[jrrs]

we just got a Fit last month, and as such the keys to the Insight are now back in my hands full-time. ( Fit for the Mrs. ). we're lookin' at ~32k at 62.9. i've usually had not too difficult a time getting around 70 avg anywhere i go (rochester ny area), with the casual 80s in the summertime, who is definately almost entirely left the building for 2006.

so i'm playing with mathematics to see what i need to start getting my numbers up, and outside of pulling a cardinal sin, the only clever idea i've had lately is to keep the battery fully charged. i've noticed it can make about a 5-10 mpg win for me on highway sections if i have it at full charge as opposed to not full - by virtue of the momentum i don't lose during gradual descents where i'm giving very little throttle. this seems valuable, but it can be fickle. the flip side is that there are many times i'm down shifting into 3rd in preparation for an incline (seldom 2nd, but depends on speed/incline) so as to not dip into the boost on the way up it. usually in 3rd i'm at about 50 mpg worst-case, which is nearly what i see in 5th with thick throttle and boost happening, so it doesn't seem to be a loss for MPG doing that; takes a bit more attention tho.

in specific, i'm wondering if others do this too? my communte to/from work is only 2.7 miles, but when i drive the insight i take the long way around the interstate, bringing it to about 12 miles; during that i'm usually moving along at anywhere between 50 and 65, depending on what is happening around me, and MPG is about 60-80.

thus far it seems that if i can stay out of boost (or using a low gear, get it charged back up ASAP), the longer the drive is, the higher the payoff for keeping battery at full charge is. in a few weeks i'm going to be driving to boston and back, so we'll see how i do then.

 

[HB]

i've noticed it can make about a 5-10 mpg win for me on highway sections if i have it at full charge as opposed to not full - by virtue of the momentum i don't lose during gradual descents where i'm giving very little throttle.

I'm not clear on the relationship between having a full charge and not losing momentum :?:

However, others here have reported a boost in MPG subsequent to the battery fully recharging (during a continuous drive of some length). I'm still in the process of evaluating it for myself - I'm too often on and off the highway for short distances for the battery to always reach full. On one recent longer journey it did seem to me that maintaining a speed at which there is no gauge activity (no recharge or assist) and letting the battery recharge via the 'hidden' charge had a less detrimental effect on overall MPG than repeatedly tapping the gas pedal to force green bar recharge activity.

I too resort to third for larger hills - it's a necessity in San Diego :!:

 

[Insightful Trekker]

HB,

Your accurately describing the difference between forced charging and hidden charging. The forced variety being an MPG killer. The relative SoC on the gauge can indicate an impending forced charge. Usually if your 2/3 or better (full) your above the range for such. But there's no MPG potential difference in a "low" vs. a "full" SoC reading (as long as your not experiencing a forced charge, usually displayed as 4-6 bars of charge on the SoC gauge).

May I recommend reading:

Recals, Forced Charge, IMA Battery & thermal mgmt - long
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=750

for more than you probably want to know anout the IMA batttery and related systems.

HTH!

 

[griller]

JRRS,

your car and what you do with it are, of course, your own business. But I am a bit puzzled by this:

my communte to/from work is only 2.7 miles, but when i drive the insight i take the long way around the interstate, bringing it to about 12 miles; during that i'm usually moving along at anywhere between 50 and 65, depending on what is happening around me, and MPG is about 60-80.

I easily get up to 35mpg in my cvt within the first 2.5 miles of driving ( I will admit that this is in warmer California). Taking that as an example:

12 miles at 80 mpg burns .15 gallons of gas (12/80=.15)
2.7 miles at 35 mpg burns .077 gallons of gas (2.7/35=.077)

effectively by driving your Insight 12 miles to move your body 2.7 miles you are turning your Insight into an 18 mpg car (2.7miles/.15 gallons = 18mpg)

If you were to drive the Fit to work instead, would you drive the 2.7 miles straight and get nearly twice the mileage at 35mpg?

I'm not trying to take you to task or anything, like I said it's your car.
But please tell me you have some other reason for driving the long way than to just raise your LMPG.
If you are only interested in what the mileage gauge says then I guess it makes sense to drive the twelve miles. I mean, I get a kick out of getting high mileage too But if you are saying to your neighbors that you get 80mpg on your way to work in the morning it's really only technically true isn't it? I mean, you did bring up cardinal sins....

 

[Richard]

Good response!

I remember from some otherwise long-forgotten class in college that this behavior is defined as "Goal Displacement." And I have been guilty too!

I have taken a longer route because I know that there are fewer hills, and therefor I will get better MPG . . . and that is the goal, right?

No fool (I tell myself), the real Goal is to use less gasoline, therefore the shorter route (even with more hills) will get me closer to the Real Goal, not the longer route even though there may be a better MPG showing on the instument read-out!

Humans are funny people, huh?

Best Regs,
Rick / 2006 CVT

 

[HB]

No fool (I tell myself), the real Goal is to use less gasoline, therefore the shorter route (even with more hills) will get me closer to the Real Goal, not the longer route even though there may be a better MPG showing on the instument read-out!

I have no trouble justifying it - I simply remind myself that it's that much more time spent enjoying driving my Insight :lol:

 

[Richard]

Okay HB,

But then driving for enjoyment is the Goal, and the MPG is secondary, and that's fine.

For me, if I want "enjoyment" driving I drive my Miata, put the top down and head for the twisties in the mountains. But to each his or her own when it comes to enjoyment driving. My Insight is for my practical day to day self whereas the Miata is more of a "weekend" car.

Of course an S-2000 would have been more Honda-centric for the same purpose, but those are more money than I wanted to spend, whereas the Miata is more of an "econo" sports car.

Best Regs,
Rick / 2006 CVT