Hi everybody!

[Mr. Pancake]

Hello, long time lurker, decided to join. I drive a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, manual transmission, lean-burn engine. I've been hypermiling for a few years now. Only minor mods so far: pipe insulation grill block when appropriate, 'calpod' switch. I bought the car used in May 2009 and at the moment my lifetime MPG is at 59. Highest tank so far is 66.2.

[Daox]

Welcome to the site. Nice mileage with the Civic!

What is a calpod switch?

[Mr. Pancake]

A calpod switch disables assist and regen on manual transmission HCHI and InsightI. So one can accelerate without using power from the hybrid battery. Basically an on/off toggle wired to the clutch interlock switch. When switched on the car thinks the clutch is being pressed in and disables hybrid functionality. Apparently it only works on certain model years. Named after someone's user name on insightcentral and I believe they came up with the idea. I find it really useful and it was really simple to do.

[Bill in Houston]

in what circumstances do you get better mileage with the assist disabled?

[Mr. Pancake]

If you don't use assist you don't drain the hybrid battery which takes energy (gas) to recharge. With using dwb and coasting in neutral I don't brake enough for regenerative braking to charge the battery. Since I installed the switch the SOC is always at or near full. It should also help the battery last longer.

[Bill in Houston]

INTERESTING. oops sorry for the caps. i had a newer HCH with the CVT as a loaner car once. it was interesting. it had a very very hard time deciding what its SOC was. the SOC bounced all over the place.