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Table of ContentsEmergencyResponseGuideFor Hybrid Vehicles2012 Model YearEdition

ContentsIntroduction1Part 1: Information for All Honda HybridsVehicle Description2Identifying a Honda Hybrid2Gasoline Engine3Electric Motor312-Volt Battery3Underhood Fuse Box3Positive Battery Terminal3High-Voltage Battery Modules4High-Voltage Battery Box4High-Voltage Cables5Potential HazardsFlammable Fluids6Undeployed Airbags and Tensioners6Electric Shock Potential7High-Voltage Battery Electrolyte812-Volt Battery Electrolyte8Emergency ProceduresVehicle Fire9Submerged or Partially Submerged Vehicle9Preventing Current Flow Through High-Voltage Cables9Best Method for Preventing High-Voltage Flow All Models10Second-Best Method for Preventing High-Voltage FlowExcept 2010-2012 Insight and CR-Z102010-2012 Insight and CR-Z12Extricating Occupants13Moving or Towing a Honda Hybrid13Part 2: Model-Specific Information2000-2006 Honda Insight142010-2012 Honda Insight162003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid182006-2011 Honda Civic Hybrid202012 Honda Civic Hybrid222005-2007 Honda Accord Hybrid242011-2012 Honda CR-Z26

Table of ContentsIntroductionThis booklet has been prepared to help emergency response professionals identify Hondagasoline-electric hybrids and respond safely to incidents involving these vehicles.Part 1 presents general information and recommendations that apply to all Honda hybridsproduced through the 2012 model year. Part 2 contains model-specific information for eachof the four hybrid models: the Insight, the Civic Hybrid, the Accord Hybrid, and the CR-Z.This guide will be updated or replaced as Honda continues to introduce new hybrid vehicles.We hope this publication provides the kind of information you need. This booklet is available forreference or downloading at www.honda.ca.Honda Canada wants to thank you for your concern and efforts in protecting Honda customersand the general public.1

Table of ContentsPart: 1Vehicle DescriptionIDENTIFYING A HONDA HYBRIDThe Insight can be identified by its aerodynamicshape and by the name Insight and a hybrid badgeon the rear of the vehicle. The 2000-2006 modelshave rear fender skirts, whereas later models do not.All Honda Insights have an aerodynamic shape. Earlymodels (top above) have two doors, and newer models(e.g., directly above) have four.Except for a few minor differences in equipment,such as a roof antenna, there is very little differencein the exterior or interior appearance of the Civic andAccord hybrids compared to those of their gasolinepowered counterparts.Like the Civic Hybrid, above, all Honda hybrids otherthan the Insight and the CR-Z look essentially the sameas their conventional counterparts.The CR-Z is a two-door, two-passenger sports car.The two-door CR-Z has a sportier appearance thanHonda’s other hybrid vehicles.The easiest way to identify a hybrid is by the wordon the rear of the vehicle. If the wordhybrid is not visible on the rear of a vehicle, due todamage for example, the presence of orange cablesunder the hood, or orange shielding under the car,would also identify the vehicle as a hybrid.Orange cables under the hood, or orange shieldingbolted to the undercarriage of a Honda tell you thevehicle is a hybrid.2

Table of ContentsVehicle DescriptionGASOLINE ENGINEPart: 1All Hybrids Except 2010-2012 Insights and CR-ZsThe main power source of all Honda hybrids is aconventional gasoline engine, located under the hood.E L EC T R I C MOTO RDuring start-up and acceleration, an electric motor,located between the engine and the transmission,provides assistance to the engine. During braking anddeceleration, the motor acts as a generator, rechargingEngineMotorboth the high-voltage battery module and the12-Volt UnderhoodBattery Fuse Box12-volt battery.1 2 -VO LT B AT T E R YA conventional 12-volt battery, also located under thehood, powers all standard electronics. In Hondahybrids, this battery also provides power to the highvoltage battery control systems. Disconnecting or cuttingthe negative cable to the battery may be necessary insome emergency situations.U N D E R H O O D F U S E B OXAll Honda hybrids except the 2010 and later Insights andthe CR-Z have a fuse box under the hood on the driver’sside of the engine compartment. Removing the main fusefrom the box may be required in some emergency2010-2012 Insights and CR-Zssituations.P O S I T I V E B AT T E R Y T E R M I N A LWith 2010 and newer Insights and the CR-Z, the mainfuse is located in the positive battery terminal. Cuttingor removing the DC to DC converter cable, which isconnected to this terminal, may be required in someemergency ltBattery3

