Rescuing a High Mileage Honda Insight Hybrid - the NSX of Hypermiling

Buying back and rescuing my highest mileage Honda Insight hybrid project car. This episode sees Jonny being reacquainted with an old automotive friend - a 2001 Honda Insight gen 1 hybrid that he previously owned 12 years ago.

Having not been on the road in 7 years, this video covers the car's fascinating history and sees Jonny try to repair and revive it ready for regular use again.

Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show.

The Insight was regarded as the world's first MASS produced hybrid car when it arrived in September 1999. Despite Toyota launching their first Prius two years previous, Toyota's effort was never as engaging to drive, so aerodynamic, so light or so aesthetically space-age.

The Insight married a brushless thin electric motor between a (gorgeous) manual gearbox, 995cc Vtec 3-cylinder engine and 20kg bank of nickel metal hydride batteries to give sub 80g/km emissions and 80+mpg. The whole car weighed less than 850kg.

To read more about Jonny's week of hybrid repair, why not unlock extra blogs and early access to videos via Patron?   / thelatebrakeshow  

Thanks to Honda UK for approved use of archive Honda footage.
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Filmed by Jonny and Michael 'Dougie' Douglass.
Edited by Michael 'Dougie' Douglass.
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant https://www.matttarantdesign.com

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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: http://www.carpervert.com
Instagram:   / jonnycarpervert  
Twitter:   / carpervert  

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
14:28 Hybrid battery cover removal
16:10 Seeing the battery
17:24 DIY battery revival kit
18:48 Connecting the 144v battery
19:30 Jonny scared of electrocution
20:08 Successful connection
21:38 Discharging using a bulb
22:28 Deep cycle process
22:58 Battery revival success?
24:18 How does it drive?



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