Honda Civic GX
Encyclopedia
The Honda Civic GX is a passenger car factory-built to run on compressed natural gas
(CNG). The GX is based on the Honda Civic
and is available for fleet sales in all 50 states in the US. For retail sales, it was previously available in only four states (California
, New York
, Utah
and Oklahoma
), but as of October 18, 2011, the Civic GX will be available to consumers in 35 states throughout the U.S. The GX is manufactured in Honda's Greensburg, Indiana
plant together with the production of conventional Civics.
For eight years in a row the Civic GX has been rated first by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
in the "Greenest Vehicle of the Year" list. For 2011 The GX classified ahead of the two recently launched plug-in electric vehicle
s, the Nissan Leaf
and the Chevrolet Volt
. In November 2011 the third generation GX was awarded the 2012 Green Car of the Year
.
The GX was first leased to the City of Los Angeles
to be used by parking enforcement officers and other city employees as a live beta test. The GX follows the same model year design changes as the Civic LX model, until the model year 2001 when a CVT (continuously variable transmission
) was introduced in place of the 4 speed automatic transmission
. In the 2006 year model, the GX again was equipped with the automatic 5 speed transmission, which increased its mileage and extended its range to 250 miles.
In 1999 the GX was available for special order in some states to consumers (Colorado in particular).
In 2006, the Civic went through its greatest modification since its inception. All variants of the Civic were awarded the 2006 Motor Trend
"Car of the Year" award. The 8th generation Civic remains unchanged from 2006 and is also available in the GX model. The GX is a very limited-availability car with fewer than a thousand units per year being produced by the factory.
In October 2006, the 2007 Civic GX became available in New York
. In July 2009, the GX became available to the public in Utah. In April 2010 the GX became available to the public in Oklahoma. The CNG Civic is this market relates to favorable natural gas costs and the numerous high pressure filling stations. The promotion of CNG conversions by natural gas producers headquartered in Oklahoma provided incentive for Honda to market the Civic GX there. State of Oklahoma incentives are available and are also a factor that led United Parcel Service to convert part of their delivery truck fleet to CNG.
Since December 2010, the GX is available for fleet sales in all 50 states. Retail sales were expanded to 35 states in the fall of 2011.
Since 2004 and until 2011, Honda Civic GX has been rated first in the "Greenest Vehicle of the Year" list elaborated by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
. For 2011 The GX classified ahead of the recently launched Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
Chevrolet Volt
, and tied with the plug-in electric vehicle
Nissan Leaf
.
engine. The 2001 model make-over carried a 1.7 liter engine. Beginning in model-year 2006, the 1.8 liter inline four-cylinder engine was introduced to the Civic lineup.
Compression
in the Civic GX is 12.5:1, higher than that of most US pump gasoline-powered automobiles. The significantly higher compression ratio is usable without detonation due to the 130-octane
natural gas that powers the car. Acceleration of the 2010 Civic GX is significantly less than that of the comparable 4-door 2010 LX model due to both lower power (113 hp vs. 140 hp) and heavier weight (2910 lbs vs 2652 lbs). Zero-to-sixty times have been clocked at 12.6 seconds.
The CNG cylinder (fuel tank) is carried in the trunk of the car and holds 8.0 GGE (Gasoline Gallon Equivalent) at 3600 psi.
Range on a full 3600 psi
fill is variable, depending on driving conditions and driving technique. While Honda claims an estimated 225–250 miles from a full CNG tank charge, independent tests have found a lower ranges, at 180–200 miles and "just over 200 miles" (about 300km). The EPA rates the 2009 Honda Civic GX at 24 equivalent MPG city and 36 equivalent MPG highway. Independent tests with mixed driving usage found rates of "nearly 32" and 26.8 equivalent MPG. The estimated fuel cost for this vehicle to drive 25 miles for a combination of city and highway driving is $1.47 using CNG
.
The GX qualifies for HOV Lane access in California
, Arizona, Utah, and other states.
The Phill had been made by the Honda-controlled Canadian firm FuelMaker until April 2009, when Honda forced the company into receivership and manufacturing ceased. By the end of May, FuelMaker's assets were sold to a New York-based company, Fuel Systems Solutions. FSS now manufactures the Phill through its Italian subsidiary BRC under the new brand BRC FuelMaker, and markets and services it in the US through the California-based company IMPCO.
. For 2011 The GX classified ahead of the two recently launched plug-in electric vehicle
s, the Nissan Leaf
and the Chevrolet Volt
.
