We chose the Limited edition of the RAV4 so that we could get a full luxury vehicle with leather interior and all of the latest technology that owners at this price point want. Of course we could save a few thousand dollars by going with a more basic RAV4.

We are doing this with six RAV4 SUVs at the same time. Our expenses for doing the conversions drop approximately 20% by doing six at the same time as opposed to one at a time.

So if the cost is around $55,000 then you subtract $12,000 in tax savings, the real cost to the owner is around $43,000.

Once we get a few potential customers to place a $1,000 deposit on these conversions, we will move forward with the process.

I'm surprised at the confidence that the credits will apply. Why would this be different than taking a new Prius and adding a hymotion pack to it ? I thought we had concluded that subsidies would not apply in that case, because only OEM qualify.

I think he's a car dealership and the cars are original title. If this had been available when I bought my Xebra, I'd have bought the RAV4 instead, though I'd have accepted only the not-leather version. As it is, with my Porsche on the way (knock on wood) <raps knuckles on head> you're just a bit too late.

We are doing all of the paperwork with the DOT and CARB. It is actually not that complex to get them to qualify. These are going to be new cars sold via a dealer.

Want one!!! Already in significant other negotiations...

Wow, I'm excited to read this.

But isn't there a significant ding to the final price by starting with a new gas vehicle and converting it? I'm presuming that all the ICE related components are removed. Are they scrapped or resold?

Good Luck, and I mean that sincerely.

Could you sell a hymotion'd Prius with the $7500 credit in the same way ?

Can this same 34.5 kW-hr battery pack be added into a Prius?

We sell the ICE components to offset part of the expenses. There is a good market for these parts.

The Hymotion battery is only 5 kwh. So it does not qualify for the full (16 kwh) $7,500 tax credit. It only qualifies for $2,944.

We do sell the 2009 Toyota Prius with a Hymotion battery installed. It can be shipped anywhere in the USA for $1,500 or less.

2009 Plug In Prius Hybrid!

We do a dealer to dealer transfer from Toyota, so it is never titled. Then we install the Hymotion battery and offer it as a new vehicle. So it does qualify.

The minimum for the federal tax credit is 4 kwh for $2,500 in tax credits. Then each additional 1 kwh increases the tax credit by $444. So the actual tax credit for a new 2009 Hymotion Prius is approximately $2944.

In addition, certain states offer tax savings. In the state of Washington this vehicle has no sales tax which saves about $3,000. In the state of Oregon there is a $5,000 state income tax credit. Every state is different.

It is likely too heavy for the Toyota Prius. It would alter the weight of the vehicle too much. That is why the Toyota RAV4 is perfect for this type of conversion. There is plenty of space to hold the battery pack and handle the weight. You don't even see it. You still have the full rear area for normal use. Removing the gas engine removes a lot of weight. Then adding the battery and electric motors brings it back. The finished vehicle is a little heavier, but not much more so. I will be posting the exact data on my blog and in our final spec sheet when we move forward.

I would love to, but that's just too rich for my blood. Do you do custom versions? How much for a smaller battery pack? Say 25 miles? I'm just looking for an electric commuter vehicle...

Many things are possible on different vehicles. But we obtain our best cost efficiencies by doing six vehicles at a time and when they are all the same model. Solving all of the issues for a conversion takes time. Every brand of car/SUV is different. So the first EV conversion of a specific model can take a lot of time.

We have done four used RAV4 SUV conversions to pure electric. Our techs understand that vehicle and how to do it quickly now. This helps keep labor costs low. We know exactly which parts we need to order, we know the exact batteries to order. It is an easy process now that is quick and efficient. This can easily lower the costs by 20%.

On a custom conversion of a vehicle model that we have never worked with, the costs rise siginficantly mostly because of the time involved with resolving all of the issues.

FANTASTIC. I wish you the best, and look forward to following the progress. If things work out, I may even be a customer at some point. Would much prefer a smaller, lighter vehicle - but understand your reasoning.

I would love to get this but I just cant spend the money rignt now. I'm saving up for a house. Plus I dont really need it but I do really want it.

Magnificent.

Now, about that $50K+ asking price...

I'm taking an inventory of body parts to see which ones I can live without.

Let's see, an arm and a leg, a kidney, and my left nu...

Never mind.