning to equip truck stops all over the country with natural gas pumps, increasing the total by 150. All will be located on major interstates.

While the main aim of this is to encourage heavier, thirstier vehicles to use natural gas, it will be beneficial for the passenger car market too. Currently, the natural gas vehicle market is dominated by buses, taxis and garbage haulers. Refueling is less of an issue for commercial vehicles, as they're often refueled each night at the company running them.

At the moment, only one production natural gas vehicle is on sale, the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas. We drove it recently, and found it to be very similar to the regular Civic to drive.

However, with fewer than 1,000 public natural gas fueling stations across the U.S. and a lower range on gas than on gasoline, it's a less practical choice. It also costs more than the equivalent gasoline Civic - as much as $10,000 over the basic model - giving it similar limitations to an electric car.

If the number of stations increased, the low price and low greenhouse gas emissions - a third lower than the equivalent gasoline model - could make it a more logical option, at least for owners keeping their cars for several years.

Honda is expanding sales to 37 states next year, up from only four. "We think we are expanding the car at the right time with the expansion in public infrastructure," explains Honda's Jessica Fini. Honda plans to boost sales from 1,000 cars annually to 2,000, still less than one hundredth that of regular gasoline Civics.

150 more stations still sounds like a small expansion, but it's certainly a step in the right direction and should help Honda sell a few more natural gas Civics. Whether it will stimulate greater demand and encourage other car makers to follow suit is a different matter.



Source: Green Car Reports

Look For Natural Gas Vehicle Sales To Start Picking Up

Which alternate vehicle or fuel do you know least about?

You've almost surely heard about hybrids. You may have seen ethanol, even biodiesel, debated in the news. And if you read this site, you're likely to know that cars that plug into grid power to recharge their battery packs are now on sale from Chevrolet and Nissan, among others.

But did you know that Honda has been selling a natural-gas powered version of the Honda Civic for more than a decade?

Natural-gas vehicles exist in most parts of the world--more than 12 million of them, in fact--but they're concentrated in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, especially in countries without adequate gasoline refineries like Iran and Pakistan.

In North America, though, they're confined almost entirely to fleets--and most natural-gas vehicles are larger than passenger cars, including buses, municipal repair vehicles, and other heavy trucks.

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas

The problem is the lack of refueling stations. After a century, gasoline is ubiquitous--and so is electricity. But natural gas fueling stations are few and far between, though they do exist.

Nonetheless, according to a pricey recent report by Pike Research, sales of NGVs will grow from 1.9 million a year today to as much as 3.2 million per year by 2016.

That's still only a fraction of the 80 million or so vehicles built globally, and that 12 million total is a tiny percentage of the world's roughly 1 billion vehicles.

Pike Analyst Dave Hurst updated his predictions in a recent blog post, suggesting that oil prices are likely to continue rising over the long term, despite short terms dips and spikes.

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas

That will only increase the running-cost advantage of NGVs, which can cut per-mile costs in half despite their pricier window sticker price tags.

But they'll remain a niche product for passenger vehicles, with the bulk of the growth coming from corporate and government fleets. The fleet share of total NGV sales, in fact, will rise from 59 percent to 65 percent, according to Hurst.

And most of that growth will happen outside the U.S.

Honda plans a limited nationwide rollout of its 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (the new name for the model previously called the Civic GX), which it has priced at $26,905 with delivery.

But that car is still likely to find its best reception in places that have lots of native natural gas: California, Texas, Utah, New York, and parts of the Midwest).

We'll be driving a new 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas in a few weeks. If you have questions about NGVs, or about that car in particular, please let us know what they are.

Source: Green Car Reports

New Honda 2012 Civic Natural Gas goes on sale 18 October at Honda dealers in 35 states, up from 4

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas. Click to enlarge.

The all-new 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (formally known as the Civic GX), the only dedicated natural gas-powered passenger vehicle manufactured and sold in the US, will go on sale at qualified Honda dealerships nationwide on 18 October with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $26,155.

