How do you get a speeding ticket driving a hybrid car in an eco-competition?
Leave it to my sister, Marianne Alfonsi.
She's my co-driver at an eco-challenge in the nation's capital. Our ride is a 2010 Honda Insight hatchback. And we're pitted against five other automotive journalists and their partners for a competition testing everything from our environmental IQ to our fuel economy.
There are five challenges; the goal is to get the most points and outscore the competition.
We hit the road at noon after planning our route the old-fashioned way using a map. We must visit four out of five predetermined environmental venues before 4 p.m. or we're docked points.
Our first pit stop is Ferme Camino Farm in Limoges. It's filled with dozens of roaming alpacas and lamas raised for their allergen-free wool, which is warmer than sheep's wool.
Along the way, we snap photos – part of another challenge to find items that start with the letters INSIGHT and ECON with a green theme. That's easy; the harder task is to take photos of four people sitting inside the Insight – drivers and co-drivers excluded.
Luckily, we pass an outdoor barbeque at a senior's centre and quickly turn around. The Insight's tight turning radius makes it a cinch to head back.
An Elvis impersonator is the live entertainment; he struts his stuff confidently for the seniors and then gladly poses with the Insight along with his wife and costume designer, a painter and a spectator.
Time is ticking. After a quick stop at the alpaca farm, it's off to our next destination – a conservation area dubbed New York Central Trail in Russell.
My sister takes the wheel. She has never driven a hybrid. “It feels like a regular car to me. It's easy to get in and out of. It picked up speed quickly and smoothly. It's very quiet, too,” she says.
Unfortunately she finds out the hard way that it's too fast for her. I spot the cop on the side of the road in the distance. The speed drops from 80 to 50. I shout “Police! Cop!” She ignores me. “Slow down! There's a cop!” Finally, she slams on the brakes.
But it's too late – the cherries come on, we're nabbed. Another Insight drives by.
The cop clocks her at 81 in a 50 zone. Unfortunately her excuse – “I can't see the speedometer – the top of the steering wheel is blocking it” doesn't fly. It's true, but she could have adjusted the steering wheel for a better view of the two-tier instrument panel.
No tears. She accepts the ticket graciously. At least she gets a tourist discount. He reduces the ticket to a $60 fine and no demerit points. “It accelerated too fast,” she laughs later.
Under the hood is a 1.3-litre, four-cylinder engine, a 10-kilowatt electric motor and a compact battery, which achieves a combined output of 98 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy is rated 4.7 L/100 km.
At stop signs, the gas engine turns off completely, which is pleasant to the ears – only the sound of Mother Nature fills the air.
Inside, the Insight is roomy; the cloth seats comfortable. The navigation system is a bit tricky to use; it takes several steps to input addresses. At least you can operate it while moving, which saves us time on our drive.
Honda was the first auto maker to bring a hybrid to North America. The original Insight came to Canada in 1999 as a two-seater; it was discontinued in 2006 because it wasn't very practical. But the 2010 Insight, which looks strikingly similar to a Toyota Prius, is more functional with five seats and good cargo-carrying capacity – there's 450 litres of space. The rear seats fold down for extra room, too.
