- Honda Car Owner's Manual

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IMAHYBRIDSYSTEM
Ahybridpowersystemforanautomobilecanhaveaseriesconfigurationoraparallelconfiguration.
Withaseriessystem,anenginedrivesagenerator,whichinturnpowersamotor,whoseoutputpropelsthe
vehicle.Withaparallelsystem,theengineandmotorcanbothbeusedtopropelthevehicle.TheInsight
employsaparallelsystemthatisdescribedbyHondaastheIntegratedMotorAssist(IMA)system.
The IMA system is one of the mosttechnologically advanced parallel hybridpowersystemsin the
world.Byemployingtechniquessuchasbrake-energyregenerationtomaximizetheefficiencywithwhich
energy is used, it combines low-pollution, low-cost operation with high levels of safety and running
performance.
ThemainpartsoftheInsight'sIMAsystemare:
• GasolineEngine
• Motor/generator
• BatteryModule(High-voltagebattery)
• BatteryConditionMonitor(BCM)
• 12vbattery
• MotorDriveModule(MDM)
• DC-DCconverter
• MotorControlModule
A thin design motor/generator is located between the 3-cylinder engine and the 5 speed manual
transmission.ANi-MHbatterymoduleisusedforsupplyingelectricitytothemotorduringassistmodeand
forstoringregeneratedpower.
A DC-DC converter is used to produce 12v power required by the Insight's 12v system. All high
voltage components of the IMA system are collectivelylocated behind the seats in the IPU (Intelligent
PowerUnit)box.
Seealso:
• IMASystemModesofOperation
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