IMA kicks in only over 20km/h?!?!?!

NorthernCruiser · 11-26-2009, 05:07 PM

As I have had my Insight for less than 2 weeks, I was wondering if it is standard procedure that it only runs on fuel when the speed is less than 20km/h? The battery will charge when the speed is less than 20km/h, but will not kick in. But the battery will kick in as soon as the speed reaches exactly 20km/h, and speeds over this it seems to working well as anticipated. I actually expected at low speeds for the battery to be doing a lot of work (contributing with fuel, and running on just battery)...but not the case at all! I have an appointment with a Honda mechanic to look at this next week (as well as an auto-stop issue I have posted as well in a forum here, where auto-stop has only engaged one time).

Willie Williford · 11-27-2009, 12:47 AM

Running on battery only? Don't think so. "Battery assist" will de determined by the amount of "load" on the engine. Auto stop is mainly non functional when the engine has not obtained operating temperatures. I'm assuming you have a Gen 2 Insight.

Willie

nameless00 · 11-28-2009, 11:28 AM

Try doing it on full charge, I found that it does go battery only if and only if you are very very light with your foot.

Cobb · 11-29-2009, 10:01 AM

Yeah, like mentioned aboved. It is very choosy about use of the electric motor only. You need a good charge on the hybrid battery, no use of the heater, warmmed up to operating temp and very, very light presure on the gas petal.

I generally see it above 12mph and other areas where you are almost coasting. Then the gas motor turns back on. Now its a great system at keeping the engine at the same rpms. The only way to really tell if you are on gas or electric is to flip tothe screen with the battery, gas pump logos and watch the direction of the arrows.

The prius and other hybrids do have a real ev mode and can use it for miles under the right conditions.