Red Light Racing builds the worlds first Diesel Insight |  | | | 3 cyl TDI diesel Insight |
Jake Staub from MD and his team have a vision of a 100MPG Insight. Instead of adding batteries (which could happen later), they have imported a VW three cylinder TDI diesel, and have built an adapter plate to mate it to the Insight IMA motor and transmission. The combined power plant just fits into the Insight engine bay. It is not running yet, but the hard part of shoehorning it all into the Insight has been successfully accomplished.
They are doing the conversion as an open source project, and are willing to share what they have learned with other interested parties.
Jake can be reached via e-mail
jpstaub@msn.com
Nice work guys. Keep us posted on your progress.
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It runs |  | | | Finally got it running Yea! |
This past Friday we achieved what no one else in the world has as far I know--performed a successful Honda Insight heart transplant. Our Honda Insight is now a functioning Diesel-Electric efficiency monster. It took two weeks of heavy metal thrashing on the project but now she's up and running it feels so nice. I've included a bunch of build photos to give an idea of what went in to the car.
Today (SAT 19JUL) Mark Phippen and I were out and about in SoMD cruising the car after confirming it wouldn't do anything brash like blow itself into a million small molten aluminum pieces. We both agree that the 1.2L TDI is THEE power plant for the Honda Insight. The 1.2L makes the Insight a satisfying car to drive WITH the ultimate in fuel economy. Interior vibration is absent. Noise is slight at idle and consistent with diesel power plants. Diesel noise at cruising speed is absent.
As a result of some errant integrated circuit wiring on my part (sending power to ground doesn't work--check), the electric portion of the Diesel-Electric hybrid concept is not completely functional. However, after we get a new shipment of integrated circuits in the electric side will come alive. Slight tweaks will still be required to eliminate nuisance items. I expect the car to be fully operational with bugs worked out prior to X Prize race day.
Watch for race results from Bonneville this year. Keep an eye pealed for the fastest Diesel-Electric Insight in the world. Special thanks to:
Mark Phippen - Lead pipe swinging fabricating machine
Tom Staub - Master metal smith
Todd Humora - Micro controller fiend
Mike Lane - TDI ECU wizard
Pat Caldwell - Amp man.
Youtube of running engine
(Posted 7/20/2009 by mikey) |
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