VW 1.2L TDI Powered Honda Insight with Hybrid Functionality

Prior to our trip down to Bonneville for the 2009 World of Speed the Insight 1G got fully hybrid functionality courtesy of an Arduino microcontroller and some programming help from Eric Smith. For those familiar with the way the 2000-2006 Honda Insight works this short video should look familiar. Additional optimization needs to be done to get the most from the Diesel Hybrid concept but we've managed to put the major system compatibility items to bed. Note: this is the world's fastest diesel Insight at 97.7 mph in the standing mile.

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Autos & Vehicles

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[jpstaub]

Oh man. I don't know about making a car that wasn't a hybrid a hybrid. The hybrid part of the vehicle is the most complex thing about it. The system is highly integrated with the car to begin with. That's why I started with a hybrid and changed the engine instead of the other way around. Adding hybrid functionality to an 88 Jetta would be possible but it's going to take some heavy duty engineering to get it done. Probably better to install a 1.2 or 1.4L TDI for better mileage and less trouble.

[GoMetricToday]

What can I say.  I am IMPRESSED!!!!

[jpstaub]

Thanks. I had the help of some very talented people to make this build a reality.

[rustom909]

awesome, but did you really get it up to 97 mph on the flats? if so incredible!

[jpstaub]

My Dad really did get the car up to 97.7 mph and now holds the world record for Diesel hybrid street cars (as far as I know). We were so close to 100 mph but ran out of time for additional runs. We'll be back next year to hit our mark.

Best wishes,

Jake

[rustom909]

Thats great, I hope you reach all your goals and then break them as well, does it run like a traditional hybrid 0-X mph on battery? or is it assisted like the regular Insight?

[jpstaub]

The car is assisted like the regular Insight (1st generation Insight).

[SENIORDUDE63]

@jpstaub1 So it sounds like you need something like MIMA that a guy on InsightCentral designed and now sells. It allows complete manual control of assist functions. I already have a way to disable assist but in stock mode I can't control how much it does. I'd love to take my current setup and swap in the diesel engine. I can already get 80-85 mpg at 50-55 mph but I think 100+ would be possible with a diesel.

[jpstaub1]

@ashonteibilly,

CNG would be interesting. I think the biggest problem would be storage. There's not much storage space left in the tiny Insight.

[jpstaub1]

@Ackire15,

I guess it all depends on your definition. So far, I've been using the vehicle a lot like a car.

[jpstaub1]

@SENIORDUDE63,

The care has been working well as a daily driver. Initially the electric assist would assist too much. After adding a "tuning potentiometer" I was able to tailer the assist feature to make the car more efficient and drivable on the highway. The next step is to clean up/harden the electronics portion of the build and get rid of nuisance dash lights (oil/check engine).

[SENIORDUDE63]

Any recent updates?

[Ackire15]

that's not a car :(

[ashonteibilly]

Wow around 4 cents a mile. I wonder if you could add a small bifuel CNG system to it. CNG in Gaithersburg, MD is 2.04 a G.G.E. Maybe you could get that under 2.25 cents per mile. That would have be a lowest cost per mile record ( beating electric?). CNGsolutions has cheap systems. and no I don't work for them.

[leftrightliars]

I want to do this to my 88 jetta, tell me how. I'll find whatever I have to do!

[satchel2sam]

Meh, I've gotten 99.8 mpg over 225 miles with a '02 gas powered G1. The record was made by a team that got 164.3 mpg, 2,254.4 miles on one tank!