- Honda Car Owner's Manual

51
DECELERATION/REGENERATIVEBRAKING
Energyflowfromwheelstobattery(viaelectricmotor/generator)
Duringdeceleration,thegasolineengineisswitchedintofuelcutmode,andtheIMAMotor/Generator
isoperatedingenerationmode.Inthismode,theIMAMotorisdrivenbythewheels,generatingelectricity
tobestoredintheBatteryModule,andslowingtheInsightintheprocess.TheamountthattheIMAMotor
slowsthecarisinproportiontotheamountofregenerationbeingdone.Therearetwodecelerationmodes:
Foot off throttlebut not onbrakepedal-Inthismode,thecharge/assistgaugewillshow
partialcharge,andthevehiclewillslowdowngradually.
Footonbrakepedal-Inthismode,ahigheramountofregenerationwillbeallowed,andthe
vehicle will slow more rapidly. During light brake pedal application, only the IMA
Motor/Generator isslowingthe car. With heavierbrakepedal application, theconventional
frictionbrakesalsocomeintoplay.
Whendecelerating,regenerationwillcontinueuntilenginespeedfallstoabout1000rpm.Atthispoint,
thedriverwilltypicallyshiftintoneutral.Inmanycasesthegasolineenginewillnowimmediatelyenter
autoidlestopmode.Ifvehiclespeedissuchthatitisn'tclearwhetherthedriverwillmostlikelycometoa
stop,theenginemayidleforafewmomentsbeforeenteringidlestop.Ifthebatterystateofchargeisvery
low,idlestopwillnotbeenteredatall,andinsteadtheenginewillcontinuetorunatafastidletorecharge
theBatteryModule.
Duringgeneration,theACproducedbytheIMAMotor/GeneratorisconvertedbytheMDMintoDC,
whichisusedtochargetheBatteryModule.TheDCoutputoftheMDMisalsoappliedtotheDC-DC
Converter, whichreducesthe voltageto 12v.TheDC-DCConverter's12vDCoutputis suppliedto the
vehicleelectricalsystem.Itisalsousedtochargethe12vbatteryasnecessary.
WhentheStateofChargeoftheBatteryModuleisatitsmaximumlevel,generatedelectricityisonly
deliveredtothe12vaccessorysystem.
WhentheABSsystemiscontrollingwheellockup,an'ABS-busy'signalissenttotheMCM.Thiswill
immediatelystopregenerationtopreventinterferencewiththeABSsystem.