The 2012 Honda Civic GX was awarded the 2012 Green Car of the Year
by the Green Car Journal
in November 2011 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
(CNG). The GX is based on the Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
and is available for fleet sales in all 50 states in the US. For retail sales, it was previously available in only four states (California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
), but as of October 18, 2011, the Civic GX will be available to consumers in 35 states throughout the U.S. The GX is manufactured in Honda's Greensburg, Indiana
Greensburg, Indiana
Greensburg is a city in Decatur County, Indiana, United States. The population was counted at 11,492 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Decatur County....
plant together with the production of conventional Civics.
For eight years in a row the Civic GX has been rated first by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE, is a nonprofit, 501 organization. Founded in 1980, ACEEE's mission is to advance energy efficiency as a fast, cheap, and effective means of meeting energy challenges...
in the "Greenest Vehicle of the Year" list. For 2011 The GX classified ahead of the two recently launched plug-in electric vehicle
Plug-in electric vehicle
A plug-in electric vehicle is any motor vehicle that can be recharged from any external source of electricity, such as wall sockets, and the electricity stored in the rechargeable battery packs drives or contributes to drive the wheels...
s, the Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf
Nissan introduced its first battery electric vehicle, the Nissan Altra at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on 29 December 1997. The Altra EV was produced between 1998 and 2002, only about 200 vehicles were ever produced, and it was mainly used as a fleet vehicle for companies such as...
and the Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
. In November 2011 the third generation GX was awarded the 2012 Green Car of the Year
Green Car of the Year
The Green Car of the Year is an award from the Green Car Journal.The winner is selected by an 11-member panel comprising automotive and environmental experts...
.
History
The Honda Civic GX first appeared in 1998 as a factory-modified Civic LX that had been designed to run exclusively on CNG (compressed natural gas). In 1998 the Civic GX cost $4500 more than a comparable Civic LX. The car looks and drives just like a contemporary Honda Civic LX, but does not run on gasoline. In 2001, the Civic GX was rated the cleanest-burning internal combustion engine in the world by the EPA.The GX was first leased to the City of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to be used by parking enforcement officers and other city employees as a live beta test. The GX follows the same model year design changes as the Civic LX model, until the model year 2001 when a CVT (continuously variable transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
) was introduced in place of the 4 speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
. In the 2006 year model, the GX again was equipped with the automatic 5 speed transmission, which increased its mileage and extended its range to 250 miles.
In 1999 the GX was available for special order in some states to consumers (Colorado in particular).
In 2006, the Civic went through its greatest modification since its inception. All variants of the Civic were awarded the 2006 Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
"Car of the Year" award. The 8th generation Civic remains unchanged from 2006 and is also available in the GX model. The GX is a very limited-availability car with fewer than a thousand units per year being produced by the factory.
In October 2006, the 2007 Civic GX became available in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In July 2009, the GX became available to the public in Utah. In April 2010 the GX became available to the public in Oklahoma. The CNG Civic is this market relates to favorable natural gas costs and the numerous high pressure filling stations. The promotion of CNG conversions by natural gas producers headquartered in Oklahoma provided incentive for Honda to market the Civic GX there. State of Oklahoma incentives are available and are also a factor that led United Parcel Service to convert part of their delivery truck fleet to CNG.
Since December 2010, the GX is available for fleet sales in all 50 states. Retail sales were expanded to 35 states in the fall of 2011.
Since 2004 and until 2011, Honda Civic GX has been rated first in the "Greenest Vehicle of the Year" list elaborated by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE, is a nonprofit, 501 organization. Founded in 1980, ACEEE's mission is to advance energy efficiency as a fast, cheap, and effective means of meeting energy challenges...
. For 2011 The GX classified ahead of the recently launched Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle , plug-in hybrid vehicle , or plug-in hybrid is a hybrid vehicle which utilizes rechargeable batteries, or another energy storage device, that can be restored to full charge by connecting a plug to an external electric power source...
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
, and tied with the plug-in electric vehicle
Plug-in electric vehicle
A plug-in electric vehicle is any motor vehicle that can be recharged from any external source of electricity, such as wall sockets, and the electricity stored in the rechargeable battery packs drives or contributes to drive the wheels...
Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf
Nissan introduced its first battery electric vehicle, the Nissan Altra at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on 29 December 1997. The Altra EV was produced between 1998 and 2002, only about 200 vehicles were ever produced, and it was mainly used as a fleet vehicle for companies such as...
.
