World's only Diesel Honda Insight
 

Just completed a 1.2L TDI install in a 2000 Honda Insight on Friday (17JUL09). As I suspected, the Insight is a much better car with diesel power. The jury is still out on fuel mileage but 100 mpg doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility. Take a look at Red Light Racing for build details. More pictures of the completed car and associated components should be added soon. I've started a fuel log of the car on this site. I've cracked the top ten. However, I still need to get the hybrid side of the car working which should increase efficiency 10-15%. The first video of the car can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgELfyYsxyM .

Best wishes,
Jake

Could you give us a quick rundown of the specs on the TDI you put in? Will be interesting to see how the mileage does in the winter.

Good job, and welcome to ecomodder :thumbup:

Wow!

...pardon my ignorance, but is that a Honda diesel from an Asian model or what?

It is a volkswagen engine, AFAIK, 1.2 TDI, not sold in the states, though plenty of folks here would love to have one.
Volkswagen Lupo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

...wow! a cross-pollenated engine swap is usually NOT all that easy/simple...as would be within a brands own power-plant offerings.

Amazing job they did though. It averaged 92 MPG on the cross country trip even without the electric motor? That's the way I remember it I think.

Sounds like a great project! It should highlight the dynamics of the Insight's chassis and body irrespective of the engine.

Would it be feasible to chuck out the electrics and batteries to save weight, rather than use them in combination with the TDI engine?

To use the electrics or not to use that, that's the age old question I think. I've always thought it seemed inefficient to have that extra weight and mass to move around and not worth it, but apparently it works so I was wrong.

I'm sure someone else will come up with a much better answer. I see your point though.

I believe a good (and patient) driver can outperform the hybrid systems, just by anticipating obstructions and not putting him/her self in a position requiring much braking, and accelerating efficiently.

But a big part of the xprize is businessy stuff so the electronics allow you to compensate for a "bad" (typical) driver and leave the engine off and recover some braking power and play well with others in certain traffic conditions, at the cost of conversion losses and weight (and cost and complexity).