HONDA Insight - Manual (Page 85)

85
E
MISSIONS
S
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
2
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)
CO (3)
g/km (g/mi)
NOx (4)
g/km (g/mi)
PM (5)
g/km (g/mi)
CO
2
(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
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