Specifications
The GX was originally introduced with a 1.6 liter I4Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine. The 2001 model make-over carried a 1.7 liter engine. Beginning in model-year 2006, the 1.8 liter inline four-cylinder engine was introduced to the Civic lineup.
Compression
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
in the Civic GX is 12.5:1, higher than that of most US pump gasoline-powered automobiles. The significantly higher compression ratio is usable without detonation due to the 130-octane
Octane
Octane is a hydrocarbon and an alkane with the chemical formula C8H18, and the condensed structural formula CH36CH3. Octane has many structural isomers that differ by the amount and location of branching in the carbon chain...
natural gas that powers the car. Acceleration of the 2010 Civic GX is significantly less than that of the comparable 4-door 2010 LX model due to both lower power (113 hp vs. 140 hp) and heavier weight (2910 lbs vs 2652 lbs). Zero-to-sixty times have been clocked at 12.6 seconds.
The CNG cylinder (fuel tank) is carried in the trunk of the car and holds 8.0 GGE (Gasoline Gallon Equivalent) at 3600 psi.
Range on a full 3600 psi
Pounds per square inch
The pound per square inch or, more accurately, pound-force per square inch is a unit of pressure or of stress based on avoirdupois units...
fill is variable, depending on driving conditions and driving technique. While Honda claims an estimated 225–250 miles from a full CNG tank charge, independent tests have found a lower ranges, at 180–200 miles and "just over 200 miles" (about 300km). The EPA rates the 2009 Honda Civic GX at 24 equivalent MPG city and 36 equivalent MPG highway. Independent tests with mixed driving usage found rates of "nearly 32" and 26.8 equivalent MPG. The estimated fuel cost for this vehicle to drive 25 miles for a combination of city and highway driving is $1.47 using CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
.
The GX qualifies for HOV Lane access in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Arizona, Utah, and other states.
Home Refueling
Home refueling is available for the GX with the addition of the Phill Home Refueling Appliance. This unit attaches to a home or commercial natural gas source, and compresses the gas into the car's tank through an attached hose. The unit requires a 240V power source, and uses 800 watts when in operation.The Phill had been made by the Honda-controlled Canadian firm FuelMaker until April 2009, when Honda forced the company into receivership and manufacturing ceased. By the end of May, FuelMaker's assets were sold to a New York-based company, Fuel Systems Solutions. FSS now manufactures the Phill through its Italian subsidiary BRC under the new brand BRC FuelMaker, and markets and services it in the US through the California-based company IMPCO.
Recognition
For eight years in a row the Civic GX has been rated first in the "Greenest Vehicle of the Year" list elaborated by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient EconomyAmerican Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE, is a nonprofit, 501 organization. Founded in 1980, ACEEE's mission is to advance energy efficiency as a fast, cheap, and effective means of meeting energy challenges...
. For 2011 The GX classified ahead of the two recently launched plug-in electric vehicle
Plug-in electric vehicle
A plug-in electric vehicle is any motor vehicle that can be recharged from any external source of electricity, such as wall sockets, and the electricity stored in the rechargeable battery packs drives or contributes to drive the wheels...
s, the Nissan Leaf
Nissan Leaf
Nissan introduced its first battery electric vehicle, the Nissan Altra at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on 29 December 1997. The Altra EV was produced between 1998 and 2002, only about 200 vehicles were ever produced, and it was mainly used as a fleet vehicle for companies such as...
and the Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
.
The 2012 Honda Civic GX was awarded the 2012 Green Car of the Year
Green Car of the Year
The Green Car of the Year is an award from the Green Car Journal.The winner is selected by an 11-member panel comprising automotive and environmental experts...
by the Green Car Journal
Green Car Journal
Green Car Journal is a quarterly publication created in 1992 that focuses on green vehicles and environmentally friendly energy and technologies...
in November 2011 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
See also
- Compressed Gas AssociationCompressed Gas AssociationThe Compressed Gas Association is the oldest major industrial and medical gas association in the world.In January 1913, Robert King sent a letter to the 75 manufacturers of compressed gases in the United States inviting them to attend a meeting in New York for the purpose of organizing a new...
(Compressed Gas Association) - Compressed Natural GasCompressed natural gasCompressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
(Compressed Natural Gas) - Honda Civic HybridHonda Civic HybridThe Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...
- Liquefied natural gasLiquefied natural gasLiquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been converted temporarily to liquid form for ease of storage or transport....
(LNG)
External links
- CNG Honda Civic America's only factory CNG car being sold to the public
- BRC FuelMaker formerly Phill compressors
- CNG Honda voted Greenest Car of the Year
- CNG Users Site