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Prius Battery Replacement (GenII) Like you've never seen - NEW Cylindrical Cells

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by 2k1Toaster, Jul 17, 2017.

  1. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Ya, the Toyota battery looks like the safe choice.
     
  2. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Also again, not the same...

    You CANNOT buy this anywhere at the moment.

    Also final pricing may end up being much less and includes a warranty
     
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I wasn't meaning Toyota, I was meaning the OP.
     
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  4. Fredsimm

    Fredsimm Active Member

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    Are we sure that the units are exactly the same as the op posted? You and dolj both have a very valid point. We may be safe in the hands of a professional like the op. But those of us that have extensive mechanical experience can easily install a Chinese unit with ease if proven to be the same and passed the testing phase. I'm feeling froggy because I just changed my daughter's MFD. The Prius appears to be mechanically friendly in many ways. You can actually remove the MFD in 2 minutes. It took me about 10 being careful. I tackled the hid headlight last week as well. Difficult but it can be done by experienced former mechanics like myself. I'm not in any way bragging, just trying to say that many things on the Prius are user and mechanic friendly in my opinion.
     
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  5. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Kenoarto,
    If I stick one of these in a car what kind of easily accessible, in car, metrics would you want?

    I would likely just put it in and drive it. I don't want to rip it out and do some crazy testing. I'll leave that for someone else.

    And as far as no data... What data has any of the other battery suppliers ever provided? Dorman? Cardone? Toyota?
     
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  6. Fredsimm

    Fredsimm Active Member

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    If these alternative units prove to be comparable to oem units, that would be a whole new option for people like us.
     
  7. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    I know you didn't read all the 13 pages of thread, but on the second or third page I tried to answer that. And for some reason, I am still answering that.

    The answer is NO. These units are not the same.

    In China when you say "do X, Y, and Z, but make it look like W", they really make it look like W. That's what the pictures in the beginning are, they are basically Chinese clones of a Chinese kit lol. However the clones "under the hood" are different. The final version will be aesthetically different and marked different to differentiate more easily.

    Although I have heard anecdotally that the $1000 Alibaba cells perform pretty well. What I can tell you from my experience is that the $1000 Alibaba cells are not as advertised. The manufacturer of the plastic for those kits is actually quite friendly and nice, and that's where I am able to get the plastic. You'll see a new style plastic kit come out with the $1k Alibaba cells soon. I helped improved it in general, and now it can be used for both versions.
     
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  8. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    That's truly the hope. The Prius is an awesome car, and I think lots of people are going to be holding on to them for a while. Right now the only option for a long term strategy like that is the Toyota pack. Hopefully this pack becomes the second option.

    I think rebuilds will still be viable for another 5-6 years at least, but the pool of available modules will just keep getting smaller and smaller and smaller. Eventually the newest cells you can get will be 10 years old, and still an aging pool from 10 years before that, making a hodgepodge of 10-25 year old battery modules.

    As you can see in my signature, I also own a DeLorean. That car famously has spare parts problems. When a new barn-yard find comes up, it is dismantled pretty quickly because there are so few parts available. There is now 1 company making new replacement parts for it, and even then they are hard to come by. At the beginning of 2017, there were over 6 million Prii sold versus 9000 DeLorean's ever made. When you can't buy similar new parts for a car, it becomes a junker. And 6 million potential junkers for something so trivial just grinds my gears.
     
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  9. Fredsimm

    Fredsimm Active Member

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    I actually did read the first few pages. I was just sparking new dialogue because things can change quickly. Plus new people can benefit from fresh and updated information. We have two opinions facing the group here. Your opinion is that your units are unique and different from the so called alibaba units. We have an opposing opinion that says they are equal. Don't be offended by the term opinion because no one here can verify the difference between the two options currently. At this point, I tend to lean toward your opinion because I don't believe you would outright deceive a forum full of experts that can eventually expose the truth. Keep us updated on your progress. I may eventually need you.
     
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  10. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Despite the best of intentions from some very smart people, we now know that many of the rebuilds are having very short life spans.

    There are two very basic questions that can only be tested with time:
    1) What is the failure rate/how long will they last?
    2) Will this new configuration do any damage to the car? And, at the same price of a genuine Toyota battery, why would they be worth taking any risk?

