Dreaming...lean burn manual taller transmission Civic sedan...or get an Insight

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Very educational, thank you!

I'll have to keep an eye on that lithium replacement; are they still actively working on it?

So like coming down a steep hill, should I EOC and gain speed, or use regen braking to maintain same speed? And coming to a stop should I EOC as far away as possible, or wait, use a little more gas, and regen?

Yeah this project is actively in the works. It might be done in 6 months, or in 2 years, or maybe they'll never finish it. There are several very good minds working on it, and a lot of community enthusiasm, because bad batteries are primarily what are taking these cars off the road.

As for driving technique, I'd say what determined what I did was often how much energy I had in the battery. If I got it near full, I might do more EoC and let it get down to ~75%. If it got low (lots of stop and go, it's hard to regen much below 20mph in a manual) I'd regen a lot more. I'd usually regen down a hill where I'd otherwise gain speed, and EoC down those where I'd roughly maintain it.

I'm sure there are plenty of circumstances where, due to traffic, you can't really slow down significantly well in advance of a stop sign or traffic light. In those cases the regenerative braking makes stopping later a lot more forgiving and less of an economy loss.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

That battery replacement would be awesome though.

Makes sense. I know in personal driving I do very little braking, but with pizza delivery I do a lot, so regen would be key there.

Does the Insight offer cruise control?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

Does the Insight offer cruise control?

It doesn't. I purchased a Rostra cruise unit to add to mine, but that's like $200-250.

CC is standard in the HCH.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Nah, I honestly don't see myself using cruise control anyway. I only use it on highway trips and pizza delivery. But now on highway trips I see myself doing EOC P&G with regen intermixed and stuff; and with pizza delivery not using CC since there's a built in display that doesn't require me to spend time setting up Torque every time.

Can it be May yet so I can get my Insight?????

[jcp123]

It's been around 10 years since I have had a DD with cruise. It was an '04 SVT Focus. My formative years driving were spent mostly without it, so I kinda appreciate it when it's there, don't miss it when it's not. I see it as a luxury in ways most folks don't.

Then again, I have used cruise in my truck for the last three years more than most people might in 15 years, and then only because it tracks my location and loads up the engine before a climb and lets off before the top: a mini-hypermiler.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by jcp123

It's been around 10 years since I have had a DD with cruise. It was an '04 SVT Focus. My formative years driving were spent mostly without it, so I kinda appreciate it when it's there, don't miss it when it's not. I see it as a luxury in ways most folks don't.

Then again, I have used cruise in my truck for the last three years more than most people might in 15 years, and then only because it tracks my location and loads up the engine before a climb and lets off before the top: a mini-hypermiler.

On long trips watching the MPG gauge helps me stay awake, and I surmise not having CC will help as well. Not to mention doing EOC and regennin'.

Oooohh boy, these next few months are gonna kill me.

What kind of CC system is that? I wonder if it could be modified to be a true hypermiling CC.

[Ecky]

You can buy this stuff separately on Amazon for less, but this is an assembled kit:

2000-2006 Honda Insight Complete Rostra Cruise Control Kit

[mpg_numbers_guy]

6lbs...that will kill my fuel economy!

I should check to see how much a semi-truck horn weighs. I might reconsider installing one. Although I really want one on the Insight.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by mpg_numbers_guy

On long trips watching the MPG gauge helps me stay awake, and I surmise not having CC will help as well. Not to mention doing EOC and regennin'.

Oooohh boy, these next few months are gonna kill me.

What kind of CC system is that? I wonder if it could be modified to be a true hypermiling CC.

It's a Meritor-Wabco system, radar cruise control. The terrain feature is cool, and I like that on the cruise control screen you can see how fast the vehicle in front of you is going and how far in front of you they are. Unfortunately those are the only kind words I can give it. Slowing down can be abrupt, and even fairly gentle curves will prompt it to pulse on and off the power. Before I got used to it, it was downright dangerous. It also malfunctions easily in the rain, and you have to park it for ten minutes or so before it will work again.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Radar cruise control....sounds expensive. And all those other things too. I'll just stay with a feather foot, 'cause a hand throttle is illegal, right?