To support growing consumer interest in alternative-fuel vehicles, American Honda is expanding its network of US dealers which are qualified to sell and service the Civic Natural Gas to retail customers—expanding sales to 200 dealers in 35 states. Previously, retail sales of the natural gas-powered Civic had been limited to four states: California, New York, Utah and Oklahoma.

The Civic Natural Gas offers multiple benefits including significantly reduced operating costs compared to gasoline and lower fuel costs, with natural gas purchased at public fueling stations historically costing about 30% less than gasoline on a gasoline-gallon-equivalent basis.

As an alternative-fuel vehicle with extremely low smog-forming emissions, the Civic Natural Gas currently qualifies for a state-issued decal allowing single-occupant access to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) “carpool” lanes in California and several other states. The Civic Natural Gas engine produces almost zero smog-forming emissions and is the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle certified by the EPA (Tier-II, Bin-2 and ILEV certification as of August 2010).

The Civic Natural Gas is recognized by the state of California as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) by meeting SULEV emissions standards and warranting its emissions durability for at least 150,000 miles or 15 year (in California and those states that have adopted California’s ZEV regulations). Natural gas, as a lower carbon fuel, emits 25% less CO₂ emissions than gasoline when used to power an internal combustion engine.

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas engine bay with 1.8-liter i-VTEC dedicated natural gas 4-cylinder engine. Click to enlarge.

A modified 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine found in the Civic Sedan and Coupe models powers the new Civic Natural Gas. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment.

The Civic Natural Gas engine incorporates features to operate exclusively on compressed natural gas. The compression ratio is increased to 12.7:1, compared to 10.6:1 in the Civic Sedan’s gasoline-powered engine. Exclusive fuel injectors, intake and exhaust valves, and valve seats are designed to accommodate the unique properties of natural gas. Stronger connecting rods and crankshaft as well as special pistons are used to accommodate both the higher compression ratio of the engine and octane rating of the fuel.

The Civic Natural Gas has its 3600-psi fuel tank located between the rear wheels. The safety-engineered, aluminum-lined composite fuel tank can contain the gasoline-gallon equivalent (GGE) of 7.8 gallons of gasoline when filled with CNG to 3600 psi.

The Civic Natural Gas has an EPA-rated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 27/38/31 mpg (8.7/6.2/7.6 L/100km), gasoline-gallon equivalent (gge).Compared to the previous model, city fuel economy is up by 12.5% and highway fuel economy is improved by 5.5%. Additionally, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas achieves a 10.7% improvement in combined fuel economy and range. The new model also incorporates the Honda ECO Assist system, a technology that can enhance efficient vehicle operation at the touch of a button, while also providing visual feedback to the driver to promote and confirm a more efficient driving style.

Building on the successful packaging of the previous generation Civic, the passenger volume of 94.6 cubic feet increases by 3.7 cubic feet, and gains have also been made in front shoulder room (+2.9 inches) and rear legroom (+1.6 inches).

For safety, a wide variety of standard equipment includes Honda’s exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure for enhanced frontal collision energy management and vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility. ACE enhances frontal collision energy management through a network of load bearing structures in the front of the vehicle. Additional standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) that integrates with the new Motion-Adaptive electric power steering (EPS) system; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; front side airbags with occupant position detection system (OPDS); side curtain airbags; and a 4-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.

Standard equipment on the 2012 Civic Natural Gas includes the new “intelligent” Multi-Information Display (i-MID) that provides a platform for integration of vehicle information and compatible personal electronics with a driver-oriented 5-inch color LCD display and intuitive steering wheel controls. All models also come equipped with Bluetooth HandsFreeLink for wirelessly connecting compatible mobile phones and a USB audio interface for compatible music players.

The redesigned 2012 Civic Natural Gas can now be equipped with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System featuring an exclusive database of publicly accessible Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refueling stations across the United States.

All Civic Natural Gas models are produced at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN). The 2012 Honda Civic is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile New Car Limited Warranty; a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.

