Gen1 Insight - frontend accident = $1500 EV conversion?
 

So I found this on CL and asked if he'd be willing to part it out on his own instead of selling the whole thing. He said he's not ready to do that yet, but would reduce it to $1550 for me. I don't really have the money, but if I were to, should I jump on this like flies on crap? I'm not sure if the AC motor can be removed or if the controller would be of any use anywhere but in partnership with an Insight ECU, but all those components, the inverter, the NiMH pack!

I don't mind if anyone else snatches this up because it seems pretty awesome, I'm just not sure. I also asked about the rims, so if anyone from here nabs this, I got dibs on those, k? please? :D

Insight would make an ideal host vehicle for a conversion if you don't have a heavy batt pack.

Light as a Metro, way better Cd. Al construction, so no rust probs.

I'm not sure you could use its hybrid bits in the conversion though.

Also, if the "engine is pushed back", that sounds like a lot of damage. Possibly to the suspension/mount points...

The body of that car is well beyond reasonably priced rescue, methinks. I was thinking more along the lines of using its hybrid bits for a separate conversion.

I will give you 500 for the gasoline crap if you want to buy the car.

That link wasn't well formed.
2000 Honda Insight Hybrid - damaged

Hmm, I paid about that much for an Insight with 45kmi and less engine compartment damage. It's probably not a great buy.

I believe you could part it out and get your money back, plus get a few cool parts for yourself. That engine would go really well in a Civic, but seperating the hybrid components from the engine isn't trivial. The IMA motor behaves as flywheel and alternator, you'll have NVH issues with the unbalanced 3-cylinder without it, and I believe IMA is worth having just for idle stop.

As for an electric car, I believe the answer to the question posed in the thread title is "no". The stock battery pack is small: 144V * 6Ah, and it tends not to outlive the vehicle. The electric motor is also not great for an EV. It's small, and it's cooled by thermal conduction into the tranny and engine block. It's probably not suitable for continuous operation. I'm pretty sure you'd have to heavily modify or discard the IMA ECU, too. When the IMA system smells trouble, it illuminates the Check Engine Light and shuts off the IMA system.

If you really want an Insight-based NEV, strip out and sell everything upstream of the transmission, including the IMA battery pack and controller. That frees up space in the engine compartment for your motor, and space in the back for your batteries. The Insight has a 365lb payload capacity, which rises to 431lb on an empty fuel tank. That has to carry your driver, passenger, cargo, and batteries. An Insight EV cries for lithium.

Anyway, if anyone here buys and parts out this wreck, I'd like the wheels to mount my snow tires on (bidding war, Wonderboy?), the washer fluid bottle, and a few cells out of the IMA pack.

Compared to a more complete one on Craigslist tonight:
Beautiful 2001 Honda Insight Hybrid
WOW- it would take forever!

@RobertSmalls: Thank you for the very INSIGHTful (har har) and valuable information. I don't think I'm going to be buying this. SVO, let me (or some other willing body) know if you want me to make an offer on your behalf.

If the 144v pack is still good, you could make your money back from it right there...they sell for around $3400 new...and is the same one in a civic hybrid. I've already seen one civic pack fail, and the guy that owned it, didn't buy it...wonder why...lol...bet he's still looking, to get back his mpgs

Well, Im not sure what condition stuff like the radiator and things are in. Does it run?