1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Did anyone convert the Prius C to a plug-in hybrid?

Discussion in 'Prius c Accessories and Modifications' started by dpluigi, Jul 23, 2013.

  1. dpluigi

    dpluigi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2013
    8
    1
    0
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Five


    I am interested in installing a 4 to 6kwh battery pack. There are kits from Enginer, PluginSupply, ...

    Did anyone convert the Prius C to a plug-in hybrid?
    If so what kit did you use? (i.e. Enginer, PS, ...)?

    If you did not by a kit but order parts yourself what did you get for the BMS, high power battery cell?

    Thanks,
    Donat
     
    3ric likes this.
  2. TheyCmeNow

    TheyCmeNow Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    77
    25
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    There was a whole thread about this but it turned into arguments regarding Enginer's credibility. I really want to have a plug-in system installed but I need to hear testimonials. :unsure:
     
    mertechperformance likes this.
  3. dpluigi

    dpluigi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2013
    8
    1
    0
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Hi "TheyCmeNow",

    We are on the same boat then. I hear you, and I'd be interested too to hear testimonials.
    Could you point me to the thread you are referring too.

    Thanks,
    Donat
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no one has ever converted a C to a plug in. there is one thread here where a guy named jeremy claimed he started the process of installing a piskit, but then he fell off the face of the earth.
     
  5. TheyCmeNow

    TheyCmeNow Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    77
    25
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Here is the thread where Enginer's credibility was questioned:
    Enginer PHEV Conversion. | PriusChat

    And I agree with bisco. No Prius C has ever been converted or else we would have heard about it..
     
  6. koipond

    koipond Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2012
    198
    39
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Given it's current "warm up" requirement before allowing EV power , there would be little gained by convering a Prius C to a "plug in" IMO because 99% of the time when starting a trip the battery is *already full* and my ICE is still churning away for minutes/miles on end because you're starting a trip with a cold ICE engine that the C's CPU feels compelled to warm up. Would would having plugged my Prius C overnight have accomplished? One bar more of charge on a battery that the car's CPU isn't letting us use anyway????
    however...

    Since our cars are basically drive-by-wire, and that wire is talking to a CPU that in turns powers the car, it seems like a software update could be use to "tune" the algorithms that govern the ICE/electric decision making. I'm wondering if anyone has explored this reprogramming? that might enable a plug-in mod to actually gain something, and might even allow folks without a plug-in mod to get better MPG assuming it's not neccessary to "warm up" that ICE prior to EV driving.
     
    3ric likes this.
  7. Drdiesel

    Drdiesel Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2013
    585
    152
    0
    Location:
    Monterey CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    A plug-in C would have a much larger battery. That's the only reason to do this type of mod. The ICE might come on for warm-up, but you could run in EV after that and use the larger battery for extended EV range.
    Depending in the size if the HV battery, you could go for 20, 40 or 60 miles in EV :cool:
     
    mertechperformance and dpluigi like this.
  8. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2013
    3,339
    1,149
    40
    Location:
    Cumming, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    As long as you use your current battery. I rarely ever deplete the one I have, so my bigger battery would just be a waste of space, unless I could remap the electric motor for more power... which would be possible with the larger battery, but not sure about software. I know our current motor can generate much more power than what it's putting out, it just doesn't because of our small batteries.
     
  9. Drdiesel

    Drdiesel Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2013
    585
    152
    0
    Location:
    Monterey CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    A larger battery at the same voltage will give you better EV range. Yes, you would need to tweak the systems
    controls to make it a true plug-in, but the new MG2 is more robust and better suited for plug-in use when compared
    to previous versions of the design. The overrun design will allow higher MPH than any of the older versions.
    They just won't design one because it would get the best eMPG on the planet.


    I drove the C-Max Energi with it's 7.6 kWH battery. I was able to drive over 18 miles on a 70% charge.
    If they put a 7.6 kWH battery in the C and made it a plug-in, I bet you could get over 60 miles, EV only.
    I live in a mountainous area and can regen a battery past full capacity very easy. I was able to regen the C-Max battery
    past the hybrid level and back into the EV only stage. I gained back 5 miles of EV only mode into the battery pack. I love the idea of possibly driving around here for the day and never use more than a gallon of gas, if that.

