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Please check out my new home page:
http://www.99mpg.com/
Mike
comments welcome

Great video Mike. I found one at WBZTV. (http://wbztv.com/consumer/technology/Michael.Dabrowski.99.2.697134.html)

That's awesome Mike. If a conversion kit existed for my '05 Corolla, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Excellent work.

Hmm, I think I hear harmonies from a certain Canadian dude in
that music...
.
While I agree in principle, I still think there's a larger social
problem that isn't going to be solved with technology. Well, unless
you count TV and other media. It's this bullheaded and wholly
corporate-created continual push for more speed, more power, more
shiny junk -- nobody's going to learn any kind of minimalist
lifestyle from that onslaught until it stops and 180 reverses.
.
For a brief and glorious time in the seventies, conservation was
cool, and small efficient cars were [for some value of it] sexy.
They were sold almost entirely on the basis of fuel economy
alone, and frankly the auto industry of the time displayed quite
a bit of agility in adapting to the problem and creating that
new market almost overnight. People griped about it, of course,
saying that the econoboxes were underpowered crap that couldn't
get out of their own way, but ya know what? They BOUGHT them and
drove them and even liked those types of cars, and laughed while
putt-putting all the way to the bank. It worked, because it had
real SUPPORT. Around the same time we saw many other worthwhile
initiatives begin that were back-burnered only a decade later, like
all the early alternative energy projects -- the stuff and the ideals
we saw the Tour de Sol people desperately clinging to even as their
organization was circling the drain. By now we've got the technology
to do that all over again but two or three times better, but what we
get instead is stuff like this (http://techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/pix/ggp07/67gs450h.jpg) dangled in front of us.
.
With that in mind, there's nothing new in what Tata is doing --
just picking up where the Beetle and the Gremlin left off.
.
While this might obliquely sound like an argument that innovations
and future progress has to have both high efficiency AND high
performance or it won't sell, I will point out that making do
with less on the performance side yields even MORE efficiency and
functions perfectly adequately to get people and their loads where
they're going, to light their houses, to do their computing, or
whatever. Especially in the vehicle arena. But as much as all of
us have gone out there proselytizing and thinking we've sent hordes
of happy, fuel-conscious converts out from our show booths, we're
still just a pimple on the ass of Big Commerce who still controls
the huge disinformation-teat that the rest of the billions suck
on every evening with glazed eyeballs and credit cards in hand.
.
Which is why they can't think hard enough to organize and tell the
military-corporate-petro-congressional complex, "quit telling us what
you THINK we need that only fattens your bottom line, and make it
so we can stop by the Orange Box any afternoon and pick up all the
parts we need for that nice little grid-tied PV system, or a case
of fast-charge LiPo modules for a conversion project". The kind
of hardware to support a lot of this is still totally off in the
specialty market, priced unrealistically at what a frankly limited
enthusiast market will bear, and is anything but commonplace. How
many ads do we see on CNN or during the stuper bowl for Siemens
panels or Sunny Boy inverters? I can go to Wally World and pick up
a kit of those cute little solar-powered lawn lights, sure, but that
doesn't help anyone cook dinner or push a vehicle down the road. And
I don't see anyone standing outside the gates of the Kennedy spread
on the Cape with pitchforks and torches telling them "you will STOP
this meaningless and harmful opposition of windmill projects RIGHT
NOW". That's where we as a society, likely worldwide but especially
here in the US, must head.
.
It's gonna take a lot more than an electric rear end to deliver
the kick in the ass that we all need, but it still sounds cool.
Hopefully the fact that just banged all this in is evidence that
I'm still in the game, one way or the other.
.
_H*

Hi Al:

___Even at OEM pricing for the HW, PV solutions are still not quite cost effective (hate to say that given $cost should not be the reason or the issue) but when solar production and an inexpensive storage solution becomes available, the corporate giants (GE more than likely) will be the one supplying us with just what we want and more importantly what we need!

___As for the vehicles, I am all for A, B and C-Class sized automobiles but I also see the need for accessorizing. Not in the sense of Bling-Bling but driving a loaded Prius last weekend, it has far more than I would ever need but included enough to grab the attention and $’s of the upper income classes who are currently driving FSP’s. If it takes electrically manipulated, heated and cooled leather seats in a fuel miser (think the next gen TSX w/ the iDTEC or the Prius-II with tilt and telescopic + 8-way adjustables) to grab the upper income class of the world, than by all means add it as those vehicles even with an idiot behind the wheel will still allow the 42 – 50 mpg which is so far above the FSP average of 15 mpg, it might be worth it to add some OEM provided bling bling to bring these people around!

___As for the Lexus LS and GS Hybrids, so few are sold that it is less than a blip on the screen. Like all performance hybrids, they never really make a difference nor will they ever … One of my favorite stories follows ;)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_Lexus_GS450h.jpg
On the Block: A Hot Hybrid Goes Cheap in Hollywood? (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2825)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I have spoken with over 50 people and fielded over 100 e-mails of some pretty disparate people over the last few days.
I realize that I need to focus if I will make a difference.
I am feeling that the time to pass the MIMA baton has come. If anyone would like to take over the MIMA project, let me know. The reasons are explained here:
http://www.99mpg.com/
Mike

I want to thank all of the people that called and offered to build boards and help with the system components, but I am looking for someone to take over the whole production process.
Well I guess I am just going to push out the estimate for delivering systems till July, and try my best to get it to happen by then.

What we need is a MIMA building production line at Hybridfest. Wouldn't that be a hoot? :)
Many hands make light work. I'd even consider supplying the medical supplies for the soldering iron burns. :)

Eric,
Nice thought.
Don't think I will make it out to hybridfest this year.

