Some Geniuses Are Swapping Ford Batteries Into Old Honda Insights To Make DIY Plug-In Hybrids

The Honda Insight was the first hybrid on sale in the US, beating the Prius to the punch by just a few months. Since then, Honda has sold legions of these aerodynamic, fuel-sipping commuter cars. As a result, there is now an aging population of early Honda Insights with good mechanicals but tired batteries. This can leave them weak and feeble under acceleration, but a fresh lithium battery swap can change all that.

Just as gasoline-powered vehicles before them, hybrids and EVs have spawned their own diehard hacker communities seeking better efficiency and performance. Where the ICE world has focused on engine upgrades, when it comes to these cars, the biggest gains to be had are usually at the battery. We’ve seen the Toyota Prius brought back to life with new lithium packs, and feeble Nissan Leafs turned into highway munchers with fat battery upgrades from China. These older cars have been brought into the future by virtue of newer battery tech.