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Prius Plugin to Power DC Motors?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by adictionbass, Jun 8, 2017.

  1. adictionbass

    adictionbass New Member

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    Hello all, this might be a little bit outside the box for this forum, but I'm not really sure where to start. In short, i need to supply 200-230 volts DC at 75 amps (each) to 5 brushless DC motors (really to 5 speed controllers) at the same time (read 200 volts and 375 amps total). I've been toying with how to do this when the idea of using a prius battery came up. After looking at prices of the battery and a lot of the other parts, it seemed like it may be a better idea to just buy a prius plugin.

    So my question is: Can i just use the prius battery like any other DC battery, and take advantage of the built in charging and cooling functions? My thought is, charge the vehicle at an EV car charger, move to where i need the battery supply, disconnect whatever controllers/leads are coming off the battery, run heavy gauges wire from the battery to a + and - bus bar, and pull power for my electronic speed controllers from there? When its drained, just recharge from an EV station.

    Thoughts from someone more electrical savvy than myself?
     
    #1 adictionbass, Jun 8, 2017
  2. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    If you don't realize this already, you have NO BUSINESS trying to do whatever project this is until you get some actual training.

    A little simple math shows that your power requirements are about 75,000 watts (75 KW).

    A Prius battery would be dead in about one second......or less.

    Hope you have a pretty big budget. A 75 KW AC generator runs about $18,000 plus tax and transportation.
    Then you have to convert that to DC.
     
    #2 Sam Spade, Jun 8, 2017
    Yea Right and Pluggo like this.
  3. adictionbass

    adictionbass New Member

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    That's not a continuous draw, but yes, I figure I will only get 2 or 3 minutes of runtime with what I'm looking to power. I'm just not familiar with the configuration of the Prius and if this type of charge/discharge setup would be relatively simple to setup.
     
    #3 adictionbass, Jun 8, 2017
  4. adictionbass

    adictionbass New Member

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    4.4 kWh/75kW = .059 hrs = ~ 3.5 min

    I'm not sure what an acceptable discharge rate is on that particular battery.
     
    #4 adictionbass, Jun 9, 2017
  5. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    You realize that the your total power requirement will not be sustained for more than few minutes, longer if it will be at intervals.
    SAFETY will be your number one priority
    In short, you could tap on the Hybrid battery power terminals with the appropriate conductors and leave the vehicle running to automatically recharge the traction battery when it is getting depleted.
     
    #5 mrbigh, Jun 9, 2017
  6. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    I'd be very concerned there would be dangerous overheating by the high draw and recharge demands leading to battery damage and possibly fire.
    1. monitor the battery temp carefully - if it gets hot stop immediately
    2. Have a low deductible on your comprehensive insurance and make sure it's paid up.
     
    #6 DonDNH, Jun 9, 2017
  7. adictionbass

    adictionbass New Member

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    Temp monitor is already in the plans. What I havent been able to find is the power output of the gas motor/recharge rate of the system.
     
    #7 adictionbass, Jun 9, 2017
  8. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Prius batteries are normally rated to supply 100-130 amps peak current. I expect that trying to draw 4 times that peak current will not be viable.

    JeffD
     
    #8 jdenenberg, Jun 9, 2017
  9. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    It certainly is NOT enough to keep up with a 3.5 minute total discharge rate.

    Since it appears to be possible to buy an actual generator with the required output to run your "stuff" for a bit less than a Prius.......why do you seem intent on pursuing that option ??
     
    #9 Sam Spade, Jun 9, 2017
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