Looking to sponser Prius for free prototype products

Hello all

I am in the central VA area (Lynchburg) but any input is welcome from any region if you have idea's please feel free to email me.

I am looking to sponsor some one that owns a Prius.
I have been in the custom Corvette painting body shop business for over 20 years.
I started a company 3 years ago that sells carbon fiber accessories www.FiberEffects.com.
I have just founded a new company that I truly believe will make me a happy person as I love Hybrid technology and engineering products www.Hybrideffects.com.

I would like to find some one that would allow me to design products from there Hybrid car. In exchange they will receive free prototypes and products.
I would never harm or cause damage to your car as I am in the business of fixing things not breaking them.
I would like to find someone that shows an interest in developing new products for Hybrid vehicles.

Some products I might be interested in developing would be Carbon Fiber and Fiberglass products, Electronics and any thing else that comes to mind.

email@fibereffects.com
email@hybrideffects.com

Thanks for any interest.

Franklin

too bad i don't live in that area. i would love to be a test subject.

Prius free prototype products

Welcome to PriusChat, Franklin! I know many here will be interested in your products. Do I take it you need an actual car to test fit new products? What's the nature of your products, mostly cosmetic, suspension, aerodynamic?

Or are you looking for ideas of products people might want, and if so, in what areas?

You say:

That means the field is wide open, from wheel covers to arm rest extensions to automatic locking of doors when the car is in motion? You are sort of asking, What would you like Santa to give you?

Thanks Bill

Yes I would need a real car to make prototypes and the products.

Well I am starting with the Prius because it seems to be the most popular Hybrid, I am planning on doing accessories for all Hybrid makes and models but I do not want to be overwhelmed with to much on my plate.
Maybe I will find a niche product or who knows I might just stick with making Prius products. I am not a greedy person I just want to make a living. Maybe I could make custom packages for the prius cosmetic, suspension, aerodynamic there are so many avenues to explore.

Yes I am looking for product Ideas in all areas.

I would like to keep things small, but will be willing to expand by producing parts if I can put up with all the inherent problems of running a company, like employees, time to run the websites, funds, customer service and so forth.

From what I see the options for Hybrid parts are few and I will most likely be a small part of it in the long run but who knows this market seems like it will be huge in a few years.

I am very interested in seeing new motors and battery options evolve in these cars.

Franklin

he you used the same picture



a love to work with you buth i am from the EU

a fiberglass underbody part thats what i want
to reduce airflow under the car

That's a very popular picture it looks like.

Well undercarriage effects pertaining to air flow is on the top of the list.




Franklin

I would be willing to work with you but I imagine that northern Indiana would be a bit too far. I think JimboK is from near your area.

Hi; I'm just reading and learning since I don't have a Prius yet but...

I see a lot of discussion about the need for a simple manual or automatic slat system for the front grille area. I used to fly several small aircraft that had cowl flaps that controlled the exit of air from the engine compartment, these were easy to engineer on the aircraft, one of them (L-19) even had shutters on the inlet side like the Prius needs. They are all controlled with a simply push pull lever/stiff wire mechanism in these a/c.

So whats needed is a controllable set of shutters (like venetian blinds) that can be progressively closed as the temperatures drop. Preferably from what I read, controlled electrically by a thermostat of some some.

edit; I just had a look at your website..maybe this is out of your typical scope of design...but unlike most products designed to look good but produce little real world performance gains that appeal to few a product like this would seem more likely appeal to most Prius owners (providing the cost was reasonable).

Yep, I'm in the Richmond area. E-mail sent.

Man, I would LOVE to do this... To bad I'm in Cali...

I would be willing to use the Zhang Heng for such a purpose. This would fit in with its mission.

Oh man I'm overflowing with interesting ideas:

IF you can perhaps aero-mod the front of the prius to include variable grill blocking capability and perhaps a lengthier nose to perhaps give it a better Drag Coefficient?

Also rear wheel skirts and front hubcaps (like the racing ones found in the other thread) except pre-made to work with the prius without drilling the trim rings or any risk of them falling off.

Hopefully they'll also be fairly affordable :S

Too bad I don't live near central VA, I'm in Northern VA.

JimboK and I talked on the phone and he has an interest in blocking the air to the grille. I do prefer to do prototypes that the owner has an interest in also and he is around 2 hours from me. Very feasible

This is a fairly new post so I will wait around a week to see if any one post on this thread that is closer but I am willing to travel if need be. The owners interest and willingness to participate will also be a deciding factor.

I would really like to develop a product that every one can use. I also will need a product that will generate some capital to proceed onto other projects.

I also like the ideas of rear wheel skirts and hub caps.

Doc Willie I am allergic to tribbles, just kidding what ideas do you have?

Feel free to email me at email@HybridEffects.com and leave your Phone # and I will call you and we can discuss ideas.

I hope this approach that that I am taking by getting prius owners involved will provide Prius owners with some useful products they can use.
Heck after all it is an election year right!

Thanks Franklin

Sub-woofer?

Franklin, this may not be a product you're interested in producing, or it may be a product the buyers could customize, but there is a strong desire by many Prius drivers to install a sub-woofer in the cubbyhole in the right rear corner.

If you don't want to get into the sub business, you might still consider a fiberglass blank box that would fit in the hole that buyers could install their own speaker into.

Depending on how many times I need to drive over there, I'd be willing to serve as an alternative

Madison Heights is about 3 and 1/2 hours away from me, according to google earth.

Franklin and I actually talked about several possible products, some that would interest me, others maybe not -- but some that would interest many of you. As for the grill block, I told him it would be nice to have something that looks a little cleaner than pipe insulation and could be adjusted easily, maybe even from inside the car, based on temperatures and driving conditions.

I also told him that many folks would love an alternative to Coastal for some of the items that only they sell, if he could come up with a similar product line.

Franklin, one thing I didn't say about the grill block but should be self-evident: It would compete against something that's dirt cheap and relatively easy now, so it can't be too expensive. And as for currently-available mods that I don't have now, let me clarify: It's not always due to lack of interest, but instead choosing not to spend the money. Or in Coastal's case, not willing to risk the poor service. Depending on the product, I might still be interested in using a prototype ... i.e., free.

that was my idear

cool CooL COOL keep the input and ideas coming. I think there are a few products that I would be willing to make now. I wish I had a Prius in my possession now and I could begin. I will go to my Toyota dealer tomorrow and see if they will work with me.

Thanks again for all the input

Franklin

Woah, I just found this thread yesterday:

Dream Prius (aerodynamic mod exercise for 2nd gen.) - Ecomodder.com Fuel Economy Forum

Seems very pricey, but if the price can be reduced or if parts of the design is simplified to be economically produced, then it would be cool

Yea just Imagine a small company taking months to develop and create a rear or front section for a car and then when the product is on the market some bigger company buys the product and copies it or slightly modifies it in a few days, then has it for sale on there website with in a week.

That's the way the fiberglass aftermarket industry seems to work.

But it works both ways there are a lot of smaller companies stealing big company designs. I hear about it all the time.

I think most companies will charge a lot more for there product in the beginning because they know the market will be saturated pretty fast and the price will go down.

Cheers Franklin