Can anyone give me some hypermiler hints for the Insight 2?
Today marks 1 week that I've had my new Insight.
I'm really enjoying it and it seems to be getting good mileage, but I know there's so much more it can do.
Based on the various displays and controls on this car, how can I drive more efficiently?
I've always kept my green "econ" on and have not been using the paddle shifters. I'm confused though as to what I'm supposed to look at while driving to maximize my fuel economy. I've been using somewhat the real-time/AVG MPG meter (which was also on my Fit).
What am I supposed to do about the battery? I see the needle pointing to "Charge" sometimes or "Assist". Anything I have control over?
When should I turn on/off the VSA?
When should I drive with "S" selected?
When should I turn off my "econ" light?
I drive about 50/50 city highway and do ~75 miles per day. 30 mile commute to work and other incidental driving.
Check out the articles at clean mpg dot com , which is the hypermiler website. Especially the reviews of the Insight-II. The article on the Honda Civic Hybrid might also be somewhat relevant.
Based on the various displays and controls on this car, how can I drive more efficiently?
Any recommendations?
IMHO, the most important feature of the Insight is the fuel cut feature. Basically, take your foot off the gas and coast. Unlike most normal cars that still idle when coasting (unless you turn them off ala hypermiling) , the fuel is actually shut off on the Insight. So, the Insight has this feature by default so there is not a need to turn the car off or out of gear.
Going down hills, coming to stops, coming to lights, all have the opportunity to coast, so the more you coast, the more you save. Additionally, while coasting, the battery is recharged/regenerated so its a double bonus!
The batttery assist feature helps with acceleration and going up hills, however, the battery isn't too big on the Insight 2, so you can use it up quickly. Once the battery reaches a certain point, a "forced" recharge will occur, so the gas that is being used is not only powering the car, but the battery as well. This will definately cut into your MPG. So if possible avoid overusing the battery. On long or steep hills this can occur which can ruin a good trip MPG wise.
The car also has EV mode, but this also drains the battery quickly. This only time I have used this is when stuck in traffic going 10-30 miles per hour, because I am really coasting almost 100% of the time in that road condition so I can "afford" to do it.
The paddle shifters allow for more manual control of the transmission while in sport mode. Good if you want to experience more precise control of the RPMs. Since I highway drive 90% I rarely use them.
I agree with all of this advice. I tend to take neighborhood roads and coast a ton. Now I did notice that if you put it on the view that shows the mpg, and then you learn the sweet spot for your car, you can add 10 mpg easy. Get a good speed then lay off the gas, the mpg instantly increase. I have personally witnessed it over and over.....I have 500 miles on my car today. I drive ALL city no highway.
The folks above all gave good advice. I'd like to add: I always leave VSA on; I never drive using S; Always leave ECON on (if you ever 'need' full throttle, it is just stomp it and ECON mode goes away for the moment.)
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Dan
2010 Silver Insight EX
upgrade from a 2007 Fit Sport
IMHO, the most important feature of the Insight is the fuel cut feature. Basically, take your foot off the gas and coast. Unlike most normal cars that still idle when coasting (unless you turn them off ala hypermiling) , the fuel is actually shut off on the Insight. So, the Insight has this feature by default so there is not a need to turn the car off or out of gear.
Going down hills, coming to stops, coming to lights, all have the opportunity to coast, so the more you coast, the more you save. Additionally, while coasting, the battery is recharged/regenerated so its a double bonus!
Most cars today have fuel cut, my 6 year old Subaru has it, ditto for my Insight-I. It is useful when you are coasting to a stop, when you are going down a steep hill when you don't want to speed up, or in a hybrid when you want to regen the battery.
But the drag of the gas engine (and the IMA motor doing regen) will slow the car down more than a pure coast in neutral will. Coasting in neutral with the engine on will use a little bit of gas idling, so there is a tradeoff (unless the gas engine is shut off). Higher tire pressures (at or above the ratings shown on the sidewalls) also lengthen glides by reducing rolling resistance.
The other thing to remember about fuel cut is that it ends when the gas engine rpms drop to a certain level, usually about 1100rpm. At this point the ECU feeds in fuel to keep it from stumbling. So depending what the CVT is doing you may not get fuel cut while coasting in gear.
Also, regen is a slow process. You don't get a lot of regen from one fuel-cut glide to a stop. So it's better to avoid using assist in the first place.
I agree about the assist. One thing I would like to see on future Insights is a screen with:
The real time MPG *AND* the battery, fuel, car, assist meter screen.
Often I just want to use the fuel and conserve the battery, I think if these MID screen were combined I could manage it better because sometime I think I am going into EV mode "by accident".
"The other thing to remember about fuel cut is that it ends when the gas engine rpms drop to a certain level, usually about 1100rpm. At this point the ECU feeds in fuel to keep it from stumbling. So depending what the CVT is doing you may not get fuel cut while coasting in gear."
I've been watching and it looks like after the engine is warmed up, the ECU cuts the fuel and leaves it off all the way to the stop. In that case it doesn't care if the IC engine stumbles since it will just move the CVT to 'neutral' and let the engine auto-stop. Seen this happen several times now and with a loght pressure on the brakes, the car is still rolling 5 mph forward in auto-stop.
__________________
Dan
2010 Silver Insight EX
upgrade from a 2007 Fit Sport
IMHO, the most important feature of the Insight is the fuel cut feature. Basically, take your foot off the gas and coast. Unlike most normal cars that still idle when coasting (unless you turn them off ala hypermiling) , the fuel is actually shut off on the Insight. So, the Insight has this feature by default so there is not a need to turn the car off or out of gear.
.
Most EFI cars have fuel cut on overun. Also in the Insight you'll end up slowing more than lightly pressing the accelerator due to the regen only to need more power later to build back up speed. Remember the columetric efficiency of NiMH batteries is pretty low, you only gain 100 for every 166A you stuff into it. So all you can end up doing with too much regen when really gentle coasting would be better as you can come off the throttle much earlier.
Its worth remembering the conversion from kinetic movement energy to the battery then back of the battery to the motor isnt that efficient so converting energy for the sake of it is best avoided IMO.
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Can anyone give me some hypermiler hints for the Insight 2?