I want to practice saving gas, not going on long trips which use gas, just for fun.
I canceled my vacation for the same reason.
I want to walk the walk, not only talk the talk.

I will miss meeting up with all the guys from the forums though, and hope it is a great success.

Mike, you're missing the point of the trip to HF. Tons of people will walk by your booth and listen to what you have to say. If you can convince even a small percentage of people to change then the fuel savings add up faster than what you use on your one trip to Madison. Ya gotta think big picture :)

Mike, I keep a pretty close eye on the forums and I don't recall seeing a response from you in this thread. I hope that this is simply a mistake or trick of memory -- I don't think the moderators here would ever remove a post of yours without at least sending you a PM about it.

I absolutely second what Sean said.
In fact, I am a VERY attentive reader of Mike's posts and I would not miss reading any for the world - after all it is not every time one can chat on a more technical level :)

Cheers;

MSantos

Maybe it is a mind trick? I have been overwhelmed with communication lately, sorry I removed the post. It was late last night. I probably wrote a response, and decided not to post it but forgot?
Basically I have been spending anywhere from 4-20 hours a week answering calls from people that want to know about hybrids, my modifications, and various solar and alt energy questions. As anyone that knows me will attest, I enjoy helping people understand this stuff, and feel that I am somehow helping with the energy issues we all face, and hundreds of e-mails. I am getting the word out.

I had a nice time both years that I went to Hybridfest, mainly by meeting up with many of the guys from the various forums, and getting some face to face networking. At Hybridfest, most of the people checking out the cars are already hybrid owners, so it is a great hybrid fan gathering, but the general public discussions I have had at hybridfest is rather light, since they can go inside and see all of the big car makers displays, and don't particularly care about the modified hybrids out on the street.
The local earth day and environmental fairs on the other hand are attended by many more people that have a serious interest in hybrids, and since the big car makers do not bother with the events, we are not competing for their attention, and get to speak to and help inform the people that do need the help in making an intelligent choice about their transportation.
Driving for two days each way to Madison, spending time at the event, and trucking back home, uses nearly a man week of time that I could be applying to my projects, as well as all the gas I burn on the trip.
So as much as I like the networking and fun at Hybridfest, I will not be going out.

Mike,

I won't let you be forgotten at HybridFest.

My current plans on the car exhibit is to have the hatchback open and have signs essentially illustrating this:

http://www.99mpg.com/mima/oldinstall/installation/04threadingtheharne/finishingthreading/rearoverview.jpg,0
Three weeks ago at Plano Live Green, lots of people were very interested to get a chance to see with their own eyes a traction battery pack. One remark I'll pass to you is some EVs accumulate the green corrosion at the terminals - I don't have that.

Sounds cool. I'm sure people would be VERY interested!

Hopefully someone like Mike can weigh in... is there any danger to someone reaching in there if Chuck leaves this open for the public to view?
In other words, could a kid accidentally shock him/herself in some way if he/she reaches in there while Chuck has this open? Or is actually pretty safe if Chuck has his car turned off?
just wondering.

Eric,

To be safe the main HV switch in the center of the picture above could be off after the Insight is parked. The "kid" would probably have to be a teen or older to be able to reach most of that stuff.

Maybe I should consider a plexiglass cover or something....

Need confirmation, but the bare part of the orange cables is the only concern...would it be a concern after the ignition is off and the HV switch is off?

a plexiglass cover or something..
I thought the same thing right after I posted. I suppose it could be in several pieces if that makes it easier to transport.

I have a large photo of the open IMA box that I sit on top of the closed back, which lets me show what is under the covers without opening the system.
I paster the photo onto a poster board.

With the main switch off, and secured with the red cover, the shock hazard is pretty low, but that is not to say that some wise guy could not turn it on if no one is around.
Even with the HV switch on, one has to poke fingers down past the relays on the side of the pack to get to the hot spot.

A thought about travelling to do educational exhibits. My experience over the past year has lead to some interesting adventures. In addition to Hybrid Fest and EarthDay type of activities, I have gone to a number of local car shows. Here among the muscle cars one is definitely an oddity, and one draws a lot of curious folks. Some are not ready to hear what we have to offer, some are (their numbers increase each time gas prices go up), but it is definitely not a feeling of preaching to the choir. You can actually see a few minds being opened up, especially among the young.

Some details of my experiences are here. (http://www.willieyee.info/Carshow.html)

Not complete, but have the main cover over the traction battery assembly

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/plexiglass_cover.JPG

Cost less than $25 at the Home Depot. Still have enough to cover the back side so it's absolutely impossible to tamper. As it is, one would have to be literally reaching to get a jolt.

I've been doing so much show-and-tell this will probably be semi-permanent.

Chuck,
It looks nice, and should be safe. I have thought of making a lexan cover several times, but never got around to it.
Why not snap a photo of the HV warning label, and stick it on the cover to make the point that one could get killed back there.
I also notice that the battery pack temp probe is run through the HV contactor area. I usually run it around the other side of the battery pack where there is no HV exposed.
The temp probe the way you have it routed could in theory rub one of the HV contactor terminals, and wear through and cause the HV to get into the MIMA board.
Very slim possibility, but since you have it open it could be a good time to swap it to the other side.

My fan seems to activate as low as 85 or 80F - maybe that's the problem...should have gotten Wayne's reacton when he heard the fan on an 80F day. :eek: :D

When the dog days of summer come, a shade is the best I can do at work - garage at home.

Chuck,
There is a certain amount of advantage to keeping the cabinet in the dark. All the extra sunlight is warming things up. Without the cover on, and rear carpet in, I can understand the fans coming on even though its only 85 outside.

Randall

That story of the fan coming on in a clinic with Wayne has with the carpet on, but the metal cover off. Guess it was placement of the probe.

I will cover the battery assembly from the light.