For today's environmentalists, the remaining trees in the Amazon jungle need hugging more than ever, as cities around the globe continue to choke on pollutants. Government mandates and California Air Resources Board (CARB) memoranda have manufacturers scrambling to develop vehicles with near-zero and zero emissions and introduce them into market. Following a tradition of being well ahead of legislated schedules, Honda is offering two squeaky-clean cars that improve upon low-emission-vehicle (LEV)-compliant 1.6-liter Civics sold in California since '96.
Barely distinguishable from a traditional gasoline Civic sedan, the natural-gas-powered GX may be the most viable near-zero-emissions vehicle currently offered. To accommodate the large compressed natural gas (CNG) tank, passenger count has been limited to four and trunk space has been reduced by 40 percent. With 110 horsepower on tap, the CNG-fueled four-door accelerates 0-60 mph in a reasonable 11.9 seconds and handles predictably, with good ride compliance and responsive handling. In short, it's just like any other Civic, only with a cleaner exhaust.
A significant amount of engineering work went into developing more than 200 unique components for the GX to ensure reliability and driveability to parallel more commonplace Hondas. The result is a seamless design hampered only by reduced passenger and cargo capacity, along with decreased cruising range. Officially projected at 260 miles, we regularly racked up 180 to 190 miles of city and highway driving before topping off at a natural gas station. Our experienced range coincides with Honda's 220-mile real-world claims. Fueling stations are few in number, requiring a certain amount of planning, although the GX offers much more freedom than its electric competitors in these regards. Cost projections for '98 peg the GX at $4500 over a comparably equipped LX sedan, or about $20,000.
Electrifying HondaSeemingly the offspring of a Civic hatchback and Odyssey mating, the tall EV Plus places a priority on livability and greater range with the goal of serving as primary transportation for short-distance commuters. The distinctly Honda interior makes for a comfortable transition into the world of electron diets. Standard amenities include power windows/door locks/mirrors, automatic climate control system, and four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo.
Turn on the near-silent machine, and the dazzling instrument cluster comes to life and the vent fans whir gently. Crisp graphics chart energy consumption using a bar graph to project at-the-moment range alongside a digital speedometer, odometer, and tripmeter. Engage the brushless 66-horsepower DC motor, and the EV Plus accelerates in a smooth, linear manner. Around town, the eerily quiet EV Plus hangs with low-speed urban traffic, although accelerating from a standstill to 60 mph takes 16.6 long seconds. Should the estimated range fall perilously short of your trip plans, there is an Economy mode that limits the amount of juice fed to the motor under full throttle, thus increasing 0-60-mph times to a glacier-slow 29.5 seconds. Try to merge onto the highway in Economy mode and you'll get to exchange gestures with a bunch of your fellow drivers.
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