My first 100+ MPG (US) trip, 2000 Honda Insight

[MetroMPG]

Finally got my first 100+ MPG trip in the U.F.O. yesterday. May I say: woo-hoo!

This was under pretty much ideal conditions: calm and freakishly warm here (27 C yesterday - around 80 F ... for comparison, it's a more normal 7 C this AM), and no other cars on the road. All I did was drive with load, trying to keep the wee beastie in lean burn as much as possible, with an eye on staying over 100+ MPG on the instant fuel economy gauge.

Admittedly, I drove fairly slowly, average speed-wise. Probably got down to as low as 50 km/h / 30 mph on some of the inclines. Made up for it on the descents though!!

Probably averaged about 40 mph rolling average for the whole trip, about 15 km / ~9 mi. Almost all rural driving.

All hybrid functions are currently disabled on the car, and the only mods in place were these ones: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...-km-18930.html

Amazing little car, that Insight.

[cbaber]

I really wish I could find one of these cars for a decent amount of money. I have heard that removing the batteries and hybrid system can improve highway MPG by removing weight. From your numbers its pretty obvious that the engine in that car is pretty amazing by itself.

[1carnut]

Originally Posted by cbaber

I really wish I could find one of these cars for a decent amount of money. I have heard that removing the batteries and hybrid system can improve highway MPG by removing weight. From your numbers its pretty obvious that the engine in that car is pretty amazing by itself.

I am a recent VX owner and thus am now a fan of lean burn. I was wondering this exact same thing. Has anyone tried this? It would probably be too big of a conversion for me but if it had been done successfully, I would love to see the results. I assumed that the electronics might be too deeply integrated to be able to be removed.

[MetroMPG]

Properly used by a skilled driver, leaving the hybrid functions in place means better MPG on the highway. The hybrid stuff enables you to hold lean burn on grades/under loads where you simply couldn't hold it without it. That = better MPG.

Also, you can't "remove the hybrid system" and still drive this car. You would, for example, have no way to run the 12v system. You would also need to design & install a custom flywheel if you removed the 144v motor/generator. I can't comment on how deeply integrated the electronics are, but you can be sure the car wouldn't pass emissions testing if you have that where you live (the warnings on the dash would be lit up like a Christmas tree).

You could potentially remove just the battery pack and still drive the car, saving a whopping 48 lbs. But saving 48 lbs probably won't make a detectable difference to most people's MPG.

[Cd]

That's great mileage.
I know some new users may be wondering what " drive with load " means :

Drive with load (DWL)

AKA "target driving". Put most simply, this technique is accomplished by choosing a "target" rate of fuel consumption and ensuring you don't fall below it on hills (or in very strong winds, or any conditions which cause load to vary for a given speed).

In other words, you will back off the accelerator and lose speed (possibly also downshifting) as you climb, and gain that speed back on the descent.

It's far more efficient than pressing the accelerator more and more to maintain speed on the way up a hill and then releasing it down the other side.

DWL is how an efficiency minded person can greatly outperform cruise control in hilly terrain.

Obviously the ability to use this technique without adversely affecting other drivers depends on the traffic situation.

As well, fuel economy instrumentation is required to DWL/target drive to the maximum extent, though it can also be done using a vacuum gauge, and to a much lesser extent by the seat of the pants.

[Cd]

How much of a speed difference could you stay at and still be in the 100 MPG sweetspot if you installed a full boattail and smooth underside like ThreeWheeler has on his ?

[MetroMPG]

I dunno! Somewhat faster, I would say. 3-wheeler would be the man to ask.

One day I may find out for myself. Cursed by TMP* for the foreseeable future though.

* Too Many $##%&% Projects

[eco_generator]

Wow, and I was happy to just hit a 50 mpg tank...

[deathtrain]

my Lotto winnings would go to buying an insight and chopping it down to a one seater and then adding a battery in parallel with some of the extra space. Just because i can.

the rest would go into starting a company like DMC here in houston. buying old insights and doing a total rebuild and doing upgrades to them. Including manual override for the Hybrid system as an option.

[GRU]

It's amazing that a car can acheive 100mpg if driven it correct way