Just got my new 2019 Insight and wanted to see if there are any kind of portable chargers that can be used to recharge the battery while parked. I saw a video where it shows how to, but then I read somewhere else where it said to not use a portable battery jumper (which is what I have already). What kid of chargers can be used for the battery in the Insight?
Does the Insight Need a Charger for the HV Battery?
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
Joined
·
454 Posts
Do you mean the 12v battery?
Joined
·
74 Posts
Not sure I understand here. This is not a plug-in hybrid. You charge the Battery (dashboard displayed bars) via regenerative breaking and better driving habits.
Never had an issue if I had 3 bars of battery or full bars before any of my drives. It charges and discharges constantly on a drive especially when the car goes into EV mode. It’s not like a phone that we would want 100% charged in the morning for a days full of use...
Never had an issue if I had 3 bars of battery or full bars before any of my drives. It charges and discharges constantly on a drive especially when the car goes into EV mode. It’s not like a phone that we would want 100% charged in the morning for a days full of use...
Ok, I get good gas mileage as I do have good driving habits (I try to keep it on EV mode as much as possible), but can only get the EV battery up to barely over halfway charged so I can only use the EV for so long on my drives. Just wasn't sure how to get it close to max charge so I could run EV more.
The battery will only charge if any of the following occur:
regenerative braking
coasting/downhill run
a running gasoline engine (via low throttle, need to heat the cabin, need to get the engine up to operating temperature, etc.)
EV mode is generally only good for about a mile on battery by itself. Mileage will vary depending on terrain and driving style. There is no need to fill the battery. Think of it as give-and-take. I drive a hilly route to work. If I ascend a big hill, I'll use battery and gas. Once I hit the top, I get some of that back to battery via the downhill and regenerative charging. I can go from three bars to full in about a half mile - yes, it's a big hill. If you live in a flat-ish area, don't expect the battery to fully charge. Since there are thermal/parasite losses with charging the battery via an ICE, you'd want that power going to the wheels straight away instead of to the battery. I believe, for most of us, the battery will hang out somewhere in the middle of the gauge. The exception to this is when you engage sport mode. This keeps the battery fuller in order to draw on it for better performance (at a cost of MPG).
Hope this helps.
Don
regenerative braking
coasting/downhill run
a running gasoline engine (via low throttle, need to heat the cabin, need to get the engine up to operating temperature, etc.)
EV mode is generally only good for about a mile on battery by itself. Mileage will vary depending on terrain and driving style. There is no need to fill the battery. Think of it as give-and-take. I drive a hilly route to work. If I ascend a big hill, I'll use battery and gas. Once I hit the top, I get some of that back to battery via the downhill and regenerative charging. I can go from three bars to full in about a half mile - yes, it's a big hill. If you live in a flat-ish area, don't expect the battery to fully charge. Since there are thermal/parasite losses with charging the battery via an ICE, you'd want that power going to the wheels straight away instead of to the battery. I believe, for most of us, the battery will hang out somewhere in the middle of the gauge. The exception to this is when you engage sport mode. This keeps the battery fuller in order to draw on it for better performance (at a cost of MPG).
Hope this helps.
Don
Joined
·
454 Posts
On a recent trip I did a lot of driving on 45 mph roads in the White Mountains in New Hampshire. I was maxing out the charge frequently. And draining it just as often.
Joined
·
446 Posts
Now that's efficiency !!!!
And probably super mpg as well !
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
