I added an old post below, also.

1) The current crop of Honda's never move on electric only. The
engine must always be running.

2) As I explain below, I do get the rated mileage on the Accord but
was between 5 and 10 % under epa on the Civic.

3) As you coast you will see it start charging (called regeneration or
regen mode), then as soon as you touch the brake, you will see it
increase the regen and with significant braking pressure the
regeneration goes to maximum. So, in general, the care and feeding of
the battery will take care of itself. Even when living in a mountain
state where you MUST use the engine on long downhills and PUMP the
brakes, remember BRAKE PADS ARE CHEAPER THAN ENGINES. The brakes are
usually the better primary means for passenger autos.

If you know you are going to climb a long hill, then yes it is better
to have a full battery to start, but there are limited, if any, things
you can do that are worth doing. If you need the electric boost to
have sufficient total horespower, then maybe going out of the way to
charge the battery first has some merit, but very little. Once the
battery is gone, hill climbing capability gets pretty poor in the
Civics with CVT. Not a problem in the Accords.

Other than that here is what I think of the Accord:
>I have had an 03 Civic Hybrid and now have an 05' Accord Hybrid. If I
>had to have one or the other, in today's market and gas prices, I
>still choose the Accord. It is my trip vehicle and the 03 Civic did
>not cut it. Wandered, under powered (Do NOT get the CVT Civic if you
>pull out onto busy 50 mph two lane roads, regularly), and
>uncomfortable, even with the Leather interior (aftermarket) upgrade I
>had on it.
>
>Yes, I like power and my first new car was a V8 back in the day -
>'70s. The Accord Hybrid (as is true of ALL current Hybrids) will NOT
>save you money over the life of ownership, fact - read any study. The
>premium cost is too high to be made up by gas savings. Heaven help
>you should need something unique fixed. (The AC radiator/condensor is
>$750) So, why own it.
>
>It is the fastest production Honda Accord with 15 hp ('05) more than
>the non-hybrid V6. The Hybrid gets 29 mpg in town (and I do get about
>that) and I get 34.5 mpg at 80 mph average highway and the rated 37
>mpg if I average 60 - 65 mph. The non-hybrid 05 V6 comparably
>equipped, actually gets 18-22 city and 27- 32 highway.
>
>So, I ride in luxury (the Accord starts with everything and adds
>hybrid), get the best mileage of any vehicle with comparable
>performance, can comfortably transport 5 and have LOCKOUT-ABLE trunk
>storage (the Prius has no secure storage when you leave it for service
>or leave valuables in the "trunk").
>
>I work around and build military hybrids and chose to own one, just to
>say that I do. Status - which is the only reason to own one - today.
>That will not be the case in 5 to 10 years.
>
>BTW: Yes, I am hunting for some lightning bolt symbol magnets to put
>on the side to flaunt that it is a hybrid,
>
>Honda did just fine, by me. (except for the lack of a spare, which I
>have solved - after market.)
>


On 13 May 2006 15:56:01 -0700, "greg" <gregor.heinrich@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi / I also just recntly purchased a honda civic hybrid 2006. great
>car, but I am not yet overly impressed my the mileage i get in town
>(note though that the twon is mexico city, and the high altitude
>(around 7000 ft) might have an influende.
>But perhaps jdsnipes could tell readers a secret or two how to hande
>the hybrid. Is it worth paying attention to not using the aircondition
>a lot?, does it make sense to try and keep the battery full? is i
>better use the breaks or the lower gear when driving downhill? how
>"soft: should one best accelerate ?
>I am sure that driving patterns matter, but which exactly are best
>suited to the hybrid?
>By the way, I never ever seem to have had the electric motor only move
>the car forward.., even when rolling at low speeds..
>is there a trick to make this happen??
>
>regards
>gr
>
>rysa4 wrote:
>> John Horner wrote:
>> > >>>>><jdsnipes@coastalnow.net> wrote:
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>I recently purchased a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid and am very dissapointed in
>> > >>>>>>the fuel economy. I am only getting an average of 40~42 MPG vs the
>> > >>>>>>advertised 49~50. I was told by the dealer to let it break in and then the
>> > >>>>>>milage will get better. I have over 900 miles on the car now with the same
>> > >>>>>>fuel economy.
>> > >>>>>>jdsnipes@aol.com
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> > I have yet to find anyone who actually achieves the fuel economy with
>> > their hybrids that the "EPA" numbers suggest. Somehow or another the
>> > car companies, Honda included, are gaming the process.
>> >
>> > The break-in argument is a smoke screen.
>> >
>> > John
>>
>> Not really John. The database at greenhybrid.com, tank by tank, and car
>> by car, show folks getting considerably above the EPA estimates. I
>> personally get 47.5 city and 51 highway, about spot on.