Table of ContentsPart: 1Vehicle DescriptionH I G H - VO LTA G E B AT T E R Y MO D U L E SThe electric motors in all Honda hybrid models except the2012 Civic hybrid are powered by a nickel-metal-hydride(NiMH) battery module. This type of battery contains groups,or “sticks,” of 1.2-volt cells, each about the size of a D-cellbattery. The number of cells varies by vehicle model, andtotal voltages range from 100-160 volts.HV BatteryModuleSingle HVBattery“Stick”SingleHV CellD-CellBatteryThe electric motor in the 2012 Civic hybrid is powered by alithium ion (Li-Ion) battery module. This battery contains fourgroups, or “stacks,” of ten 3.6-volt cells, each a little largerthan a typical cell phone. The total voltage is 144 volts, verysimilar to the NiMH batteries that power other Honda hybrids.Since both types of battery modules are recharged whenevera Honda hybrid vehicle decelerates, neither ever needsexternal charging.One of FourBattery “Stacks”H I G H - VO LTA G E B AT T E R Y B OXEach high-voltage battery module is stored in a sturdy box,such as the one shown here with the lid removed. The boxcontains other important components which, together withthe battery, make up the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU). Allcomponents inside the battery box are completely insulatedOther High-VoltageComponentsHigh-VoltageBattery Moduleand isolated from the vehicle body.For maximum safety, the battery box is positioned in the rearof the vehicle where it is well-protected from potential damagein a collision.4

Table of ContentsVehicle DescriptionPart: 1H I G H - VO LTA G E C A B L E SElectrical energy flows between the high-voltage batterymodule and the motor through heavy-duty orange cables.In the Accord Hybrids and the 2006-2012 Civic Hybrids,high-voltage cables also deliver current to the airconditioning (AC) compressor. This allows the AC tocontinue running when the vehicle is in the Auto IdleStop mode. (Under certain conditions, Auto Idle Stopautomatically turns the engine off when the car comes toHigh-Voltage CableConnection to MotorHigh-Voltage Cable toAccord AC CompressorElectrical shield boltedto undercarriageThermal shield nearhot exhausta stop, at a stop light for example.)Between the battery box and the engine compartment,the high-voltage cables are routed under the vehicleinside sturdy orange plastic protective shields. Where thecables lie close to the exhaust system, a metal thermalshield covers, but does not obscure, the orange highvoltage shield.To improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency, somesections of the high-voltage cables are located behindpaneling. High-voltage alert symbols ( ) may bestamped into the paneling to indicate the cables’ path.High-VoltageCable VisibleUndercarriageCoverHigh-VoltageAlert Symbols5

Table of ContentsPart: 1Potential HazardsHonda hybrids do not present any unusual hazards. Thevehicles have performed well in standard crash tests, with nodamage to high-voltage components in front, side, orrear impacts.FLAMMABLE FLUIDSGasoline-electric hybrids have the same potential fire andexplosion hazards as conventional vehicles. (See modelspecific pages for flammable fluid capacities.)U N D E P L OYE D A I R B A G S A N D T E N S I O N E R SAll Honda hybrids have front airbags and front seat belttensioners. All except 2000-2006 Insights have side airbags infront, and side curtain airbags are standard in all Accords,2006 and later Civics, 2010 and newer Insights, and CR-Zs.These systems all use pyrotechnic devices with a deactivationtime of 3 minutes.Follow recommended procedures to avoid possibleinjury from a deploying airbag or inflator.As with other airbag-equipped vehicles, being struck by adeploying front or side airbag, or cutting into an unactivatedinflator, can result in moderate to severe injuries. Injuries canalso result from contact with a deploying side curtain airbag,or having a seat belt tensioner activate unexpectedly.To reduce the risk of injury during the deactivation period,we recommend the following: Keep out of the path of an undeployed front airbag, anddo not cut into the center of the steering wheel ordashboard where the front airbags are stored. Do not cut into the rear (C) pillar on Accords, CR-Zs, 2006and later Civics, and 2010 and newer Insights, as that iswhere side curtain inflators are stored. Be aware that extreme heat (320-356ºF; 160-180ºC) cancause unintended airbag inflation.6

Table of ContentsPotential HazardsPart: 1E L EC T R I C S H O C K P OT E N T I A LUnprotected contact with any electrically charged (“hot”or “live”) high-voltage component can cause seriousinjury or death. However, receiving an electric shockfrom a Honda hybrid is highly unlikely because ofthese facts: Contact with the battery module or other componentsinside the battery box can occur only if the box isdamaged and the contents are exposed, or the box isopened without following proper precautions. Contact with the electric motor can occur only afterone or more components are removed. The high-voltage cables can be easily identified bytheir distinctive orange color, and contact with themcan be avoided.It’s also important to understand in what situations theCurrent Flows from Battery to Motorhigh-voltage cables can potentially be “hot”:All Honda Hybrids: Whenever the ignition switch is inthe ON position and the engine is running, the high-voltageCables “Hot”battery is either supplying current to the electric motor orreceiving current generated by the electric motor.Current Flows from Motor to BatteryCables “Hot”7