Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG hybrid

Discussion in 'Gen II Prius Technical Discussion' started by mandrei83, Jul 5, 2010.

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Would you convert your Prius into a LPG-hybrid?

Yes 52 vote(s) 48.6%
No 18 vote(s) 16.8%
Why not something else? (PHEV, Solar and more) 17 vote(s) 15.9%
I'm not sure if it worth the investment 27 vote(s) 25.2%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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    andyprius New Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    I have left gasoline in 5 gal tanks for years w/o a problem. However if you store gasoline for a long period you should add the suppl\ement to keep it fresh. ( I forgot the name of that stuff) One way to check it is to take a small amount in a safe container and light it off. Not technically precise but it works. Incidentally Andrei, That was a great posting and a neat job.
    andyprius, Jul 6, 2010
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    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    GrumpyCabbie, Jul 6, 2010
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    mandrei83 Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Guys,

    I'm curious.. did someone converted his Prius in a solar-powered hybrid, and has offered more details about his conversion? I saw that there's a site/company named SolarElectricalVehicles, which offers conversion for hybrids using solar energy. They've entered in Guinness World Records Book, as they were the first who build a solar-powered hybrid car. Now, they offer this product commercially.

    I've ask them on e-mail and they've told me below things:

    "Custom made panel to fit Prius roof we sell the electric converter with the roof. Only $3500 for the solar roof and installation kit with converter"

    Did someone made on this forum such conversion himself, full-documented?:D The price is ONLY $3500, LOL!:mad:
    [FONT=&quot]
    [/FONT]
    mandrei83, Jul 6, 2010
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    2k1Toaster HID Guru

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    You can't get enough power from solar to power the car directly. So you would need the car to be parked for many hours to use for a few minutes. With a short commute and parking outside all day, it may be worth it. But dont expect to drive forever on solar only in such a heavy vehicle like a prius.
    2k1Toaster, Jul 6, 2010
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    mandrei83 Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Indeed, you're right. From what I've read also, the solar-thing help you to improve the MPG's with maximum 20-30% and you must have good light conditions, preferable clear day sky.

    3500USD+batteries => doesn't worth the investment, but if you want to appear at TV as a crazy/maniac echo guy, you may try this.:D At this moment, I formally name my car "The three-hybrid", because it has three sources of power: the HV battery, gasoline and LPG. I'm planning to go with my car at [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacky_Races"]Wacky Races[/ame]...:D

    Meanwhile, I've found this topic and the .pdf from attach (the SEV offer). Also, because I see that the people are very interested by this topic, they put questions and they want to know how I've did the conversion, I'll put together with Catalin the full description of what needs to be done and how, in order to install the LPG-system in your car.:kiss: It will be a .pdf with "how-to", step by step. But hold on few days (or 2-3 weeks) to prepare the document, it's quite comprehensive.

    Enjoy!

    Attached Files:

    mandrei83, Jul 6, 2010
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    hill High Fiber Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    No toaster ... unlike gas - which starts turning to varnish in somewhere between 3 - 6 months, LPG does not degrade in this way. I have a 35 gallon cylinder bought new in 1998. It's still full, from 12 years ago, except for running the grill and a backup generater a few months ago. Similarly, the Van I'd converted 30 years ago, would sometimes sit for months. And especially nice about LPG is the cold weather starts. Unlike gasoline which is harder to vaporize in sub ZERO temps, LPG is a vapor already ... so it starts easier when it's say, 20 degrees (fahrenheit) below zero. That's why I converted our gas generator to LPG.

    And HERE is the REALLY crazy thing. LPG doesn't act like a solvent, and wash out your oil, ultimately making it worthless, along with the other burnt gas byproducts. I used to show people the clean dipstick, and folks couldn't believe that the oil would still look like honey ... even after 10's of thousands of miles. The oil simply didn't get dirty ... it's an ubelievably clean fuel ... for a fossil product. LPG can be hard on valves, but for me, it was an excelent trade off.


