Hello from NE CT

[MD2000]

Hi gassavers,
I have been involved with improving the efficiency of my cars since the oil embargo of the 70's. I was driving a Subaru FE coupe at the time. I fitted it with fuel consumption meters, accelerometers, vacuume gauge, and was able to regularly get 40-50 MPG on the 100 mile round trip commute I was doing at the time.
Back in 2000 when the first hybrids were available, I got my self a Honda Insight. After several years and a lot of frustration with the "dumb" decisions that the hybrid controller was making as far as mixing the gas and electric power for best efficiency. I decided that if I could control the electric motor at will that I could improve the already great MPG by making better choices on when and to what extent I applied assist and used regeneration. Several of the guys on the forum where I hung out (Insight Central), and I took out our oscilloscopes and began to analyze the signals between the computers. we determined how to gain the manual control, and I designed a computer based system which is called MIMA for Manual Integrated Motor Assist, which would allow the full control that we felt would improve things.
As of today, there are 56 people with Honda Insights that are enjoying the MIMA advantage with an average MPG improvement of 10-20%.
Not being easily satisfied, I added booster batteries and a drop down E-Wheel that allows EV operation at 30 MPH for a 40 mile free ride. I recharge the booster batteries with solar panels over my garage doors. One day of charging, and I get a 30-40 mile free ride.
I continue to explore hybrid cars, and will resume my Saturday Hybrid electric workshops once the weather gets more cooperative.
http://www.99mpg.com/Projectcars/mikesinsight/
http://www.99mpg.com/workshops/mikessaturdayhybri/
If you would like to dig deeper and lend a hand with the projects, all are welcome. The events calender will post when the workshops resume.
Hope I can contribute to your timely forum.
Mike Dabrowski

[GasSavers_SD26]

Excellent to hear. Welcome to the forum!

[GasSavers_Red]

Kewl, welcome to the site Mike

[Improbcat]

Very cool, welcome to gas savers.

In the very near future I'm planning to start something called the "Mad Scientists' Union". The goal of which is to encourage people to get together and share their skills and hobbies to create whatever mad ideas they have. I'll be hosting a regular "Meeting of the Mad Scientists' Union" at my place in West Hartford where people can work on cars, bikes, bicycles, or whatever else strikes their fancy. Another friend is going to be running blacksmithing workshops in central MA. I'd love it if you could add your workshops to the list of events.

[Lug_Nut]

Originally Posted by MD2000

I added booster batteries and a drop down E-Wheel that allows EV operation at 30 MPH for a 40 mile free ride. I recharge the booster batteries with solar panels over my garage doors. One day of charging, and I get a 30-40 mile free ride.
Mike Dabrowski

Bigger than usual garage doors? Heliostatic tracking? Much higher than usual conversion efficiency? That's a LOT of watts even from 16 hours of Mid-June daylight.
I'd love to see how you incorporated the E-wheel. Post back when your show and tell sessions resume.

[MD2000]

The garage panels :
http://www.99mpg.com/projectcars/mik...ngsystem.jpg,0
put out ~ 500Watts, and the e-wheel draws from 6-200A from the 48V battery system.The low rolling resistance tires, and <30 MPH speed, is what allows the relatively high efficiency and long range on the minimal booster batterys.
The longest trip on a charge was ~43 miles @ an average speed of 26 MPH. I just acquired a BLDC Insight electric motor, which could be the drive motor for the next generation of the EV drive system.
I should be starting the Sat workshops again once the weather warms up a bit.
My events calender: http://www.99mpg.com/events
will show when I will have a workshop several days before the event.
I have a full machine shop, welding and sheetmetal fabrication equipment, micro controller and electronic design and development systems, and a huge assortment of good invention raw materials of all types.
Too many projects, not enough time, so it is unlikely I would truck over to Hartford when I have everything I need for my projects here, but all are welcome to attend my Sat workshops.

[Lug_Nut]

Took the time to actually look through your links. Now I recall this car seeing it previously at various events in the north east.

[MD2000]

When I first started my consulting/prototype shop, I was thinking of calling it The Mad Scientist lab. Good luck with your great idea, and you can include my workshop in the list of events.
I went out to the Madison WI hybrid fest for the last two years, and may take the car back out there this year.
http://www.hybridfest.com/
Some Utube video interviews from Hybridfest:
Mike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL7JfG8PaFc
Randall Burkholder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmPAC...eature=related

I will likely go to Altwheels in Boston again as well.
http://www.altwheels.org/events.html

It is great fun to get people motivated and increase awareness of the impending after peak oil issues that we will all have to deal with in the future.

Mike