My Honda
Insight!
The Insight is a Hybrid Gasoline-Electric car. The gasoline and electric engines are both able to propel the car. Its computer is constantly monitoring conditions and utilizing either the gasoline or electric motor as needed. You just drive it. We only put gasoline into it, since it recharges the electric battery on-the-fly. The bottom line is fantastic fuel efficiency, yet it is a reasonable speedy car when you need that.
The Insight runs great. It’s peppy. Service is not an issue and any Honda shop is ready to deal with the Insight. It’s everything that I need for 95% of my transportation needs. I borrow a truck for the 12 times a year that I need to haul 2x4s. So, if you are considering a Hybrid; Go for it! Ditch that SUV! Be greener! Start a trend!
With my “Alternative Fueled Vehicle” tag, I tried to use the HOV lane in May, but got a ticket. A judged dismissed my ticket, but would not state whether this was a true infraction, or not. The judge deferred to the DOT officer’s statement that “this car is not on the list of EPA certified vehicles”. Therefore, Insight owners are not clearly OK to use the HOV lane in Georgia. Here are some facts (at least from my case):
1. You may get the “Alternative Fueled Vehicle” tag from the tag office (for an extra $50!). The form you will fill out has a checkbox for HYBRID Vehicles. Nobody disputes that the Honda Insight is a Hybrid Vehicle.
2. There is a sign on I-85S reading “HOV AFV OK”.
3. DOT Enforcement does not appear to be permitting all AFV tagged vehicles use the lane, but seem to refer to an “EPA Certified” list. You will get a ticket!
In my humble opinion, I think Georgia’s current policies are inconsistent. Seems to me that they should not issue AFV tags (at extra cost) to Hybrid owners if the tag does not correlate to their signage regarding “AFV”s. The cynical comment I could make is that GA DOT is making extra revenue on the AFV tag by including more categories than is appropriate. I may try and write a letter to GA DOT on this. If you have further information, please let me know.
First, the Insight has various gauges for miles-per-gallon. You can measure a specific trip, you have an instantaneous MPG display, and you also have a Lifetime MPG readout. My current Lifetime MPG is: 64.8 MPG
I have a long morning commute that I make 3 days a week. I use this morning commute as a fuel efficiency benchmark. The route is almost exactly 30 miles, a net uphill, 90% highway and 10% surface streets with typically light traffic at the time I travel. The route is from the Zoo Atlanta area near downtown Atlanta out to the Lawrenceville area. The Insight trip meter is always zeroed prior to ignition. MPG is displayed by the Insight and reflects the MPG from start to end of this trip. Here are my current records:
|
Date |
Miles Per Gallon |
|
4/05/01 |
75.9 |
|
5/10/01 |
82.5 |
|
5/17/01 |
87.1 |
|
5/22/01 |
87.8 |
|
6/27/01 |
90.9 !!! |
Anyway, check out these links for more info:
Insight Central is an independent WWW page for Insight folks (includes many lifetime MPG listings)
EV World is a general page about Electric Vehicles
Oh, and here’s the car...
