Hypothetical Plug-in Supply $4,500 plugin kit DIY Priuschat Group Buy Poll

I'd be all for it at a price under 4K.

My feelings on conversions like this is that they are going to need to keep the prices in line with what makes sense.

As I personally think of a conversion like this, cost of investment = xxxx .vs gain of xxxx. My daily one way commute to work is just at 20 miles. So in my case I could just about make it to work using no gas. So in this case, what did I actually save, $1.50? At that rate, you'd never justify the cost of the conversion.

Don't get me wrong here. I'm a guy that came from an H2 Hummer and a year ago I would have never thought myself as someone that would own a Hybrid.

I absolutely love my Prius, brag about it all the time, and not just the fact that it gets great mileage. I love the ride, handling, interior, looks, etc, etc...

I just think overall that these types of conversions are at this point somewhat new technology, and the price will eventually come down as things get perfected to make it a more attractive option to most Hybrid buyers...

 

No. I don't want to have to recycle and repurchase several hundred pounds of lead acid batteries every couple of years. It's not clear that this is cheaper than the hymotion conversion on a lifetime basis.

 

Fair point. I was thinking of a lifetime of lead acid, when in fact you can view this as a lead-acid starter kit with an option to upgrade to future cheaper lithium batteries. I'll look harder and rethink my position.

 

The battery cost will be $0.20/mile.
Prius runs $0.10/mile using $4/gllaon of gasoline at 40 mpg.

Ken@Japan

 

Our driving wouldn't gain much if the electric only range is 10-15 miles (need 90 or so to be worthwhile).

 

I'll continue to drive 2004 Prius few more years.
I don't want put 360 lbs battery behind the rear axis.

Ken@Japan

 

How does this affect factory/extended warranty?

 

Not interested.

The PbA conversion displaces the spare tire. I've twice in 4 years had to use my spare tire. I do not want to be without it, or have to set it on top in the rear cargo area.

The Prius accelerates even slower than my Xebra if you try to prevent the ICE from kicking in, therefore the CalCars conversion does not give you an EV, even for in-town driving; it merely gives you a car that uses half gas and half grid power for the first 60 miles of driving (or less if you use a smaller battery pack). So you are paying several thousand dollars merely to substitute half your gas for grid power during the first 60 miles.

Assuming you charge up once a day and use the full capacity, and assuming you only get 45 mpg now, you'd save 2/3 of a gallon per day. At $6/gal you'd save $4 a day if your grid power was free. If the cost was $4,000 it would take you a thousand days to break even, and your car would be pretty much worthless to the vast majority of used-car buyers who would shy away from a home DIY conversion

Toyota is clear that performing a plug-in conversion voids the warranty. You could fight that for items unrelated to the HSD, but Toyota does not want you doing this.

 

If I bought a PbA battery system, I would install as big as possible to extend the battery life, partial discharge.
That's the PbA battery chemistry.

Ken@Japan

 

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere, but I wonder of Toyota will offer OEM plug-in conversions for Gen II Prii once they're selling the plug-in Gen 3 Prius.

 

I don't think that will happen.
Are there any example that any car makers offered any modification in the US?
In Japan, it never happened.

Ken@Japan

 

I can guarantee they will not. When has any auto maker introduced a significant new technology in a car and offered a conversion for the older models? Assuming the Gen III does have plug-in, it will probably incorporate so many other design innovations that the new system would not be compatible with the older car. Besides, they'll want to sell the new car, not allow you to upgrade the old one. That's just normal business practice.

 

i'm already way out of warranty and can't wait till it gets under 5k for a plug in pack. i'm not worried about the spare as i have roadside coverage through insurance.

 

You're absolutely right about that. I can foresee a situation, however, where Toyota might be able to crank out the larger battery and the plug-in hardware (the "conversion kit") more quickly than it can make complete Gen III Prii. Thus the "income per month" would be higher if they sold Gen III's and conversion kits than if they were just selling Gen III's.