Quote:
Originally Posted by Ecky
One issue with NiMH batteries is that you can't measure how much energy is in them. At all. The voltage is basically the same when they're full and empty, unlike lithium or lead-acid which have voltage proportional to their charge state. In order to keep track of what's in the battery, the Insight's computer records how much you put in every time you regen, and records how much goes out every time you assist. It does this very accurately, and can sometimes keep accurate track for years without a recalibration, especially if the battery is good. But, if you charge the battery from outside, the computer won't know it. It can recalibrate once the battery hits 100% and it detects voltage rising rapidly and the cells heating up - this is, in fact, what it does after you grid charge - but it will greatly reduce the battery's lifespan if you do this every day. Most opt for 1-3x per year. It's the lesser evil than letting the cells get out of balance.
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Had a few spare moments so naturally began thinking about Insights again. Revisiting a post made a while back, is it the grid charging itself that gradually kills the battery, or is it the car overcharging the battery that kills it? What if we could make a switch that "reset" the ECU's memory to full battery charge after grid charging?
Also, when a battery is dead does this mean it cannot hold a charge at all?