New plug-in Prius conversion option - $5,000

[clett]

So first we had Edrive at $12,000, then Hymotion at $9,000, now there is Electro Energy using NiMH for a $5,000 conversion. Allows 25 miles EV range.

http://www.technologyreview.com/read_artic...=&id=16922&pg=1

Getting cheaper all the time guys. Told you....

[nerfer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(clett @ May 25 2006, 04:52 AM) [snapback]260821[/snapback]</div>

So first we had Edrive at $12,000, then Hymotion at $9,000, now there is Electro Energy using NiMH for a $5,000 conversion. Allows 25 miles EV range.

http://www.technologyreview.com/read_artic...=&id=16922&pg=1

Getting cheaper all the time guys. Told you....
[/b]

It is promising, but two caveats: the battery will need to be replaced about every 5 years, and it won't be available except in demo cars for the next year. But we're definitely closing in on a practical PHEV that will appeal to the general public.

[SomervillePrius]

This is a more vialbe solution, sure it doesn't have the sexiness of Li-Ion batteries but 25 miles would be just enough for me to EV to/from work (and I commute on backroads <40mph). Still battery lifestpan is a concern as 25 miles is what I need so any drop would make it not work. So I would need to see real world data on this before I believe it and it would have to be 25 real world miles (no 25 miles on a flat road, in reality you get 7 crap).

Still, I'm getting more an more hopeful that I will be driving a plug-in or EV car soon!

[tochatihu]

One ebayer is presently hoping to sell his Prius HV battery as part of a PHEV conversion. That would reduce the total cost a bit, but it seems like burning one's bridges to me. Shrug.

[john1701a]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nerfer @ May 25 2006, 09:55 AM) [snapback]260882[/snapback]</div>

It is promising, but two caveats: the battery will need to be replaced about every 5 years[/b]

Actually, it is the most promising... since it's approach is the only one that actually tries to fulfills the market desire. Put simple, people want an augment that fulls into the realm of realistic prices. None of the others even attempt that, instead, their focus is on maximum efficiency gain. $5,000 is the limit that surveys have expressed as the limit. They are attempting to deliver that.

When the warranty (100,000 miles) is reached, some of us will be ready take our chances with an upgrade. I'm not sure how many people are actually willing to do that any earlier. So the potential for quite an aftermarket demand is definitely there.

Where did the "5 year" concern come from? If the system doesn't allow deep-discharges, the battery-pack should last a remarkably long time. The upgrade provides is increased capacity, no change to the way the system behaves.

[hdrygas]

This is getting way close to my limit. 25 mi would do it for me on a day to day basis. I might even get work to install a plug for me. At 5k my wife would only maim me not kill me!

[Marlin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas @ May 25 2006, 03:53 PM) [snapback]261016[/snapback]</div>

This is getting way close to my limit. 25 mi would do it for me on a day to day basis. I might even get work to install a plug for me. At 5k my wife would only maim me not kill me!
[/b]

I assume this Prius mod would still be subject to the limitations of EV mode. You would still be predominatly using the ICE if you drive over 34 mph.

[hdrygas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ May 25 2006, 01:01 PM) [snapback]261021[/snapback]</div>

I assume this Prius mod would still be subject to the limitations of EV mode. You would still be predominatly using the ICE if you drive over 34 mph.
[/b]

Well I could live with that. I am not sure about the people behind me? 34 MPH is one MPH below the speed limit on part of my trip and going that slow is very bad. I will coast down to 34 or 33 and they get very anxious. Going 37 or 38 in a 35 does not seem to help?

[john1701a]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ May 25 2006, 03:01 PM) [snapback]261021[/snapback]</div>

I assume this Prius mod would still be subject to the limitations of EV mode. You would still be predominatly using the ICE if you drive over 34 mph.
[/b]

I sure hope that misconception doesn't get out of hand.

The electric-motor will still contribute significantly beyond the range of EV. The only difference is the engine will be active too. It may not be used as much as you think though. The impression of "using the ICE" most people have is that much of the hybrid aspect is lost... which couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, the use of gas will be surprisingly low and sometimes not at all.

Try driving down a long decent into a river valley or canyon. The battery-pack will display 8-bars (full green). Watch what happens while you drive along roads on the bottom. The MPG will still be remarkably high, even though the engine runs. That is an example of how the system will work after the plug-in upgrade.

It's these dang current plug-in aftermarket ventures that are causing the misconception to manifest. They focus so heavily on the EV portion that people have no clue what happens at other times. This can be easily changed to, but none have bothered. That's very frustrating. All we get is tiny MPG samples, limited test drives. Where's the actual data? There is no on-going results posted anywhere. A not-so-secret to my success has been the piles of raw data I publish. People can draw conclusions on their own, because they have numbers available. From the plug-in people, we get nothing. That is very disappointing.

The lack of data allows the misconception to grow. That will ultimately impede their efforts. How can we finally get them to publish some actual continuous real-world numbers?

[clett]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(john1701a @ May 25 2006, 11:52 PM) [snapback]261182[/snapback]</div>

How can we finally get them to publish some actual continuous real-world numbers?
[/b]

When the Amberjac conversions become more widely available in the UK later this year, there will be plenty of takers and I'm sure some of them will be happy to post their experiences for us here.

Not sure when the Edrive or Hymotion conversions are meant to be available to the public, but we can recruit some US based PHEV first-adopters from them too.