Should you hear hybrid drive kick in? Civic hybrid

tvc15

I test drove a used civic hybrid which I had not done before and could hear the whir of electric drive when I pushed the car as well as a whir while slowing abruptly. Normal driving was just normal sounds like an ICE car.

So, is the noise part of the deal with the hybrid cars or a sign of an issue?

fricatus

We have a Toyota Auris hybrid, and there are plenty of noises like what you describe, in addition to the normal engine noise. Sounds normal to me, rather than a fault.

waynegalway

Honda and Toyota hybrids don’t work in the same way. AFAIK the Honda electric motor works all the time in conjunction with the ICE. The Toyota one only works at low speed. Good chance the noise you heard while slowing down is regen, but I’ll levae it to Honda owners to advise more accurately.

tvc15

Well it certainly was happening during regen and discharge, I just didn't know how silent it should be and whether or not it was something to be concerned about

grogi

tvc15 wrote: »

Well it certainly was happening during regen and discharge, I just didn't know how silent it should be and whether or not it was something to be concerned about

Civic cannot drive on electricity alone - the motor is mounted on the main engine shaft.

tvc15

grogi wrote: »

tvc15 wrote: »

Well it certainly was happening during regen and discharge, I just didn't know how silent it should be and whether or not it was something to be concerned about

Civic cannot drive on electricity alone - the motor is mounted on the main engine shaft.

I understand the concept, was just wondering about the sound

grogi

tvc15 wrote: »

I understand the concept, was just wondering about the sound

It is very difficult to talk about the sounds. Some people hear a lot (myself), some nothing (herself). So it is almost impossible to describe how one car should sound like.

Go and drive another one or two, you'll have a reference.

n97 mini

"Hybrid drive", like "self charging hybrid", is a Toyota term.

There's an indicator on the dash in the Civic that tells you how much assistance the electric motor is giving, and how much charge is being derived when slowing or braking. Neither make any sound.

Civic cannot drive on electricity alone - the motor is mounted on the main engine shaft.

Not strictly true. While it can't move the car from stationary, the HCH II (i.e. from 2006 on) can energise the electric motor when coasting. i.e. you will coast further, with the help of the electric motor alone.

grogi

n97 mini wrote: »

"Hybrid drive", like "self charging hybrid", is a Toyota term.

There's an indicator on the dash in the Civic that tells you how much assistance the electric motor is giving, and how much charge is being derived when slowing or braking. Neither make any sound.


Not strictly true. While it can't move the car from stationary, the HCH II (i.e. from 2006 on) can energise the electric motor when coasting. i.e. you will coast further, with the help of the electric motor alone.

But it still rotates the ICE, doesn't it?

n97 mini

grogi wrote: »

But it still rotates the ICE, doesn't it?

It does. But the valves are all closed (via a cam profile, similar to VTEC) to reduce pumping losses, and the fueling system is inactive, so no petrol is being consumed.