Member of IC consistently getting 130+ mpg

[Ecky]

Here's a link:

Just got to know - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

Have had independent verification of these numbers. Seems like he has his IMA removed, and the bypass he's using has a bug which disables lean burn, leaving some additional economy on the table. His secret seems to be running astronomical tire pressure (120+) and keeping speeds low enough (~40mph) that rolling resistance is his primary drag. He (I think) doesn't use a deep cycle battery and just uses the Insight's original DC-DC charging, and aero mods are minimal.

Probably worth a read.

[oil pan 4]

I get 130MPGe on a bad day, not even trying with my leaf.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I get 130MPGe on a bad day, not even trying with my leaf.

How much do you pay for electricity? It's $5 per "gallon" in Vermont at 15 cents per kwh.



Prices will vary based on where you live. Some people can get phenomenally low cost per mile with cheap electricity, but my electricity is not cheap. Cheap electricity usually comes from coal.

He's also doing it in a $1500 car which can drive across the country without inconvenience, using existing infrastructure.

EDIT: I get it. EVs definitely have a place. However, that doesn't minimize his achievements, or change what we can learn from what he's doing.

[oil pan 4]

In new Mexico the base rate is 7 or 8 cents per kwh with wind and coal power. Operating cost is a little under 2 cents per mile.
No motor oil changes or other ice related maintenance.

I believe the EPA standard claims that a gallon of gasoline is worth 35kwh. For me it's like having gasoline that's less than $2.50 a gallon. But the electric vehicle is around 2 to 4 times the efficiency of a gasoline ICE.
The leaf holds about 2/3 of a gallon worth of gas in the form of battery power but that will easily allow for around 70 miles of driving. No other normal gasoline vehicles will comfortably go 70 miles with 2/3 of a gallon of gas.
The car should go 80 to 100 miles but why chance it.

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by Ecky

How much do you pay for electricity? It's $5 per "gallon" in Vermont at 15 cents per kwh.



Prices will vary based on where you live. Some people can get phenomenally low cost per mile with cheap electricity, but my electricity is not cheap. Cheap electricity usually comes from coal.

He's also doing it in a $1500 car which can drive across the country without inconvenience, using existing infrastructure.

EDIT: I get it. EVs definitely have a place. However, that doesn't minimize his achievements, or change what we can learn from what he's doing.

Depends what numbers you use. As oil pan can corroborate, 250wh/mile is fairly easy to achieve, even when steady state cruising on the highway like I do. So, at $0.15/kwh and 250wh/mile, its 80 miles per $3 (gallon) vs 70 miles per $3 (gallon), roughly the same.



He is seriously hypermiling the hell out of that insight!

[redpoint5]

Yikes, Vermont is nearly twice the electricity cost I pay ($0.08/kWh). That makes it about 2 cents a mile assuming 4 miles per kWh. I suppose there are some charging losses, so let's say 3 cents per mile.

Impressive results on that Insight though. I prefer my 2-seaters to have 2 wheels though.

[oil pan 4]

I get even better economy in town.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Here's a link:

Just got to know - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

Have had independent verification of these numbers. Seems like he has his IMA removed, and the bypass he's using has a bug which disables lean burn, leaving some additional economy on the table. His secret seems to be running astronomical tire pressure (120+) and keeping speeds low enough (~40mph) that rolling resistance is his primary drag. He (I think) doesn't use a deep cycle battery and just uses the Insight's original DC-DC charging, and aero mods are minimal.

Probably worth a read.

Been reading through his article. 120 psi is crazy!

[oil pan 4]

I only run 40psi.
Max is 42 or 44.
Recommended is 35 I think.
At 120 psi it probably rides like a forklift.

[19bonestock88]

Agreed, even at 55psi, my car has a fairly harsh ride over sharp bumps, I couldn’t imagine 120psi, and that’s totally ignoring his likely really poor wear patterns from that pressure..