2014 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid is America's Most Fuel-Efficient Sedan
The new variant of the Accord Sedan is rated to get 115 MPGe when the car is operated in electric mode, making it "the most fuel-efficient sedan in America," according to Honda, and the first vehicle to qualify for the EPA's Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle 20 (SULEV20) standard. When operated as a gas-electric hybrid, the Accord Plug-in is rated to get 47 mpg in the city, 46 mpg on the highway, and 46 mpg in combined driving.
In contrast, the new 2013 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid model is rated to get 100 MPGe and 43 mpg in combined driving; the Chevrolet Volt is rated to get 98 MPGe and 37 mpg in combined driving; and the Toyota Prius Plug-in is rated to get 95 MPGe and 50 mpg in combined driving.
The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with the automaker's new Earth Dreams 2-motor gas-electric hybrid powertrain, which combines a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine with a 124-kilowatt (kW) electric motor that also acts as a continuously variable transmission. A rechargeable 6.75 kilowatt-hour (kWh) Lithium-ion battery provides a claimed electric-only range of 13 miles. When the battery reaches a minimum state of charge, the car operates as a traditional hybrid.
With the Accord Plug-in Hybrid, the driver can choose when to use the car as an electric vehicle and when to use it as a hybrid vehicle. Honda says it takes less than 3 hours to recharge the battery using a standard 120-volt power outlet. Employ a 240-volt Level 2 charger, and the battery is topped off in less than an hour.
The new 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in is based on the Accord Touring model, and has unique design cues in addition to its different powertrain. Honda says the Accord Plug-in Hybrid qualifies for single-occupant carpool-lane access in California.
2014 Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid Preview
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