Make it a better place

By ALASTAIR SLOANE motoring editor

A handful of motoring journos were the first to drive Honda's new petrol-electric hybrid Civic sedan. "Arrive Wellington airport at 8.30am," said the invitation. "A 40km run to Johnsonville and back to Te Papa museum. A briefing, press conference and lunch. Then the airport again. Thank you for coming."

The politicians and public servants arrived after lunch. The lapel badges were waiting for them. There was one for Gwen Bull, chairwoman of the Auckland Regional Council. Another for the Green Party's Sue Kedgley. The New Zealand Climate Change office was invited, so were the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation and the Tourism Association. Doug Glover, the parliamentary commissioner for the environment, had a name tag. The Royal Society's Colin Walker and Business New Zealand's Peter Whitehouse each had one, too. A whole bunch were waiting for people from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Near where they picked up their name tags was a big pile of boxes covered by black fabric. This represented the one tonne of soot - exhaust emissions - dumped into the air every 12 days along a 1km stretch of Auckland's Fanshawe St.

Honda New Zealand manager director Graeme Seymour would tell them that it would take 96 days to lay down the same amount of soot on Fanshawe St if every vehicle met the emission standard introduced for new cars on January 1 this year.

He added that it would take 960 days to dump the same one tonne of soot if every vehicle was a Honda Civic hybrid, one of Honda's many ULEVs, or ultra-low emissions vehicles.

He finished off by telling them that they were about to see the "greening of Honda New Zealand", that it would contribute to strong environmental leadership by helping to plant 50,000 to 60,000 new trees every year.

"We see the tree-planting programme as one way in which we can emphasise the commitment that Honda is making in leading the world's carmakers into a more environmentally conscious age," Seymour would say.

"Trees are a measurable way of absorbing some of the carbon monoxide produced by motor vehicles, so even if Honda is supplying the cleanest vehicles in New Zealand we can still do our bit to protect the environment to the fullest extent of our ability."

Then he presented the first hybrid Civic to Gwen Bull. "They've paid in full for it," said Honda marketing chief Graeme Meyer. The ARCs want to be seen to be doing something for the environment.

The 1.3-litre Civic hybrid is the second petrol-electric car to go on sale in New Zealand. The first was the 1.5-litre Toyota Prius, late last year. They use different engine-generator-battery set-ups but both achieve the same ends: less exhaust emission and more economy. The Civic hybrid sedan, which looks just like the standard petrol model, costs $33,000. The more powerful, purpose-built Prius costs $43,500. First blood to Honda on price.

Seymour said New Zealand's track record on exhaust emission legislation was "very poor".

"We lag well behind overseas emission levels; we need leadership from central and regional governments; we have got to get Kiwis thinking differently, changing the mindset."

He said New Zealanders needed to look more towards the green themes of Europe. "European motorists drive smaller, more fuel-efficient cars than the Americans," he said. "The Europeans are more concerned about the environment. In the US they drive bigger cars and trucks. They think of safety as big.

"We in New Zealand are following on towards the American model. The best-selling car here is a large V6. We need to change our thinking."

Seymour said the average age of the vehicle fleet in New Zealand was 11.7 years. "In terms of exhaust hydrocarbons and nitrous oxides, 10 Civic hybrids have the same emissions impact as one new car (meeting the January 1 law). Eighty Civics have the same emissions footprint as the 11.7-year-old car. If we are to make a difference we cannot let a laissez-faire approach to motoring prevail."

The new emissions law for New Zealand is equivalent to the Euro 2 standard, introduced in Europe in 1999. The Europeans are now moving to Euro 5, a cleaner-burning requirement again.

Seymour said the emissions law applied only to new cars in New Zealand and there was nothing covering used imports. "We suffer because of used Japanese imports. It's a politically different hurdle to overcome with Japanese used cars.

"The economies of buying a new car today are as good if not better than buying a used Japanese car. The new car is friendlier on the environment, too."

Honda says it priced the Civic hybrid so that potential buyers did not have to pay a penalty to enjoy the technology of the future.

"We believe that petrol-electric hybrids have a place in the mainstream market and see no reason why they shouldn't be accessible to the widest possible audience," said Seymour.

The Civic's four-cylinder, 1.3-litre variable-valve engine produces 63kW at 5700rpm and 119Nm of torque at 3300rpm and is mated to a continuously variable transmission.

But combined with an electric motor positioned between the engine and transmission it produces an extra 6kW and 27Nm, for peak power of 69kW at 5700rpm and 146Nm at a lower 2000rpm.

The system works by capturing energy during braking or deceleration and storing it in the battery pack mounted in the rear bulkhead for later use. The high-torque electric motor helps out the engine under acceleration, using stored energy to boost performance.

Honda says the petrol-electric Civic is capable of 4.66 litres/100km, or just over 60mpg. The car shares its platform with the Civic range and comes fully equipped, with four airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes, electric this and that, and CD player.

Later this year, Honda will release a hybrid variant of the 178kW (240bhp) V6 Accord on to the American market.