MIMA and the tour de sol

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

I just got the final ruling on the MIMA modified Insights and the tour de sol.

The ruling:

Mike - Thank you for your inquiry and exceptional effort for improving the performance of your Honda Insight. After considerable review and discussion we have decided that your interesting MIMA modification (and potential addition of other parts) would place you in the Modified Factory Hybrid Category.

We are, however, willing to create a special "Modified Insight" category if there are 5 or more entrants with similar modifications, bringing special visibility to your exciting effort.

Please be sure to get your entry in soon, however, as we are limiting the number of total entrants, due to logistical issues, and support requirements at Saratoga.

Thank you for your interest in demonstrating that we can indeed get improved mileage over the US (Detroit led) CAFÉ standards.

We hope you are the one to take the $5000 award for the car with the highest mileage over 100 mpg!

Feel free to call if you have any other questions.

Regards,

James P.Dunn
CEO and Director NASA NE RTTC
Center for Technology Commercialization
1400 Computer Drive
Westborough, MA 01581

I know of 3 counting Yves and I that will race. How many people are willing to sign up. We will get you set up either with MIMA_L or if we can pull it together in time with MIMA_C.
Kip has offered to help with the PC card layout, anyone with access to a board milling system?

[Rick Reece]

Mike,

Good luck in the rally. I really wonder if anyone will get the prize for over 100 mpg. It would seam that they could easily set the ralley up to prevent any car from achieving spectacular mileage by requiring a high speed between some stations or using a road with several hills. Guess we will hear about the results. Have fun, Rick

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

I have been too busy to read and totally understand the rules, but with MIMA, the hills are not as much of a problem as without., you really can keep the gas at 125 mpg in fourth or fifth and MIMA up most hills.
I have not really set out to see how well I could do mileage wise, but the difference can be a lot based on the few longer trips I have done.
Unfortunately my lead foot keeps me from getting the high MPG, and with the better acceleration and performance that using the full 14KW power of the electric motor gives, I keep reverting to my sports car mode.

I may need someone else to drive and I will be the navigator.
What are you doing on that weekend Rick?

We could split the cash.
As I read the rules,you must start at the set places, but you can pick the route. The car must average the speed limit for the road - 10 MPh. So pick secondary roads, and use a topo map like the topousa, and one could plot a course that would optimize the milage and minimize the required speed.
I will send in the $95 registration fee and go for it.
I have topo maps for my Street pilot 3.

[highwater]

Here's wishing you guys that enter this contest all the best. Wish I was closer. Maybe next time

[originalbadbob]

Good luck Mike! The Topo map sounds like a good idea for mileage. Too bad you didn't know anyone with a box van or truck you could follow for most of the distance. That makes a huge difference. Can be dangerous though.
I guess it's winner take all with no other cash prizes? It would be great if you could do it, and as far as keeping your foot out of it, I think 5 grand would be a pretty good incentive.

So you can regularly get 125mpg? I'm not sure I want to get that much. Just kidding.
Keep us posted.
robert

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

I said that I can climb a hill that without MIMA I would need to drop to 50MPG to make while maintaining speed. With MIMA, I can climb the same hill at the same maintained speed, at 125 MPG with the full MIMA assist, which if maintained for 1-2 minutes straight, will deplete the 3AH of useable charge in a fully charged battery. With a 50A fiorced charge, the 3AH can be replaced in maybe 3-6 minutes. I have put 4 bars of charge on one 70MPH to stop off down hill off ramp.
The power used to climb the hill needs to be replaced on the way down, and because of the 100A out, and the 50A in+ charging inefficiencies, it is not a wash. I have never made a test run just to see what milage I could maintain., but can easily see better numbers than I was used to.
In reality, the best way of using the MIMA is to climb hills is to maintain speed with a balance of the gas and the assist that maintains speed at the highest practicle MPG for the hill, with minimal use of the assist.
It is still a balancing act to get the super numbers, the MIMA has just allowed the IMA to be used indepentantly of the throttle, and therefore offers some new options that were flat out not available without it.
A new level of difficulty to the video game, which when mastered, will in my estimation yield some LMPG over 100mpg(assuming a reset of the LMPG )
Once we get a fleet of the MIMA equipped Insights running, the real advantage in MPG will become clear.

[Rick Reece]

Mike,
In a CVT the engine is set to stay in its most economical range. The CVT varries the gear ratio to accomplish this. Your use of MIMA is essentially the same in that you are operating the gas engine in its most economical range and when that is not enough power you draw a little bit from the battery. Anyway it sounds like a lot of fun. I considered making the DC to Saratoga trip but since they require a navigator it wasn't too practical for me. Too bad they didn't wait until June then I could have gotten my son to navigate. Have fun, RIck

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Talk about faith!
Nemystic just registered for the Monty carlo rally, The only problem , we will not install his MIMA_L until tomorrow.
As it stands there should be four MMA equipped Insight's, and Jack MPG is trying to drive up from FL. to have his turbo equipped Insight there as well. There will be a fun rally in the parking lot at the car show, and that’s where we most likely will be gathering.
http://www.nesea.org/transportation/tou ... egory.html
I hope to have a working prototype of the throttle based MIMA_C, and Yves and nemystic will hopefully be driving their MIMA_L equipped cars.
b1shmu63 also be there driving a MIMA_C. If we can get two motivated guys from Canada and one from Florida to support this worthy cause, I would hope that many of you people that live a little closer would make the effort. The tour de sol is the premiere event for showcasing alternatives to the big SUV,s that the automakers would like us to buy.
Would be great if a bunch of you guys showed up and tried out the turbo and MIMA modified Insights and joined the fun. A great opportunity for a Nation wide Insight gathering. The organizers want to drive home the message that Hybrids are the short term answer to the rapidly approaching oil crisis. They are actively encouraging guys like us to shake the tree, and wake up Detroit. There should be no reason that all cars could not get over 100MPG. Just put the most efficient mix of gas and electric drive in a light weight but safe aerodynamic car, and you have it. Grid recharging, new Lithium batteries, the increasing cost of oil. Everything is in place for the revolution, except the automakers desire to invest in the tooling to mass produce the wonder hybrids that are needed to get society through this very dangerous time in the history of the human race.

[figgy]

I wish I were closer, but I can't get there!

Bah!

p.s. Take home the prize!

[Jackmpg]

Hi All,
Jack here, well G-9 turbo, same as figgy's, is supposed to arrive Monday. That will give me almost two days for set up and testing. Then I'm off for Saratoga and the Tour de Sol. I"ll be gassing up and having the tank sealed in Lansdale, PA for the mileage run the rest of the way to the Tour.

Mike, you said your entering a "race", what race? How do I enter it? Didn't find it on the Tour site. That, acceleration, handling and the others. Want to participate in all that if at all possible. If you want to MIMA Baby go right ahead. Basicly I would go for little or no IMA assist below 30 or 40% throttle, don't need it, get plenty from turbo. Then FULL IMA assist above 80 or 90% throttle. Could the joy stick be used to enhance charging ? That would also help to further reduce hidden chargeing while your turning on lean burn. Hidden charging is very evident with the boost/vacuum gauge. Just as Willie had instructed me you'll see 2 " on highway, when it jumps to 6" it's just switched off, vacuum gauge anyone? I'll take another look at the Tour site and see if I can find those competitions and see if there's a place to sign up. See you at the Fun place, Jack