    These are long-term questions that will require thousands of testers over the course of time.
     
  11. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    So I guess I'll buy one and see how it goes.

    An a somewhat related note...
    Way back in the day we used to try to put together Honda packs with used cells. Nobody reputable does that anymore since used cells don't play well in Honda packs.
    For Honda batteries, the aftermarket new cells have been around a long time and are actually preferred by most folks in the know.
    For all the hybrid batteries I've installed in Hondas, less than 10 were replaced with OEM Honda packs. All the rest were aftermarket new cells from Asia.
    Some other issues with Honda packs...
    1) Many folks didn't trust that Honda packs weren't made of New Old Stock.
    2) Price at the dealer is just too high.
    3) Very few dealers would sell OEM packs to independent shops or consumers. (Even though I've worked on hybrids for over a decade, my local dealer will not let their parts department sell me a pack.)

    Toyota doesn't have problem #1, so that puts them in a better position than Honda.
    Not sure how much #2 and #3 play into the possibility of a robust aftermarket market for new cells in Toyota packs, though.

    Time will tell.
     
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  12. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Way to go! I'd like to see you compare this one to one of the original "new design" $1000 kits, too.
     
  13. offib

    offib Member

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    ... WHY am I just seeing this now? Wonderful find of a thread, hope this business will develop for years to come.

    Anyways, OP, what's the situation of being able to send this to the EU someday? Can this get past the bureaucrats?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  14. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    You should extend the quote on the "new design $1000 kits" because they are NOT $1000. You pay $1000 for the kit, $370 for the shipping, $75 for the plastic, and a 5% bank transfer fee unless you use a mainland China domestic bank. Total shipped cost is $1517. When I received mine, I had to pay customs and duty fees of $33 plus a $12 brokerage fee to UPS. So that "$1000 kit" is actually a $1562.25 kit. Ontop of that, no warranty on most I have seen, some do have a warranty. But again, good luck collecting and you'll be paying trans-pacific shipping costs in the unlikely event of a warranty claim.
     
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  15. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Shipping NiMH batteries to the EU is as far as I know, not a problem. Shipping lithium and lead acids, are a problem. But I think the legislators have forgotten about good 'ol NiMH or just assume all of those batteries are small AA style. I ship all of mine air cargo, no problems internationally or through customs. Within the US, even overnight batteries or carrying them in hand luggage appears OK.
     
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  16. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Yikes. $370 for shipping is crazy high.
    Is shipping free with your battery? Is tax included?

    Just confirmed price from China including every little fee is $950 + + + = $1300.

    Here's CEBA's US distributor for the "new design" $1600, if we want to buy "local". Includes a 2 year warranty. NewPriusBatteries.com | Home
     
    #276 kenoarto, Sep 13, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2017
  17. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Not really that bad for shipping a hundred pounds of chemicals half way across the world in a flying metal tube.

    Currently, yes.

    No, but I do not have to collect sales tax unless your address is in Colorado state. Otherwise it is up to the consumer to file the proper sales tax papers as with any other internet purchase.

    Lol, that's me. No SEO links yet because it is a placeholder waiting for new photos from the next batch of shipment. Then I will be sharing the link myself. I guess that means Google-Fu is working as it should. :)

    sites.jpg
     
  18. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    I would highly suggest some photos for the step by step procedure you have outlined and the product in final form. (y)

    And judging by the non-mechanically minded folks who join here nearly daily with a battery problem, a lot of disclaimers and warnings.
     
  19. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Tis the plan. But the new cells will have the same shape but a different look, so I am waiting on those before any more professional photos are taken.

    I've got references to it being a "kit" is many places and intended for "DIYers" and even in the "Included in the Kit" section:

    Included in the Kit
    The NewPriusBatteries.com Prius Battery Kit requires some installation. If you are not comfortable working with high voltage DC, any hybrid battery installer local to your area should be able to provide the service for you, and the installer may contact us with any questions.

    More may come.
     
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  20. DMC-5180

    DMC-5180 Active Member

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    I assume slow boat shipping is way cheaper than that aluminum tube.