PHEV mod under way, Bristol, UK.

[aminorjourney]

We've started the PHEV mod for Velma! There's a CanView V3+ on the way from Canada as I write. It should arrive in about a week or so.

The plan is then to install the CanView while the weather is still nice. As with many houses in the UK ours doesn't have a garage big enough for the Prius to fit in, so it'll be down to us to work when the sun shines.

I may try and get hold of an SLI iPod interface too so I can fit both while the dash is in pieces.

I'm going to document the process as much as possible with photographs and maybe some timelapse photography (as I've started here). Obviously, Velma has a stock EV button as she's an English spec car, so that part of the process won't need to be carried out.

Right now we're still choosing the battery tech. I'd quite like to use additional HV packs from scrapped prius but right now they're finding hard to source in the UK. Failing that I think we'll go the lead sled route, installing 20*20AH lead batteries.

Why are we converting Velma? Well, I'm suffering from EV withdrawl symptoms after selling my EV recently - but we got such a good deal on Velma that we're able to do the conversion as a test for our other prius.

We'll keep you all posted. If anyone is in the southwest UK and wants to come and help just ping me!

Cheers!

Nikki.

[problemchild]

Originally Posted by aminorjourney

We've started the PHEV mod for Velma! There's a CanView V3+ on the way from Canada as I write. It should arrive in about a week or so.

The plan is then to install the CanView while the weather is still nice. As with many houses in the UK ours doesn't have a garage big enough for the Prius to fit in, so it'll be down to us to work when the sun shines.

I may try and get hold of an SLI iPod interface too so I can fit both while the dash is in pieces.

I'm going to document the process as much as possible with photographs and maybe some timelapse photography (as I've started here). Obviously, Velma has a stock EV button as she's an English spec car, so that part of the process won't need to be carried out.

Right now we're still choosing the battery tech. I'd quite like to use additional HV packs from scrapped prius but right now they're finding hard to source in the UK. Failing that I think we'll go the lead sled route, installing 20*20AH lead batteries.

Why are we converting Velma? Well, I'm suffering from EV withdrawl symptoms after selling my EV recently - but we got such a good deal on Velma that we're able to do the conversion as a test for our other prius.

We'll keep you all posted. If anyone is in the southwest UK and wants to come and help just ping me!

Cheers!

Nikki.

At 9/gallon for fuel I cant blame you. Its a shame the UK government taxes the people so much.

[aminorjourney]

It's really dire, let me tell you.

I wouldn't dream of owning any vehicle which did less than 50mpg UK (about 42 US).

Since most of my week involves winding country roads or town driving I'm probably going to stay most of my week at less than 40mph. There's a few days when I need to do 70mph, but hopefully a PHEV will help there by boosting my fuel figures

Nikki.

[hiremichaelreid]

Cool. I look forward to following your progress.

I'm planning to do this when battery tech/prices make economic sense. I'm in Quebec and electric is hydro here, about 8 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Are you expecting to save money or spend more than on gas once the battery replacement costs every 2-4 years is factored in ?

[aminorjourney]

Am I looking to save money? No, not really.

Am I looking to reduce my dependence on the black stuff? Totally!

I'm hoping that a bit of renewable electricity from wind power will help my Prius become a little less polluting. (That's how it will be powered, along with petrol, of course)

At the moment petrol costs have really rocketed. Even when the price of a barrel of oil drops our prices still raise. Taxes on petrol in the UK means we're paying £1.17-£1.23 for one litre!

Obviously, electricity prices will rise, but I hope at a slower rate than the petrol increases, so it may end up saving us money, even factoring the battery costs.

Nikki.

[hiremichaelreid]

Originally Posted by aminorjourney

Obviously, electricity prices will rise, but I hope at a slower rate than the petrol increases, so it may end up saving us money, even factoring the battery costs.

Nikki.

Yes, I'm expecting electricity prices to rise here too, even though its from a massive hydro-electric facility. There is surplus that is sold to the US so that and increased usage will keep the price rising IMO.

I've figured now that I will save over half of my heating bill by converting from oil heat to electric. (I'm going with a geo-thermal heat pump though to multiply my savings by 4.) Many others will do the same I'd bet.

And if electric cars become popular, gov't will lose "road taxes" they place on petrol. So I think something will have to give there and road taxes will be collected on electricity or by a new tax on EVs.


Anyway, I'm looking forward to smart meters that will allow us to recharge at night when rates will be lowest. Assuming this SAVES me money.

[wchardin]

Good luck on your project, I too am interested in the assignment.

[aminorjourney]

My Can View has arrived! It came in the post on Friday and I'm bursting to fit it. Sadly I've got to wait two weekends until an event where I'd promised to fit it live.

I had a mock-go yesterday at removing the dash on the Prius . I was surprised at how simple it was and how easily everything popped out and back together.

While I had the dash out I also performed a quick SLI2 installation. With my iPhone working and connected to the JBL system I was able to change track etc with the steering wheel controls. The SLI2 is currently sitting in my glovebox. I'll install it properly when I install the CanView.



More photos from yesterday's dismantling are here:

[philmcneal]

keep us posted! there hasn't been a real easy guide for a DIY phev prius project, but im waiting for the better batteries since those lead acids are way too heavy for my tastes

[Cheap!]

I'll try to provide a real easy guide for you. I had to redo my entire conversion but now I got it to fit under the rear deck. The mount I made sits so that there is no need for drilling any holes in the Prius. Also I can relocate the bumper plug so you don't have to even drill the bumper if you don't want.