Missions, Tandards – HONDA Insight User Manual

Page 85

MISSIONS

TANDARDS

We know that Honda has gone to great lengths in engineering the Insight in the pursuit of low

emissions levels, but just how low have they actually achieved?

There are two major categories of vehicle emissions that people are concerned about:

Air polluting compounds that contribute to smog and are health hazards

These are the compounds measured by the various emissions standards. The Insight is certified to meet

the ULEV (Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle) standard when sold in California and some other U.S. states. We

aren't aware of any differences in the car itself as sold elsewhere.

As the chart below shows, independent measurements have been done on the Insight, which show that

it is far better than the ULEV (and even SULEV) standard in some aspects, while being just about exactly

at the ULEV level in hydrocarbon emissions.

Technology in the Insight that allows it to achieve these levels include:

• Careful computer control over fuel injection and ignition timing.
• The VTEC-E valve system, which produces a high degree of swirl for very complete

combustion.

• The head/exhaust manifold/catalytic converter configuration that allows the primary catalytic

converter to get up to operating temperatures quickly.

• The second (NOx absorptive) catalytic converter designed for lean-burn conditions.
• The various technologies that lead to a reduction of the total amount of fuel burnt.

Greenhouse gas emissions believed to contribute to global warming

Carbon dioxide is the primary "greenhouse gas" of concern in vehicle emissions. Carbon dioxide

emission levels are not currently measured by most emissions standards.

The amount of carbon dioxide produced is directly proportional to the amount of fuel burned. As such,

it is the Insight's superior fuel efficiency that allows it to achieve the lowest level of CO

emissions ever

achieved by a mass-produced car.

Insight Emissions Levels

Smog-Causing Compounds

Greenhouse

Gas

Hydrocarbons

Carbon

Monoxide

Nitrogen

Oxides

Particulate

Matter

Carbon

Dioxide

Category

TOG

(1)

g/km

(g/mi)

NMOG

(2)

g/km

(g/mi)

(3)

g/km (g/mi)

NOx

(4)

g/km (g/mi)

(5)

g/km (g/mi)

(6)

g/km (g/mi)

Insight Emissions Level,

According to Honda

ULEV

(as certified in California and some other U.S. states)

80 (129)

Insight as Independently

Tested on Dynamometer

0.03 (.05)

0.12 (0.2)

None

detected