The Air Resource Board of California accepted the 2014 Honda Accord plug-in hybrid (PHEV) into its new Super ultra low emission vehicle 20 standard (SULEV20), labeling it as the first gasoline-driven vehicle to meet that standard.
The usual SULEV standard is in itself quite stringent, being awarded only to vehicles producing around 90% lower emissions compared to the average vehicle.
The SULEV20 raises the bar by being the most stringent nationwide, and also being about a third cleaner (when it comes to pollution caused by fog formation) than former lowest state standard.
To add to this, the Honda has reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to the average standard requisite of cars in 2025, which corresponds to a 50% reduction compared to today’s required levels. Due to the design’s advanced technology, the full-sized sedan model reaches 46 MPG highway / 47 MPG city when in standard or gas only mode and 105 MPGe highway / 124 MPGe city when in hybrid mode.
When tested, the 2014 Honda Accord PHEV achieved 20 milligrams of combined smog-forming emissions per mile, which, though very low can still go lower still (definitely achievable with clean energy powered cars!)
According to Honda, the Accord PHEV is scheduled for release early 2013. Coming with a combined electric motor of 124 kW capacity and an i-VTEC 4-cylinder 2.0 liter Atkinson-cycle gas engine which at 6200 rpm produces 137 hp (102 kW) and also has a combined 196 hp (146 kW) output, the unit is supplied with a lithium-ion battery of 6.7 kw capacity.
