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Do-It-Yourself-Project

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by west5757, Jun 2, 2009.

  1. west5757

    west5757 New Member

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    I am an Electrical Engineering student at Western Kentucky University. We are looking to convert a hybrid to a PHEV. I see quite a few threads on Hymotion. Has anyone attempted a do-it-yourself conversion? I have a few questions about the process and I am looking for any suggestions/insight/success/failures from all sources.

    Wes
     
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  2. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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  3. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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  4. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    I am hoping someone can reveal a list(materials list) for a diy 10kw . Some of which I know already included but not limited to:
    Kilovac contactors
    LifePo4 cells
    Anderson connectors

    need input help
     
  5. lopezjm2001

    lopezjm2001 Senior Member

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    1. If you install a Enginer kit it will probably get you a "C" grading as any Tom, Dick or Harry can do it. Enginer | Solar Powered Prius Plug-in PHEV Conversion Kit with Lithium-Ion | Hybrid. Similar to Hymotion but Hymotion seems to be out of business.

    2. If you use the contactor method as shown here Planing CanView and BMS+ conversion with lithium | Page 38 | PriusChat should get you a "B" grading.

    3. If you use the OEM battery ECU replacement method as shown here Update and technical details on my PHEV project | PriusChat
    Or here (incomplete project). YAPiP - recreating pEEf's approach | PriusChat
    This should get you a A+ grading.

    Let us know which option you choose. We all would like to know how you go and maybe give you some pointers.
     
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  6. CurbsidePlug-in

    CurbsidePlug-in New Member

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    Last night I very likely totaled our 2009 Prius (front-end collision ) and it has a two-year-old 5kwh Hymotion battery pack in it. Don't know what to do if the insurer wants to sell the car to salvage when I've got this uninsured $11k investment locked in the spare tire well. The car is in Woodbridge, northern New Jersey. Any ideas on what you would do in my situation would be appreciated. I'm willing to sell the battery pack at a vast discount to any DIYer who might be interested in going there and attempting to remove it.
     
  7. jdh2550

    jdh2550 Co-Founder, Current Motor Company

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    Sorry about the bad news. :(

    Each time we've totaled a car (once my wife got t-boned and once our 80K mile subaru puked it's engine because of a known issue (grr!)) we had a chance to go to the place and retrieve everything out of the car. At that point I'd take along tools to remove the pack. Removal should be pretty straightforward. It'll be heavy so take a friend along as well. The insurance company has no claim on the value of the pack because you added it and they're not covering it. If they complain then politely ask them for an $11,000 check on top of the value of a standard '09 Prius. That should shut them up.

    If you can't sell it to someone else then I might be interested in the pack - but it's smaller than I want so I'd probably either put more cells in it to bring it up to 9 or 10kWh or just salvage the charger and possibly BMS to use on a different pack. I also don't think I've got time to drive over to NJ from MI to salvage it. You'd be better off selling it to someone else... Contact me at john ~at~ currentmotor ~dot~ com if you want.
     
  8. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    this thread I think was based off non enginer. So hoping to go more like Mr Plug in thread. Plug is supply is similar however want to arrive at cost lower than 8500 dollars.....the bms , control boards i may be able to source from reasonable business people.