BRIGHT SPARK; Honda charging ahead.

Byline: PAUL MALLEY

ELECTRIC cars have a reputation for being - well, not very good.

You just have to recall the disaster that was the Sinclair C5 to see how bad certain models can be.

Thankfully, green technology has come on in leaps and bounds since then. So much so that Honda has produced an electric car that behaves like a normal set of wheels.

Without wanting to bore you with all the technical details, let me tell you a bit more about the driving force behind the Honda Civic IMA (Integrated Motor Assist).

First thing to understand is that the IMA is NOT a fully-fledged electric car. It's a hybrid - so named because it uses two power sources, in this case petrol.

The Japanese car-builder was the first to put petrol/electric power on the road with its Insight. But that two-seater lacked the practicality necessary to ensure the technology had a wider appeal.

This five-seater saloon is so much better.

The IMA system essentially comprises a large battery and traction motors which, through a computer, engage to provide extra power to the 1.3-litre engine.

When the car is accelerating, the battery-powered electric motor assists the engine to boost performance. On braking it recaptures energy and recharges the battery.

What is more, you can see all this in action thanks to a circular display on the hi-tech luminous blue instrument panel.

Whatever the electric motor is doing can be seen on the digital gauge which fluctuates between 'charge' and 'assist'.

Together the IMA system can push the four-door Civic to 60mph in less than 13 seconds and on to 110mph.

More impressive are the ultra-low emissions of 116gkm and it can return almost SIXTY miles per gallon.

All this is achieved without making it a dud to drive. Start it up and it behaves like a conventional petrol car, only quieter. In fact it's so quiet you really have to listen hard to make sure the engine is running.

While the acceleration statistics are far from jaw-dropping, the IMA does feel sprightly.

It also handles more than adequately, gear-changing is crisp and braking is reassuring.

The IMA doesn't have mouth-watering, sporty looks but it isn't ugly either. It's an average-looking saloon. The interior is comfortable and equipment levels are decent.

So it's good riddance to my impression that all electric cars are rubbish.

The IMA is so good you can't tell you're driving anything but a conventional saloon.

FAST Facts

WHAT IS IT? Honda Civic SE Executive 4dr IMA

HOW MUCH? pounds 15,000

HOW QUICK? 0-62mph in 12.8 secs. Top speed of 110mph

HOW THIRSTY? 57.7mpg combined

CO? 116g/km

FOR: Economy

AGAINST: Looks

THE VERDICT: HHH 

CAPTION(S):

SMART MOVER... the part-electric Honda Civic IMA handles like an ordinary petrol-engine car ECONOMICAL... the Honda Civic IMA can return 60 miles per gallon BAD MEMORY... Sir Clive Sinclair and the ill-fated C5