Civic Natural Gas model goes on-sale October 18, 2011, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $26,155.
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN) has started mass production of a revised 2012 Civic Natural Gas model, formerly the Civic GX. U.S. Engines for the Civic Natural Gas will continue to be supplied by Honda’s engine plant in Anna, Ohio.
The production will support Honda’s growing network of U.S. Honda dealers qualified to provide retail sales and service support for the Civic Natural Gas, now expanding from 72 Honda dealers in four states to nearly 200 dealers in 36 states.
The 2012 Civic Natural Gas is powered by what’s claimed to be the cleanest internal combustion engine ever certified by the U.S. EPA. Civic Natural Gas is powered by a modified version of the same 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine found in the 2012 Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe models. Civic natural Gas has an EPA-rated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 27/38/31 miles per gallon (the so called gasoline-gallon equivalent). This is a claimed improvement of up 12.5% in city driving and 5.5% on the highway compared to its predecessor. The 2012 Civic Natural Gas also incorporates the Honda ECO Assist system, a technology that can enhance efficient vehicle operation at the touch of a button, while also providing visual feedback to the driver to promote and confirm a more fuel-efficient driving style.
As it stands now, compressed natural gas or CNG vehicles that are growing clean air darlings – under debatable assumptions about how clean natural gas really is and how it is produced under exemptions from government environmental regulations – are all conversions of mostly Detroit Three pickup trucks and vans with the one Honda factory-made exception.
The current Civic GX CNG- powered Civic and the all-new Civic Natural Gas model will continue to have access to the California HOV highway lane until January 2015. As an Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV), the Civic Natural Gas qualifies for White Clean Air Vehicle decals, which are available in an unlimited quantity.
The 2012 Civic Natural Gas model goes on-sale October 18, 2011, with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $26,155, plus $750 destination charge.
Let’s also face the stiff price premium for the Civic CNG. Both EVs and CNG vehicles will remain in specialized niches for the moment. Fleet sales for CNG looks to be the greatest volume opportunity for the foreseeable future.
Let’s face it, installation of home charging stations for electric vehicles is expensive. What people need is an affordable kind of alternative fuel and I think natural gas is the way to go.