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Old 09-21-2018, 09:43 AM   #88 (permalink)
Ecky
Master EcoModder
 
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 5,092

ND Miata - '15 Mazda MX-5 Special Package
90 day: 39.72 mpg (US)

Oxygen Blue - '00 Honda Insight
90 day: 58.53 mpg (US)
Thanks: 2,905
Thanked 2,568 Times in 1,592 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy View Post
Hm, MIMA aren't MIMA units like $800-$1000 though?
Something like that, yeah. I recently saw a used one sold for $2-300 or so. It's mostly beside the point though, because you don't want to be grid charging the NiMH battery every night anyway, since you can't tell the state of charge on it and it will very rapidly use up its remaining life.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy View Post
I wonder if something could be programmed using an arduino.
I thought the same thing... and I bet it could. My arduino which keeps the CEL off does so by feeding a dummy battery SOC.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy View Post
So basically a dying IMA battery isn't losing its ability to be charged by the car, it's losing its ability to hold a charge?
That's right. The battery itself is toast. It's pretty remarkable to me the batteries can last nearly two decades if taken care of, considering most batteries on consumer devices last 3-5 years tops before they don't hold a charge well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy View Post
There's got to be a way to wire something up to power the electric motor.
You can 100% do this! The motor is pretty simple, just 3 phase wires and a hall sensor. You could probably run it with a $20 ebike controller, albeit with a fraction of the motor's capacity, with whatever battery you want. How about a Nissan Leaf battery, which would run the car on electricity alone for 100+ miles? Only problem is that you have to design this system from scratch.

I've suggested this very thing over on IC, but most want to keep the stock electronics in the car because an aftermarket EV controller and battery system would 1) have poor (or zero) integration with the Insight's ECU and 2) be relatively expensive. However, you would have the advantage of being able to do anything you want with it.

Insight owners are notoriously cheap, and the idea of having to spend more than a few hundred dollars in maintenance (ever!) on the car is unacceptable. Nevermind that there are tons of german cars on the road where it's normal to spend $XXXX per year on "regular maintenance".

Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy View Post
Isn't driving an Insight with the battery bypassed still faster and more fuel efficient than a Metro? 66 HP vs 50 HP and better drag coefficient, and similar weight?
Yes, 100%. It's a lighter (with batteries removed), more aerodynamic, more efficient car. The engine is more efficient, more powerful, and typically lasts 2x longer (or more) than a Geo engine. Insight owners are just spoiled by the awesome IMA system.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy View Post
Found two Insights today - a gorgeous blue one with 129K miles asking $2000 with 3 issues: 1) IMA light, 2) musty smell from mice (detailed but still present) and 3) instrument panel buttons broken. Also one for $1200 with 273K miles, haven't asked for info on it but suspect bad IMA too.
The 129k Insight sounds great.
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