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Delta Flyer · #8 (**permalink**) 07-26-2006, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

What is a "Modified Insight?" I know about the 5th wheel but are these units that have the auxillary, manual control for the IMA? Which one was the 5th wheel?

Randall Burkhalter and Mike Dabrowski were driving Insights with MIMA installed. Mike D. invented MIMA to overide Honda's conservative software defaults for engaging the Assist. Normally the Assist activates when more than 2/3 of the total power is required - typically from a standstill, climbing hills, acceleration. MIMA allows the driver to determine when to use the Assist and when to charge the batteries. Of course, this is not a tool the general public should have - it's for drivers that very attentive.

Take my 25-mile work commute. The first two miles and the last two miles are residential - the rest is freeway. With MIMA, I could use the Assist generously the first two miles and take a load off the ICE while it's warming up, charge the battery pack the next 21 miles on the freeway, use the Assist liberaly the last two miles, to improve fuel economy. Mike D says that Insights have improved their FE about 20-30%. I've entertained thoughts of getting one. One has to consider the risks if the battery pack is overused - $6,500 is a steep bill to replace the battery pack and a couple of units.

Picture of Mike D's Insight (with the 5th wheel) here. Also see his site - http://www.99mpg.com/ I think the risk is acceptable in the hands of a good hypermiler that uses the MIMA moderately.

Mike D has a fifth wheel to give the Insight a limited EV capability. It's a spare that works like a landing gear. I think it can get up to 30mph. I'd personally use it only for gridlocked traffic - the situation that absolutely kills Insight FE.

This is the other modified Insight. Note there are no mirrors. The left taillight has a video cam interfaced with a monitor over the dash. The rear windshield wiper and A/C unit is also gone. Billy saves 100 pounds (from 1,800 to 1,700lbs) and lowers the cd from 0.25 to about 0.235. This is the Insight Wayne (xcel) made his 150mpg or better run at HybridFest 2006.