Madison Hybridfest/Green Drive Expo
 

Who is going to the Madison Green Drive Expo, July 23-24?

Thinking about it. Will likely want to get there for the Thursday night get-together and Friday activities. IMHO those of the best parts of the event. Went 2yrs. ago.

Not to sound like a total noob (even though I am) Madison where???? Wisconsin? Somewhat close to home for me. About 3 hours.

Yes, it is in Wisconsin. Sorry, here is a link:

Home Page Green Drive Expo

I gather it is a renaming of the old hybridfest which has gone on for several years. Among other attractions, they have a fuel economy contest, and a display of fuel efficient cars. 3-Wheeler, who posts regularly on this site, is contemplating showing his Honda Insight boat tail project, seen here and on other threads:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-13533-34.html

I'm hoping he goes, though I haven't heard anything final.

Hi jimepting,

At this point, not sure if I'm going.

If I do go, I will put the tail back on the car and drive it as is.

About one week ago, I was riding my bicycle on a city bike trail and a full size lab dog ran into my path and I went over the bars and now have a class #3 shoulder separation. It's one step away from surgery.

The tail is off the car since it was getting water logged since it was not completely sealed over the winter (ran out of time last fall). Now I have removed quite a bit of fiberglass that had bubbled up from water intrusion.

All the paint that was put on last year is latex and needs to be sanded off to allow further work on the tail.

I'm also working on several mods to the car, including running the IMA fan at all times via an on-off switch.

We watch our grand-daughter allot so time is limited to work on things.

If the weather is good, and my shoulder feels better, I could stop by for the Expo.

Jim.

Sorry to hear about the technical problems with the boat-tail, and doubly sorry to hear about the accident. Physical problems really slow down older folks. Ask me about that one.

I would certainly encourage you to show the boat-tail if you can. I know it is a work in progress, but there is nothing else like it in the nation and it is of immense interest to folks like the ecomodder set. Keep us informed please.

Curious as to why you are modifying the IMA fan to run it full time. Do you see a problem with the stock setup?

Regards,
Jim E.

I'll probably be out there either Saturday or Sunday.

Thanks for the kind words Jim.

The tail has sat in the DRY garage for about three weeks now, which I hope is allowing all the water to escape/dry out. I got so used to driving the car with it on, that it seems kind of "naked" without it now. Numerous people at work have asked about it as well. One person thought I had a different car!

Appearing at the Hybrid Fest will be totally dependent upon the weather. If it's a dry forecast and nothing pressing with the family, then I would certainly be open to driving there. I went last year on the motorcycle on Saturday, but did not bump into anyone, but you never know.

I enjoyed listening to the presentation by the lead Ford engineer about the Focus Hybrid, and then Wayne Gerdes about how his team got 81 mpg in a controlled loop.

AeroCivic had his car on display there as well.

______________________

Jim, there has been some discussion on IC about whether there is any advantage to having the fan run during heavy use of the IMA. I think even with my mild use of MIMA, that running the fan on low or even high has some merit.

I have wired an ON/OFF switch as well as a HI/LOW switch that allow this to happen. The switches are mounted on the outside of the IPU compartment for easy access.

Summer heat is hard on the IMA battery and proper cooling is important. Even in the winter time, with the cells very cold, running some cabin heat through the pack can help.

Jim.

OK, I'm going. Hope to see some of you there. I'll be there by Thursday night and plan to compete in the MPG Challenge. Have noticed that several folks are still on the fence so hope the numbers improve by show time.

See ya there!

OK, I'm going. I hope to see some of you there. I registered for the fuel economy competition. For those of you who attend, I'm 6'4" and a very gray 73 years. I registered as a VIP so I should have a name tag. Please keep your eyes open for me!

Hi Jim,

Goosh, your making me feel a little short!

I'm 6'2" and a not so gray 59 yrs.

If the weather is good Saturday, I'll be there.

Speaking of economy I "registered" 126mpg over 33 miles on the way home last night. Used up the 2nd half of the HV battery at the same time, mostly on hills. The ambient temp was about 85F. Average "top speed" was 38 mph on old backroads. Without the tail.

Jim.

Wow, that is great. Let me see, 1.15x126=145MPG for a short segment WITH the tail!!!! Well, maybe not quite that good at low speed. I know I'm impressed. Hope it is dry so I can see the boat tail in Madison. CUL

Jim E.

Wow, thats impressive. I looked on the website, but there wasn't any agenda for each day. But, if theres a chance I can see the beautiful boat tail, I'll be there Saturday!

I wish I had the time to make it over there. It would add another tail to the party :)

Hi Jim,

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but at those low speeds, adding the tail would only bring another 5 mpg or so to the mix. At 55 mph your estimate of 1.15 would be closer to what the tail adds to efficiency.

I'm starting to understand just how important pulse and glide can be.

Jim.

Yeah, I think you are correct about the improved FE at lower speeds with the boat tail.

I think a skilled P&G driver can achieve remarkable results. My problem with it is that it a lot of work and the Insight already delivers such good FE that I'm usually not in a mood to do the work. I do engine off coasting when I get a good chance, but that is a more passive approach. Did you achieve the 126MPG by using P&G?

Hi Jim,

Yes, I use a conservative amount of P&G during my drive home.

There are about five places where I coast about 1/8 mile or so with the engine keyed-off.

I have a FAS board but have not installed it yet, wondering just how useful it would be. It turns out that it can be very useful indeed, especially in warmer weather because the car coasts so well when it's hot out.

Jim.

Jim, in a strictly technical sense, I'm not sure this coasting, and my same approach, is pulse-and-glide. I have the impression that true P&G involves accelerating at a engine efficient load, usually something aroung 70%, up to the glide speed and then cutting the ignition and coasting. When the car coasts down to the bottom of the P&G target range, then another cycle is initiated. The theory, as I understand it, is that the engine is always operating in its sweet spot. Maybe I'm wrong on the definitions:confused:

Anyway, I do some FAS sections with the key off, but it is usually on downhills, or where I'm going to have to give up speed anyway. I don't consider that P&G, but I don't make a claim to be an expert. Whatever the name, my technique does significantly improve MPG.

Hi Jim,

For me, anytime I shut off the motor and coast, that's part of P&G. Again, just my term.

I think the only way to get much higher than 120mpg with the Insight is to start taking advantage of coasting with the motor off, in one form or another. And this includes using large dose's of MIMA where there are any hills.

Anyone that starts getting figures of 140 or 150mpg, is doing allot of coasting somewhere in the run.

Jim.

For sure. I can get up to around 120 mpg on a very perfect day on absolutely flat ground at around 38 MPH. That's my limit. I can't use MIMA since I have an 06. I'm tempted to try some pulse and glide sometime, but I have to do it very carefully so as not to engage assist. Lots of work!

Actually Jim, there is a way for you to turn off ASSIST on demand.

How....

Wire in the Calpod IMA disable switch.

Go to IC.com and do a search for the install procedure. I used it with great success for about 1.5 years before getting MIMA-CL from Mike.

If you go ahead and add the disable switch, you will gain about 5 mpg due to the lack of background charge. Then you can turn on/off ASSIST/REGEN whenever you need it.

Jim.