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Electric motor with ICE-like efficiency
I tried out high speed electric-only operation, and the car tops out around 48-49mph. Power to overcome road load at 48mph is only around 4.3kW, and is about a third of the motor's 12kW rated power.
During DFCO, I lose very roughly 1mph/s at 40mph. I'm losing kinetic energy at a rate of ~7.2kW, including the 2.8kW road load at 40mph. So engine braking is about 4.4kW at 40mph, and 5.3kW at 48mph, assuming it's linear with engine speed.
I am spending over half my energy just overcoming engine braking when I use the Insight as an EV. Lopping off my engine would roughly double my electric range and acceleration.
Btw, there's no discernible difference between throttle open and closed when the fuel injectors are off.
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