Thinking of converting to PHEV

[Joyce]

I'm in Massachusetts, and have a 2009 Prius. We were looking at the information on the 2012 Plug-in models, but can't see buying a new car to gain 15 miles of electric driving per charge. We are now looking into an Enginer conversion kit (installed) to get close to 100mpg.

My daily commute is 13 miles each way, non-highway. I am currently getting 47-49 mpg.

Does this seem like a reasonable purchase? Sure, it will take a few years to recover my investment (about $3500?), but I will be driving a clean car, which is important to us.

Any thoughts?

[cproaudio]

Originally Posted by Joyce

I'm in Massachusetts, and have a 2009 Prius. We were looking at the information on the 2012 Plug-in models, but can't see buying a new car to gain 15 miles of electric driving per charge. We are now looking into an Enginer conversion kit (installed) to get close to 100mpg.

My daily commute is 13 miles each way, non-highway. I am currently getting 47-49 mpg.

Does this seem like a reasonable purchase? Sure, it will take a few years to recover my investment (about $3500?), but I will be driving a clean car, which is important to us.

Any thoughts?

If you're only getting 47-49mpg then Enginer kit would only return 60-85 mpg. I normally get about 57-60mpg on my without the conversion in the summer but with conversion, I barely break 90mpg while driving normally. The Enginer kit can achieve 130+mpg but it performs like a golf cart. The last tank I had was about 130mpg but the average speed for the tank as 16mph. Having owned the converter type conversion kit, I am leaning toward the contactor type conversion kit. It allows true EV driving and better blended mode performance because instead of 15-18 amp assist like the Eginer kit, it offers 100+ amps of assist. I wish you were in the west coast. I'd sell you my kit.

[ericbecky]

Originally Posted by Joyce

My daily commute is 13 miles each way, non-highway. I am currently getting 47-49 mpg.

If you are trying to get all-ev mode for that 13 miles, an Enginer kit will not fit your needs. Instead look to a Plug In Supply ($11K) or Plug In Conversion Corp kit ($13K).

Getting 100mpg from an Enginer kit would depend a lot on your commute and since you are currently getting less than 50 mpg, I think 100mpg may be a bit unattainable for you.

For all the kits you would you be installing it yourself? If so, then plan on having to go back once in a while to tweak things or possibly replace a component here and there.

I've done quite a few installs and would be happy to talk any time. 608-729-4082. Or PM me with a phone number and time to call and I can help get you on the right track. No use spending money on a system that may not fit your needs.

Here is a suggestion I give many of my customers, if you truly have money for a Prius PHEV from Toyota then go for it. Especially if you don't have the knowledge or desire to tinker with your car or a good installer/support system nearby.

[danwisdom]

I actually have two PHEV's for sale, or I would be willing to trade for another prius (gen II or newer).

One is a 2004 with a $12,800K 10kWh conversion by Boulder Hybrid Conversions. I would sell that for $17,900 or equivalent trade.

The other is a 2005 fully loaded, nav, leather xeon lights... with a $5,400 k 4kWh conversion by Boulder Hybrid Conversions. I would sell that for $14,500 K or equivalent trade.

Thanks!
Dan

I could also drive the car to you if you wanted to trade/purchase one.

[ericbecky]

Plug in Supply now sells a $5,500 4kwh system that is highlighted in a video on their web site.
I don't know any more about it other than what's in the video.
It ends with this statement:

The Plug in Supply 4 kilowatt, 100 pound, full regen capable, lithium ion phosphate battery pack gets 20 to 30 miles per charge."

[cyclopathic]

Originally Posted by ericbecky

The Plug in Supply 4 kilowatt, 100 pound, full regen capable, lithium ion phosphate battery pack gets 20 to 30 miles per charge."

sounds like marketing BS; you get 2-3mi per kW, YMMV

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

If you're looking to recover the money, forget it. At $3.50/gal you're paying $1.896 per day for gas. At $3.50/gal even if you got 100mpg on those trips you'd take 3551 trips just to recover the principal, let alone the opportunity cost. A better investment would be to spend the money on energy saving in your home. A home energy audit can apparently pay dividends by identifying the major efficiency problems. You could also try to reduce gasoline consumption by driving more efficiently. But, if you're willing to spend the money anyway that's a different matter and I hope it works out for you.

[scottsim]

Originally Posted by cyclopathic

sounds like marketing BS; you get 2-3mi per kW, YMMV

I get closer to 5mi/KWh in my 10 KWh PIS system. In pure EV mode. And now average around 100mpg for the first 150mi in mixed mode.

Scott
Www.smilingdogsranch.com/Priusblog

[f16bmathis]

I'd look into buying / making a pure EV. I converted my Chevy S10 into an EV ( www.evalbum.com/1752 ) Started out with lead acid batteries, but wanted more range, so upgraded to Lithium's.

As a 22mpg gas vehicle, it cost 0.18 cents per mile just for gas. As an electric, the cost is 0.058 cents! (my average). As an EV its faster than stock but is limited to 80 mile range.

These PHEV kits (which I just installed in my Prius) get better gas mileage, but I'm not seeing anyone talk about the electric cost. Sure its cheaper and cleaner than gas, but at .058 cents per mile, I believe your best MPH is 66! So the PHEV kits are showing 100 MPG, but in reality your just swapping expenses, though I do like driving electric better than gas anyday. I'm going to start charting both my Prius's gas AND electric cost and will post.

[dan2l]

Originally Posted by f16bmathis

These PHEV kits (which I just installed in my Prius) get better gas mileage, but I'm not seeing anyone talk about the electric cost. Sure its cheaper and cleaner than gas, but at .058 cents per mile, I believe your best MPH is 66! So the PHEV kits are showing 100 MPG, but in reality your just swapping expenses, though I do like driving electric better than gas anyday. I'm going to start charting both my Prius's gas AND electric cost and will post.

There are plenty of other threads that talk about the cost of electricity. The problem is that it is different for everyone and the calculations depend on your assumptions.

For me the cost of electricity is less than 1/2 of what you quote. So clearly you and I have differing opinions of what assumptions to use.

So,.. I think that your publishing what you get is fine,... But I am fearful that your discussion will degenerate into an argument because of bad assumptions.

Thanks,
Dan