Anyone working on a plug-in mod for the C?

I am helping to work on one.. biggest limitation is space for the battery packs.. you can only put in so much..

looks like it'll have to be a 3kW system.

 

How much of a range 3kW system will give? Might be a stupid question, but, I was looking at toyota's info and it seems that the output of the original battery pack is about 43% of motor's output. Sure there is a reason behind it. If the space is not an issue, do you think that the bigger systems are possible?

 

if you want to sacrifice any storage space for more battery packs.. it'd improve.. though you also will have to start factoring in the additional weight.

 

I'd just like to have the all electric option, for the daily commute and the hybrid system for those longer trips that exceed the battery's range. Best of both worlds. I want it all...

 

did some disassembly this morning.. only to find out that where I need to tap into the HV supply to install it the way I want... requires you to pretty much pull out the traction battery to access it.. yeah.. it's a PITA..

hmm... back to the drawing board..

 

Anyone thought of using a 120 V charger to top off the HV battery at night? I know it's only .9 KV but wonder if you could pick up a little mileage by starting each day with a topped off battery. Any ideas?

 

i would imagine topping off the stock battery would be detrimental to its life. it's NiMH afterall...

also, the engine still needs to warm up during first initial start-up.. and that excess energy needs to go somewhere.. it sure would be a waste if it wasn't being used.. so most times it's better to drain the battery down at the end of your trip (EV mode is useful to do that).. that way when you start-up again, the battery can charge up while it's warming up.

 

I don't use a lot of my trunk space anyway. To me my PC is just a "home-work-home" commuter, that's why I was curious whether it is possible to install additional HV battery pack and how much of the additional ev-range/torque will I get?

 

Enginer | Solar Powered Prius Plug-in PHEV Conversion Kit with Lithium-Ion | Hybrid

is it really worth it? $2000 for 2KWH Kit

 

pretty much the recuperation costs for a PHEV conversion takes a pretty damn long time...

 

Some states are offering a tax credit for PHEV conversion. UT is offer in up to 2500.00 so I've been thinking about it.

 

I like the idea of adding a plug-in to bring the factory NiMH to it's safe max of 80%-ish charged, however I don't like the idea of adding 120 pounds of extra batteries. If anything, I'd want to replace the NiMH with a LiFePO4 or similar to improve energy density without adding mass to the car.

 

So, still no conversions? Since that the sales of the Prius + are going well. Maybe that they will annonce a Prius C plug-in for 2014 model...

 

there is another thread here where someone is adding a 3kw pis kit to there C.

 

Do you know the thread?

 

As a very new owner I'm not looking to mod just yet, but some day I'd love to imagine popping in a very powerful battery for plugin charge ability and get a good 10 or 20 miles from electric only. However, I don't know how Toyota's computer would accept the change. How would you get the system to accept EV mode above 25mph?

 

I normally leave 5 or 6 bars when I park and after warm up it never goes past 7 bars?

 

They make a 4 KW kit for us at Plug-In Supply.

 

yes, someone here is installing it.