It's an interesting desgin. There is a great cutaway movie of the IMA system and
the AC
compressor here.

http://www.hondanews.com/CatID1000?mid=2005070636116&mime=asc

http://i.tnpv.us/tn/2005/07/06/i-VTEC_IMA.mov

Charlie Fosdick

.--- In Prius-2G@yahoogroups.com, "Terry" <tclong@t...> wrote:
>
> --- In Prius-2G@yahoogroups.com, "densansmith" <junksmith33@c...> wrote:
> > "new-design air conditioner usually doesn't require the
> > gasoline engine to be running, as did the previous model"
> >
> > What is that supposed to mean?
>
> It means that the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid has an "air conditioning
> system with two compressors that can operate independently or together
> with power from the gasoline engine or an internal electric motor".
>
> Under light demand it uses the small electric compressor. If demand is
> high, it energizes the clutch for the 2nd compressor which is belted to
> the engine in the traditional way. They work together.
>
> IMO it seems like it would be simpler to go the Prius route and make it
> all-electric. But I'm no expert and not an engineer and Honda has a
> reputation for thoroughly engineering their products, so I'm trusting
> them that this is the best solution for their particular product. IIRC,
> their battery's max capacity is too low to handle continuously running
> a single compressor with the required capacity.
>