04-26-2005, 04:43 AM
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Super Moderator & Contributor ($)
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Real Name: Eric Powers
Location: Madison, WI
Hybrids: 2002 5-speed Insight
Posts: 1,209
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Re: Hybrid Wish List
Quote:
1) Light Assist -- assist would only kick in very gradually, for example, for a long hill climb, selecting light assist would make it so that the battery wouldn't get fully drained before reaching the top, as the computer would wait longer before using the assist, and wouldn't use it as heavily.
2) "Normal" Assist -- this is how the cars run out of the box
3) Heavy Assist -- Electric motor runs at the highest level possible in any given situation. For shorter hill climbs, or for "rolling hills" this would allow the battery power to take on a lot of the heavy load without revving up the main engine a whole lot. Though this would lead to the battery pack running out much more quickly for longer ascents.
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There is actually a small group of Honda Insight owners that is actually working on this very idea. They have hacked into the electronics to make it happen. In theory their idea would work for any Honda hybrid.
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