    Are you kidding? Here - I'll post a map of some of THE most remote driving in the contenental U.S. not too far from our MT house. This is Idaho Montana and Wyoming. If you can find a station here, you can find 'em anywhere:



    [IMG]


    Here's the web site so you can check out your own area:
    http://www.altfuelprices.com/

    Zoomed out this far, the highly populated states (like CA) turn completely red. I've driven half way accross the U.S. and back on LPG. You may need to make certain the stations are open 24/7 if you're driving in the middle of the night - but you can always find an LPG station by taking the map data base with you, and planning ahead.
    hill, Jul 6, 2010
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    2k1Toaster HID Guru

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    I need to stop using prepositions or something. This will be third time I am trying to point out the problem with PETROL not with LPG. 4000kms+ per tank means stale gas if filled to the brim.
    2k1Toaster, Jul 6, 2010
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    andyprius New Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Very nice job you have done. BUT, always a but, right, be very careful to keep a low profile .
    andyprius, Jul 9, 2010
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    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Removed per request by mandrei83
    2009Prius, Jul 9, 2010
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    error_1205 New Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    @ mandrei83

    you said that engine consumes some gasoline during the start. in "normal" gasoline+lpg systems, car uses gasoline to start, and it's recconected to lpg manually or automatically. but, can you switch prius in your system to lpg or gasoline manually. my friend had problems with lpg system in opel astra gtc and she's driving on gasoline only while waiting for parts to come in opel service
    error_1205, Sep 22, 2010
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    uart Senior Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Sadly that thing would have to be consider as "for show" only. Rated at 235W full power the reality for many people would be only about 400 to 600 W-hrs per day averaged over a full year. Since the prius uses about 250W-hrs per mile travelled that corresponds to about two "free" miles per day. By my calculations that would save you about $35.00 in fuel per year.

    Wow a pay back period of only 100 years!
    uart, Sep 22, 2010
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    mandrei83 Member

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    Hey,

    Yes, I can switch manually to LPG (in 'colision mode', how it's formally named). By doing this way, the gasoline is not used.. but I'm taking care of not using this mode when the temperature from outside is less than 20 degrees Celsius. I'm affraid not to broke my engine in time. BTW, my friend bought from eBay a full Prius 1.5 engine with shipping to Romania: he paid for engine 400USD (had 17.000 miles run) and for shipping another 400USD with the ferry. The engine arrived in a month, at his door... he didn't pay anything extra!:)

    Indeed, you're right and doesn't deserve the investment. Those 630EUR spent on LPG system were almost recovered, because I've drived from May 2010 until now about 10.000Km with LPG..

    Great investment, I always say this to myself!
    mandrei83, Sep 22, 2010
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    Turbobooster New Member

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    Turbobooster, Dec 27, 2010
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    mandrei83 Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Guys, recently, other friend of mine, mounted on his car the Enginer PHEV 4kWh converstion kit; he bought it from www.enginer.us and now he is agreed installer for Romania/Europe, along with other 3 countries on our continent. Here are few pics here.

    Prius is the most interesting car ever build!!!:rockon:
    mandrei83, Jan 26, 2011
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    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Great! Please keep us informed how the kits work out. Good luck! :)
    2009Prius, Jan 26, 2011
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    snead_c Active Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Thanks for the link. Please check out the southeastern US...I hope the trend will continue but where I drive is not populated with LPG yet...:(
    snead_c, Jan 26, 2011
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    pbui Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    nice job, unfortunately not cost effective here in Northern California, my LP cost approaches gasoline cost....but the Enginer electric kit is quite nice, need more battery though.

    with regards to the solar roof on the Prius, i think it'll be beneficial in the summer to remove hot internal air as Toyota is doing in Gen III
    pbui, Jan 30, 2011
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    tdn Junior Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    I now installed LPG on my righ-hand Prius NHW20. Now not Executive - LPG-hybrid drive by north Russia.
    My install is same mandrei only my tank is 42L, i can load is 35-38l propan and this add 500 additional kilometres trip to my car. Picture wtih installation will be late. Price on propan is half of price on traditional fuel in russia.
    tdn, May 19, 2011
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    striker308 Prius owner

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    The gas will go bad after a while and wont work if needed, just drop some stabilizer in the tank. you can get it at Home depot in the lawn mower section for a few bucks.
    striker308, May 19, 2011
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    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Re: Toyota Prius 2nd Gen. - converted to LPG bybrid

    Pictures and details would be great. Where abouts in Russia are you? I've heard RHD cars are popular over in the east near Vladivostok etc.
    GrumpyCabbie, May 19, 2011
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