    They can design a large capacity battery to whatever voltage they choose. It's the battery kWH rating that add's the EV benefit. The larger the kWH the longer you can run in EV only mode.
    I like the idea of an HV battery having two stages of use. After the first (EV) stage is depleted, you run it in the hybrid mode with regen as you do now. If you can add back enough voltage, the EV stage is available to the capacity you add back. The Ford also had an EV mode later button.
    You can put the car into EV later to save stage 1 to maximize EV only use. Say you want to run the freeway from home on your trip. Save the EV mode where you'll gain maximum use off the freeway during the city part of your trip.
    Or, you can blend it in auto mode just like we do with the Toyota's. The HV battery capacity is the key. Power to weight ratio's can be a factor, but if you had even a 4.1 kWH (same as the PIP) battery in the C, I bet you could get over 100 MPG's :cool:
     
    mertechperformance and ztanos like this.
  10. koipond

    koipond Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2012
    198
    39
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Great info. Any idea why carmakers like Toyota don't offer this from the get-go? Added cost?
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    1) they do, it's called pip.

    2) plug in C would have a hatch full of batteries. that's why the c max is so large on the outside with such small hatch volume.
     
    3ric, mertechperformance and ztanos like this.
  12. Drdiesel

    Drdiesel Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2013
    585
    152
    0
    Location:
    Monterey CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    As battery technology has gained ground, the latest Lithium battery is still very large when you get into
    the higher kWH range. The additional cost of it being a lithium is pretty steep. Now add-on a larger
    capacity and your looking at $5 to $7K. The C-Max Energi has a 7.6 kWH lithium battery.
     
    mertechperformance likes this.
  13. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2013
    3,339
    1,149
    40
    Location:
    Cumming, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Nissan has a price for a refurbished 24kwh battery. $7,300. I guess they figure that with greater supply, they will be able to drop the price of the batteries they are making.
     
  14. Drdiesel

    Drdiesel Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2013
    585
    152
    0
    Location:
    Monterey CA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A

    I bet a battery that big new would be about double :eek:
     
  15. MPG101

    MPG101 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    1
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    pluginsupply has some options, pricy though.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome to pchat mpg101! all the best with your c!(y)
     
  17. andrewcc

    andrewcc New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2014
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    australia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    N/A
    I would have thought that the state of charge of the battery when you arrive home each day would depend on the terrain covered immediately before parking the car at home - our Prius C usually only has two bars on it when we take off each morning, so we get about 1km (with a short but sharp downhill for 50 m) before the ICE kicks in for a short spell and if there could be some extra battery on tap we could go further in Ev mode - but any plug-in would have to be charging extra batteries to be effective.
    I would love to be able to add some extra EV cruise capacity to my Prius C - still love the car as it is though...
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome to priuschat andrewcc! all the best!(y)
     
  19. formula

    formula Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2012
    320
    32
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Plug-In Supply Do It Yourself (DIY) Plug-In Conversion Kits - Assembly and Installation Instructions | Prius C

    Plug-In Supply Do It Yourself (DIY) Plug-In Conversion Kits - Assembly and Installation Instructions | Prius C

    there are some pics of C installation from plug in supply. I was thinking to use their parts, but I changed the project.

    checked with plug in supply. all you need is

    1) front controller $350
    2) rear controller $350
    3) double contactor $800 - not sure if I can use DIY one for their controller. DIY one should cost $300 for two high Volt high Amp contactors.
    4) battery pack. plug in supply told me will need 205V battery pack for Prius C. not sure why need 205V, the HV battery on C is about 144Volt.
    will need at least 60ah battery pack. it will draw 60 amp to 150 amp to charge the HV battery to make the electric motor run more.

    3.2V 60ah cell - 192W each cell
    64 cells to make 205V pack. 12.2KW package. usable 9840W
    C has 0.9KW HV battery. usable W is about 540W. usually I can run it about 2 miles low speed.
    9840W/540W = 18.22 X 2 = 36.44 E miles.

    if my math is correct.
    24kWh on Leaf = about 80miles range, acceleration by motor too. it will use more Watt.

    5) some high Volt high amp cable. that is all.


    now I am starting working on E-Wheel project.

    Cheap DIY plug in system? decide to go with e-trailer | PriusChat
     
    3ric likes this.
  20. Boodmaster

    Boodmaster Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2015
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I joined this forum just to follow this thread. As much as I WANT to believe that getting an $8k conversion package, I feel like it's just not worth the money yet. Maybe battery/fit will come down in price once we start seeing the Tesla 3 and the GM Bolt?