Can Honda Insight Run Without A Hybrid Battery?
Do you own a Honda insight and wonder if you can drive without the hybrid battery? Your Honda Insight is a hybrid car with two components.
Knowing what happens to the car when the electrical component goes off is important. I will tell you what role the battery plays and whether your Honda insight will run without it.
The Honda Insight hybrid car can run without the hybrid battery. It can happen because the Honda Insight is a three-cylinder 67 HP engine and can function without a battery. The Honda insight battery and the integrated motor assist boost acceleration and do not start the car.
Will a Hybrid Car Run Without a Hybrid Battery?
Whether a hybrid car can run without a hybrid battery depends on the type of car you own.
Some manufacturers program their hybrid vehicles to run without the hybrid battery, while some others insist that the hybrid car must run with a hybrid battery.
In some hybrid vehicles, the car’s components work separately like a parallel system. The electrical component does not depend on the gasoline part of the car to keep it running.
In this case, with the presence of gasoline, the vehicle can run without the high voltage battery that powers the electric component of the car.
Whether the battery is dead or removed, the gasoline part of the car can initiate and sustain the car’s motion for a period.
Even in this case, one can feel the impact of driving without an electric battery. The motor assist IMA performs the function of accelerating the car.
The vehicle would be slow when not in place, and the drive would not be smooth. Therefore, one should drive a hybrid car with the battery in place.
In extreme conditions where the battery is damaged, one should drive to either get help or safely park the car until a replacement is made.
Can You Drive a Honda Insight Without IMA?
You can drive your Honda Insight hybrid without the Integrated Motor Assist. The reason is that the motor-assist IMA performs the function of aiding acceleration and not starting the car.
The gasoline engine ignites the Honda Insight. Not just the Honda insight, the Honda Civic hybrid car can also run without the integrated motor assist.
The Honda Insight is a hybrid vehicle that works with two systems connected parallel to each other. The gasoline system and the electric system.
The gasoline system is made up of an engine powered by gasoline. The electrical system consists of the Honda insight battery and the integrated motor assist.
The Honda insight battery is a 12-v battery that helps supply a power source when the car is accelerating.
The IMA is between the car’s transmission and the gasoline-powered engine.
This battery assists the gasoline-powered to save more fuel by powering the car when coming to a halt or shortly before the internal combustion engines take over.
The IMA battery does so by the process of regenerative braking and auto-stop technique.
In regenerative braking, the integrated assistant converts the energy that may be lost as heat when the car slows down or grinds to a halt.
It converts this energy to kinetic energy and stores it in the 12-v high voltage battery.
This energy continues to charge the battery while the battery supports the gasoline engine when it accelerates the car.
How Long Does a Honda Insight Battery Last?
The Honda insight battery’s build lasts long. The average lifespan of the battery measures between 150,000 to 200,000 miles.
The lifespan corresponds to a ten-year mile warranty coverage on the Honda insight hybrid battery.
Many Honda insight users have previously reported up to 250,000 miles of mileage with effective maintenance practice.
The Honda insight hybrid battery can last up to 16 years with good maintenance practice.
You can extend your battery life by paying particular attention to it.
For example, you can take the following steps to ensure that your battery life is lengthier.
- Ensure frequent maintenance.
- Try to sustain an even temperature
- Carry your car out for a spin
- Keep an 80/20 battery charge.
- Brake and accelerate slowly
#1. Keep up with Regular Maintenance
Regular visits to the mechanic shop may not directly impact the Honda hybrid battery. It only ensures that the car remains in optimal condition.
However, this proper maintenance practice has a long-term impact on the battery.
It also means that your battery does not have to overwork itself due to the car always breaking down.
#2. Keep an 80/20 Battery Charge.
Hybrid batteries work much like every other rechargeable battery you may have used.
However, if you keep your batteries always charged at 100%, they may not live up to the expected time frame.
Your battery should remain at the upper limit of 80% charge and the lower limit of 20% charge.
This rhythmic range ensures that your battery operates optimally.
#3. Take Your Car Out For a Spin.
If your car would remain parked for a long time, say some weeks to a month, you should occasionally spin the car around.
Keeping the batteries dormant for too long would spoil the battery. Instead, occasionally drive out; this will ensure the preservation of your battery life.
#4. Maintain an Even Temperature
Extremes of temperature affect battery life and performance. Always keep your cars in moderate regions.
If it’s too hot, you can park in the shade. If it’s too cold, you can park in the open to receive some sunlight.
#5. Brake and Accelerate Slowly
Braking and accelerating consume a reasonable amount of energy.
Gently tapping the brakes and the accelerator would lengthen the span of your battery significantly.
However, this does not mean you must be sluggish at driving; it requires that you be gentle with it.
What Happens if the IMA Battery Dies?
Practically, your Honda Insight would still run without the integrated motor assist. This battery is not a necessity for initiating or sustaining the motion of your Honda insight car.
One challenge you may encounter is that the 12v battery would drain faster, and your car may not accelerate as it should.
The IMA battery helps convert some kinetic energy from the braking system into energy that charges the 12v Honda insight hybrid battery.
Can Honda Insight Run Without Gas?
The Honda insight cannot run without gasoline. Though a hybrid vehicle, the Honda Insight hybrid car relies on the gasoline engine to initiate motion.
The electrical component only takes over when you begin to accelerate.
This arrangement increases the fuel efficiency of the gasoline engine and does not entirely keep the gasoline engine out.
The Honda insight may run for a few minutes when driving, and the gas runs out in the tank.
The time is dependent on the strength of your battery. Your Honda Insight may run for a few minutes before draining if your battery is full.
Then the car would stop, the time between the point where the gas finishes afford you the time to park in a nice location or source for fuel at the nearest fuel station.
Can you drive a Hybrid with no battery?
Conclusion
The Honda hybrid car comprises two components, the gasoline, and the electric component. The car can run without its hybrid batteries.
Though not without hitches, the IMA assists in charging the 12v high voltage battery, and this battery, in turn, accelerates the Honda insight car.
Without gas, the vehicle can only run for a short time to preserve the battery life and to keep the battery charged at 80% and not drained below 20% for most of the time.
