I'd love to have a hybrid!

[PlaysWithMatches]

Yea, I'd love to have an Insight, or a Prius.

There's a nice little Insight for sale a little ways from here, but I can't afford it.

[MazdaMatt]

Anyone ever seen an insite with the entire electric drive system removed? I'm interested to see what it weighs and what sort of numbers can be had with it. Am I right that it is only 1800lbs WITH the electrics in it?

[PlaysWithMatches]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Anyone ever seen an insite with the entire electric drive system removed? I'm interested to see what it weighs and what sort of numbers can be had with it. Am I right that it is only 1800lbs WITH the electrics in it?

According to Consumer Guide Automotive at howstuffworks 2002 Honda Insight Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive the curb weight of an 02 Insight is 1847 lbs.

[The Atomic Ass]

Originally Posted by PlaysWithMatches

Yea, I'd love to have an Insight, or a Prius.

There's a nice little Insight for sale a little ways from here, but I can't afford it.

The wrecked one on eBay I presume?

I can't afford it, either.

[The Atomic Ass]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Anyone ever seen an insite with the entire electric drive system removed? I'm interested to see what it weighs and what sort of numbers can be had with it. Am I right that it is only 1800lbs WITH the electrics in it?

It probably wouldn't do any better... Remember that weight primarily hurts acceleration, not constant-speed cruising.

And I have to imagine the drop in weight will be very minor.

And then again, adding weight, (in the form of a number of good batteries), would actually increase fuel economy, by allowing it to operate on electric for longer periods.

[NeilBlanchard]

Remember too, that you need to "accelerate" to go up hills, so weight hurts you when climbing hills.

[PlaysWithMatches]

Originally Posted by The Atomic Ass

The wrecked one on eBay I presume?

I can't afford it, either.

No, actually it's an intact one with 32k miles. Cars.com: 2002 Honda Insight

[The Atomic Ass]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

Remember too, that you need to "accelerate" to go up hills, so weight hurts you when climbing hills.

As does the loss of torque from the motors.

[The Atomic Ass]

Originally Posted by PlaysWithMatches

No, actually it's an intact one with 32k miles. Cars.com: 2002 Honda Insight

Well hell, I REALLY can't afford that one.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Anyone ever seen an insite with the entire electric drive system removed? I'm interested to see what it weighs and what sort of numbers can be had with it.

Not removed, but I have a MIMA system that lets me turn off the assist (or use more assist/regen). It has pretty poor acceleration without assist, with little power until you get well above 3K RPM.

The electrical system doesn't actually weigh all that much. The battery & electronics are probably under 100 lbs. (I've never weighed them, but have no problem removing & replacing them myself.) The electric motor replaces the flywheel, so it couldn't easily be removed and leave the car runable. At a guess, I'd say all the hybrid components add maybe 200 lbs max to the car.