The Honda CR-V e-HEV is set to enter the Philippine market soon, with reports pointing to the arrival of the compact crossover this July. 

The all-new generation of the CR-V brings new styling and a new set of features. It also brings two new engine options a familiar 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder hybrid drivetrain featuring two motors. 

While the latter engine is already familiar, as it has seen use in the likes of the Honda Civic and the Honda Accord, what's new to the Honda CR-V nameplate is the 2.0-liter hybrid. 

We will quickly discuss how the hybrid system works and how it can benefit you with better fuel-saving capabilities. 

Also read: Just around the corner: 2023 Honda CR-V launches in Thailand with new hybrid system, 5 variants

What's new with the 2.0-liter hybrid?

The 2024 Honda CR-V gets a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle engine along with two electric motors to complete the hybrid setup. It has a combined output of 207 PS and 335 Nm of torque. Aside from this, the hybrid system can also power all four wheels with Honda’s Real-Time AWD system. 

For those who don’t know, an Atkinson Cycle engine produces a leaner burn than other internal combustion engine (ICE) types. It doesn’t make a lot of power, but it leads to the more efficient combustion of gasoline, giving you more fuel economy. 

The power gap is where the two electric motors that are part of the 2.0-liter hybrid system boost the vehicle's performance. One is a generator motor that produces electricity, while the second is the propulsion motor which drives the car forward. These two motors are separate from the gasoline engine, which can also assist in moving the vehicle. 

These are mounted side by side rather than inline with the engine crankshaft, giving you new high and low-speed lock-ups for direct engine drive. These give you a better response for spirited driving and a more relaxing experience for highway cruising. 

So how does it work?

The significant part of the hybrid system in the Honda CR-V is that it can function both in series and parallel hybrid formats. It means that the gasoline engine can power the electric motor as a generator, or both the electric and/or the gasoline engine can be used to provide propulsion. 

In most cases, the gasoline engine connected to the generator produces electricity, which is subsequently fed through the battery, and then to the drive motor. It is similar to how the Nissan Kicks functions, as the motor is only used as a generator. It allows the hybrid system to optimally and rapidly control engine and electric motor rotation to deliver higher fuel efficiency and quicker engine response in each driving mode.

When cruising at highway speeds, the hybrid system switches seamlessly to a parallel hybrid system, with the gasoline engine directly connecting to the front axles via a clutch to help power the car. 

Under certain conditions, the generator motor can recharge the battery and propulsion motor under regenerative braking. It creates more opportunities for the CR-V to regain any lost energy. 

Fuel savings by prioritizing electric mobility

As complicated as it sounds, the best way to explain it is if Nissan’s e-power technology was combined with a regular hybrid system. It provides you the get-up and go of an electric vehicle but with the reassurance of having a gasoline-powered engine as a generator and another propulsion source for the car.

Together with the battery pack, these systems allow you to use electric power more often and help you convert any lost energy back into electric power, reducing the need to turn on the gasoline engine. 

Do you think the Honda CR-V hybrid will be more fuel efficient than its diesel version?

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