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If you've never driven a hybrid before, you might be unfamiliar with battery pack maintenance. Looking after the combustion engine is pretty much the same as with conventional cars, but the electric motor's battery requires particular care and maintenance principles. Here's a detailed guide to Honda hybrid battery maintenance that will help keep your car running smoothly for many years ahead. more Drive Your Car Frequently As with any EV, your hybrid's battery will start to deteriorate if left fully depleted of charge, shrinking in both capacity and power. When left sitting unused, the charge in your battery will slowly diminish, eventually causing harm. Regular drives activate regenerative braking and keep the battery cycling properly, always with a healthy charge. Drive your car often, even for short trips, and your battery will last far longer. Don't Fully Charge the Battery Either Charging the battery pack to 100 percent also has a detrimental effect, accelerating wear and tear. You needn't worry about this with most conventional hybrids which typically automatically keep the battery in an optimal charge range of about 20 to 80 percent. With plug-in hybrids, there's a risk of overcharging unless your car can limit the charge to 80 or 90 percent. If your car has a charging limiter, make sure you keep it on. Protect Your Battery From Heat Our hot Californian sunshine can take its toll on hybrid batteries, accelerating internal chemical reactions while increasing resistance to the flow of voltage. With this in mind, try to park out of direct sunlight whenever possible, in a garage or at least under shade. If you're planning a long journey, consider driving earlier or later in the day, rather than when the sun is at its highest. Hybrid batteries also need to be protected against excessive cold, but that's less of an issue in our neck of the woods. Maintain the Cooling System As with the combustion engine, the battery's cooling system is vital for its longevity. Read your owner's manual to learn how to maintain the cooling system for your model, and regularly check to ensure that the cooling vents are free and unclogged by leaves or dirt. Schedule Honda Hybrid Battery Maintenance We can help to ensure your hybrid and its battery keep performing optimally. Book routine battery maintenance with us; we'll inspect and test the battery and cooling system, making sure all is in perfect working order, and carrying out repairs when necessary. We can also conduct maintenance on the combustion engine, and every other important component in your car. Visit Penske Honda Ontario in Ontario, CA, today to have your hybrid serviced by experienced specialists. We're committed to providing a first-class vehicle shopping or maintenance experience, whatever automotive requirements you have.

The Honda CR-V is one of the top-selling SUVs in the world. It has a superb unit-body chassis, a rugged, stylish exterior with a 2023 redesign, a premium interior with ergonomic controls and many likable design touches, and it offers a comfy ride. It's brimming with safety tech, too. The CR-V comes in six trim levels, but we focus more below on the three 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid models and their standout features. more 1. Refined Hybrid Powertrain The CR-V's three hybrid trims (Sport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid) all feature a 204-hp hybrid powertrain with two motors. These twin motors boost performance and efficiency. They help to capture kinetic energy via regenerative braking, which, coupled with energy generated through the 2.0L IC engine, recharges the CR-V's battery and maximizes the electric range. Compared to gasoline-only CR-Vs, hybrid models enhance acceleration and easily win out on fuel economy, especially during city driving. 2. CR-V Hybrid Fuel Economy CR-V Hybrid models come in FWD or AWD versions, save for the Sport Touring Hybrid, which is AWD by default. This has a mild effect on fuel efficiency, as FWD models tend to squeeze about 5-10% more mpg. The CR-V Hybrid compares well against rival SUVs. 3. Classy Cabin The CR-V Hybrid cabin is a highlight in terms of space, comfort, layout, and easy-to-use tech. A distinctive feature is the handsome honeycomb fascia. All cars have a power moonroof. The cockpit has an eclectic mix of controls, with rotary knobs for audio volume and climate control, as well as a 7" or 9" touchscreen (model dependent). Supremely comfortable is the plush cloth or leather seating, particularly the body-stabilizing front seats. 4. Driving Dynamics Offering a balanced, smooth ride with nimble handling and well-tuned suspension, the CR-V has refined driving dynamics. You can modify its behavior with four selectable drive modes: ECON, Normal, Snow, and Sport. These alter key driving factors like throttle response to suit different driving conditions, "Normal" being the most well-rounded mode. Sport mode adds personality with a spirited exhaust note. 5. Technology Driven Most modern cars have multiple technologies inside them, but the CR-V includes a vast array of Honda Sensing driver-assist technologies and clever active-safety features. Honda makes nearly all these available across every trim so there's no compromise in passenger protection. All trims have the Blind Spot Information System (BSI), for instance, which isn't always standard among other brands. Visit Penske Honda Ontario in Ontario, CA to see the excellent Honda CR-V Hybrid up close.