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New aftermarket lithium ion pack, by Dr Prius.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Aaron Vitolins, Mar 29, 2020.

  1. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Sorry if this is already been posted about.

    It will be interesting to see how this plays out, I would love to see a successful lithium aftermarket pack for Prii.

    Did a little research on the chemistry, apparently it will be a Lithium iron sulfate battery. Allegedly these are supposed to be very durable, very safe batteries with good performance.

    I don’t know about you, but if the price isn’t too steep I’d love to upgrade to one of these in the future.

    hope everybody is doing well!
     

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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    based on the length of time he's been posting about it, i have my doubts, but never say never
     
  3. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Ah, well it seems since he owns the app (Dr hybrid) that has gotten increasingly popular over the last few years, he may really be able to pull it off.

    Hopefully the revenue from that app will help him to be able to really pull it off. It would be fantastic for the Prius community.
     
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  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    The article is here: Rainbow Prius Hybrid Powered by Lithium! | PriusChat Please keep discussion of this in than thread rather than creating confusion by starting a new thread.

    And please know all money spent on Dr. Prius app gets re-invested back into getting the supply line for these packs established... The project is mostly done, with many cabs currently testing the final design. There will be one lithium pack that's going to be designed at a price point so low Toyota and other pack sellers won't be able to compete. There will also be a high performance pack that will greatly improve performance and MPG at a price point closer to Toyota and other pack sellers.
     
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    I think a LOT of us would like to see some specific information about how a different battery pack can accomplish that.
    And some evidence of same, coming from someone other than the maker of the pack.
    Sounds a LOT like marketing hype to me.
     
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  6. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Internal resistance of Li batteries is lower, increasing efficiency...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I don't know.
    To me, if your Prius originally came with a NiMH battery, just continue with a replacement NiMH battery.
    The software, the entire HSD system has been calibrated and designed to work with this battery. They have a vetted history of good reliability and operation. I would argue, if your vehicle did NOT come with a lithium ion battery originally? Then it's not really an upgrade.

    It's akin to people "upgrading" to LED headlights.
    You can find kits, and ways to do it....but I often think the actual end benefit is dubious. My overriding philosophy, is just use the replacement equipment that matches what the vehicle was originally designed and built to use.
    Changing to a different part, can open a can of worms leading to cascading additional problems trying to integrate something the vehicle was not originally designed to operate with.
     
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  8. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Definitely see where you’re coming from. Although I know he has been working with taxi cabs, using them for some of his testing miles.

    so by the time this goes on sale I know he will have some good data, I’m sure he probably already does.

    I believe if there really is a benefit to changing chemistries, then why not go for it, especially if it can be done more affordably. We both know that nickel metal hydride batteries are expensive so if we can get some thing with the same or better performance for cheaper, and potentially last longer why not
     
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  9. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    It just wouldn’t be priuschat if nothing is confusing :ROFLMAO:
     
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  10. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I have a 12 V LiFePO4 in place of the AGM, so far so good. I'm planning on updating the thread at 3 yr anniversary.

    moto g(7) power ?
     
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  11. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Efficiency INSIDE the battery has little to no impact on the overall efficiency of the vehicle.
    And if the resistance is TOO much different, the other systems might not work well with it.

    I believe that experiments have been done with Li batteries already.......and no such significant increase in overall efficiency was seen.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how would you find out what prius quantity li-on cells cost vs nimh?
     
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  13. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Li batteries have a higher charge density meaning you can make them lighter and they tolerate many more charge discharge cycles, meaning MTBF is longer...
     
  14. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Even though lithium batteries lose their capacity overtime, just like all other batteries, they actually keep very similar performance as new, just lower capacity.

    I found that to be true in my Ford hybrid, it has 165,000 miles in the lithium battery works perfectly. Four did a lot of research before switching to lithium, and found that they keep their performance basically until they die which is a park. Nickel batteries can last a very long time and are generally very durable but as they age and lose capacity they also lose some of their performance.
     
  15. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    We had a C-MAX Energi. It lost capacity, but that was more due to the inadequate air cooling system. As cmaxenergiforum user raja clearly demonstrated, if you implement a strategy to really take care of the battery with regards to it’s temperature, losing capacity was not an issue.
     
  16. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Climate/year around temperature has A LOT to do with air-cooled battery health and his one data point up in the cool northeast USA.

    He never understood the concept that not using the HV battery (to "protect it") ends up being the same thing as losing overall capacity=both result in lower overall mpg's.
     
  17. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    See I wanted and Emergi model, but because of that issue I got the regular hybrid. So far it’s been great. A very reliable car, doesn’t burn a drop of oil.
     
  18. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    I owned both and except for the pack size and a transmission pump they are identical powertrains. Yup, been a very, very good car. (y)
     
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  19. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Definitely an under rated car. Love the perky acceleration. The mpg is great though :/
     
  20. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Which has nothing to do with fuel efficiency......which is what I was questioning.
    Except for the reduced weight, which would have a small impact.