Source: Green Car Congress

GNA Selected by American Honda to Promote the Honda Civic Natural Gas Sedan

PRESS RELEASE

National environmental consulting firm will support market development for the Honda light-duty natural gas vehicle-the world's cleanest internal combustion engine vehicle

July 19, 2011 - Santa Monica, CA - National environmental consulting firm Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA) announced today that it has been selected by American Honda Motor Company (Honda) to promote the newly redesigned Honda Civic Natural Gas sedan. GNA is widely recognized for its efforts in leading the successful deployment of clean, alternative fuel transportation projects across the U.S.

GNA will collaborate with Honda to market the Civic Natural Gas sedan in 19 states spanning the Mid-West to Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions including the District of Columbia. The project will be managed by GNA's East Coast office, based in New York City.

GNA chief executive officer Erik Neandross stated, "GNA is extremely fortunate to have played a role in managing the deployment of a number of nationally recognized NGV projects. We are excited to work with American Honda to promote its Honda Civic Natural Gas sedan, which is the nation's leading light-duty natural gas vehicle product."

Newly redesigned for 2012, the Honda Civic Natural Gas sedan (previously known as the Honda Civic GX) is the world's cleanest internal combustion engine vehicle. The Civic Natural Gas is available in 33 states and will soon be available to consumers in five additional states by the end of the 2011 calendar year with production numbers growing in response to high consumer and fleet demand. With high gasoline prices nationwide, the Honda Civic Natural Gas offers consumers a cleaner transportation alternative that is also cost effective. Purchase incentives currently pending under legislation HR 1380, the NAT GAS Act, would create an even more favorable scenario for the purchase of NGVs with tax credits for vehicle and fuel purchases as well as fleet or home refueling stations.

The Civic Natural Gas is the only OEM-built, compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered passenger car assembled in the U.S. It is built on the same assembly line as the gasoline-powered Civic four-door models at Honda's Greensburg, Indiana manufacturing facility. The Civic Natural Gas is the only vehicle certified by the EPA to meet both Federal Tier 2 Bin 2 and Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) zero evaporative emission certification standards. The Civic Natural Gas has earned recognition from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as the "greenest vehicle of 2010" for the seventh consecutive year.

Purchase incentives for the Honda Natural Gas sedan are currently-pending under federal legislation HR 1380, the NAT GAS Act, which would create tax credits for natural gas vehicle and fuel purchases as well as fleet or home refueling stations.

As an inherently clean-burning fuel, natural gas produces 75 percent fewer smog forming pollutants (oxides of nitrogen) compared to the output of a conventional gasoline engine. Natural gas is also an abundant, domestically sourced fuel that is approximately 30 percent less expensive than gasoline when purchased at a public access CNG refueling station.

About American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

American Honda is glad to do its part to develop sustainable transportation options, striving to be a leader and a company "society wants to exist." Named America's "Greenest Automaker" for the fifth consecutive time by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), American Honda continues to pioneer leading edge technologies to benefit the environment and address energy diversity issues. Among its alternative fuel vehicle offerings are: the Honda Civic Natural Gas, the cleanest internal combustion vehicle in the world (according to the U.S. EPA) and the greenest vehicle in the United States (according to ACEEE); and, the FCX Clarity, the first CARB- and EPA-certified hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. Scheduled in 2012 to join this environmentally–responsible line-up in the United States are the Fit EV and a plug-in hybrid vehicle. www.honda.com

About Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (GNA)

With headquarters in Santa Monica, California, and in New York, New York, GNA is one of the nation's leading environmental consulting firms specializing in emission reduction, energy and transportation policy, carbon management, and market development for clean, alternative fuel and efficient vehicle technologies. GNA works with businesses, governments and communities to expand markets for environmentally responsible products and services and to develop strategies and raise awareness about projects and technologies that promote a sustainable economy, environment and communities. Over the last 15 years, GNA has successfully secured over $210 million on behalf of its clients and the multiple clean energy and transportation technology projects on which it has collaborated. www.gladstein.org