We're well past 2.5k miles with the BetterBattery now and still no recals or assist limiting at all. After a week on Gower we managed to drain the SoC to 32% with a loaded car, but the level usually sits between 45 and 65% the way we drive it - using the assist!
What a great car it is - stable in cross winds over the Severn bridge on Saturday and sailed through its MoT on Tuesday. >70 MPG on a tank 2 up with 2 dogs + a week's luggage in winter.
Last edited by UK_MJN; 02-23-2012 at 04:00 AM.
Rarely isn't never. It's really hard to get a standard battery up to 20 bars - ever, but your BetterBattery will do it automatically on a long trip if you hold a steady throttle on level ground (and keep the speeds below 70 or so).
We've got insanely long straight roads here in the US (days of driving long), but you've got some long stretches as well. Keep an eye on the gauge next time you take a long trip.
Another UK BB on the road.
David has just left mine after his BB install and cafe trip this morning. Had me worried for a second when assist seemed average then I noticed as bat had been in my garage it was only at ~5C so assist limited until it warms up a bit on his way home. He said he would report back to the forum in a couple of weeks. He also has an OBDIIC&C so can keep a close eye on it.
I put mine above the Honda badge on the LHS.
Yup - I went for that too in the end. Twelve quid well spent.
I have now covered 600 miles with the BB and have had no problems at all.
The old battery was not totally finished - no codes- but was tired and would recal if the car was not driven for 3 or 4 days. I'm sure i could have dragged it out for another year or so but it was detracting from the pleasure of driving my Insight .
As far as hard data goes i cannot offer any; i do have an OBDII C&C but only had it ready about 6 days before Peter installed the BB and never got the time to get a feel for what was going on with the old battery. As for MPG i cannot comment as there are far too many variables e.g the weather has warmed up a lot since the install and the car is having one of its periodic herky-jerky episodes as well.
What is certain is that the SOC is far better all the time and the lowest i have got it down to is 62% on the OBD and that was me using as much assist as possible on long dragging hills .
I would like to add my thanks to Peter for the huge amount of time,effort and imagination he has put into improving our Insights .
Cells arrived. The next two lots of cells have arrived at my address.
Now need to assemble, test and charge packs for the two UK customers on the list.
Might be able to arrange fitting on 8-11th of May inc so check those dates.
Might be the last BB cells we have in UK as Honda have dropped the price to about the same as me.
Anything to report from the other UK BB owners?
Last edited by retepsnikrep; 04-26-2012 at 12:09 AM.
All the orders currently in the pipeline are safe as I have the packs here and built.
The warranty is as agreed two year return to base and I stand by this myself, so the fact HBR has gone to the wall does not mean you are left in the lurch.
I suggest UK owners with IMA battery troubles now consider the PP50 (50 x A123 cell Lithium solution) or the UK Honda OEM pack which has now dropped significantly in price anyway.
I hope someone will take over from HBR and source the cells. I'll keep you posted.
Just a note to say thanks to Peter for fitting my 12 year old Insight with one of the last new BBs last week.
It only took a little over an hour, started almost immediately and Peter did a brief test drive in it and passed on some very useful hypermiling tips.
Did 84.9 mpg going up to his (200 miles, mostly m'way) and 99.6 mpg coming back, with combination of BB and said tips (eg sit behind a lorry on m'way) so very pleased with that.
No problems with battery so far although it's been warm weather - I suspect the real test will come in the winter which was when my old Honda IMA battery first conked out.
Just had a battery fitted by Peter and the car is much better for it. Had a nice big breakfast at the local cafe, and some chocolate muffins for the long drive back to Glasgow.
Seems I have some misfiring issues to resolve and these are gettign slowly worse, but the IMA is functioning brilliantly. In fact being able to get into lean burn may well be highlighting the misfire as previously i was not getting into lean burn, just blowing through it.
It is also nice to see the SOC gauge rise while charging down the hills.
MPG doubled around town and went up about 5-10 overall, but I expect a bit more when I get the darn engine fixed.
Last edited by Andyfb78; 06-11-2012 at 01:59 AM.