I am determined to exhaust my batteries by using up their cycle life rather than their 7 or so years calendar life! I try to keep to around 40A or 1C discharge for my cells. I only use Mima mode 2 with max 100A assist for climbing severe hills.
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Even so you still have to let the car warm up to acheive lean burn so that uses x amount of fuel, I must go back to my thermos project and get it finished to reduce warm up time! Too much to do, too little time and money!
Since i reset my LMPG a month and several thousand miles ago during the end of the winter lmpg is now 130mpg imp and climbing slowly, so my estimate in my post below was off (low) by at least 10mpg
Does LiFePO4 have the same aging issues(and same rates of aging) that the Lithium Cobalt you previously used does? I haven't found anything that says so one way or the other. There hasn't been anyone with LiFePO4 cells long enough to see it if it is there though.
I like the ideas and progress you have on the thermos project already, it will be nice to see how it all goes together.
Great work on getting 130 uk mpg, it must be a great benefit considering the current condition of the cost of gas where you are. Roughly us$7/us gallon after the proper unit conversions which average is currently in the $2.80's in the states. I don't know how delivery drivers using vans and other larger vehicles that don't get good mileage can survive those prices.
Not yet. I have two batteries on the bench, one of which I have just refurbished. I was measuring today and I think a second battery will fit forward under the current battery box and the spare tire can be stood up vertically at the back of the storage compartment and will just come up to the bottom of the rear hatch. A small modification of the foam and cloth cover will make it look like a factory install with only a small reduction in the storage capacity on the package shelf.
Then I have to consider making the charger bigger which will require a series current limiter, instead of the CC power supply, to take advantage of the 570ma that the three 48V power supplies are capable of
BUT, I have the MIMA almost finished so I will finish it first.
__________________
Jim Isbell
2000, 5 speed, 250,000 miles
"If you are not living on the edge, well then,
you are just taking up too much space."
the spare tire can be stood up vertically at the back of the storage compartment and will just come up to the bottom of the rear hatch. A small modification of the foam and cloth cover will make it look like a factory install with only a small reduction in the storage capacity on the package shelf.
You will lose rear crash crush protection
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kevin
Last edited by Kevin Dougherty; 05-04-2010 at 08:08 AM.
How? The tire will still be there and in addition there will be the second battery. Besides, I have been hit from behind hard enough to have a whiplash and the flexible bumper was so good that there was no damage even to the aluminum storage box.
__________________
Jim Isbell
2000, 5 speed, 250,000 miles
"If you are not living on the edge, well then,
you are just taking up too much space."
Jim Isbell:
Please remember to tell us how the vertical spare mount was accomplished when you get it done. This appears to be an excellent way to gain low center of gravity storage space for heavy objects like batteries and still keep the spare neatly stowed away.
I finally read this thread from start to finish. Very interesting.
I understand you're on a quest for more power. Can the inverter and motor handle the 120A your cells are rated for? What would it take to convince the system to draw >100A?
I'm also terribly curious about whether your Insight would be viable in the summer with the fuel pump relay pulled (or more realistically, with FAS on a toggle switch). Also, how often do you step on the throttle pedal?
Very nice car, and if I had 40Ah of LiFePO4's lying around, I'd definately do the same.
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