Plugin Conversion Options?

Hi cproaudio,
I have an Enginer system wife's 2010. I am approved as an Enginer installer.

So I think the detail behind the answer to your question is that the Enginer system does not modify the Prius software in any way. The 2010 Prius software is different that earlier Prius's. So any PHEV conversion that changes or spoofs that software will not work until the PHEV software is rewritten and fully tested.

I am sure that all PHEV companies are working on this, but it will take some time and then the bugs will need to be worked out.

Thanks,
Dan

 

Hi cpro,
I have kept a running thread on this car over the last 7 months.
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...ic-vehicle-installation-in-portland-area.html

On mileage, I have used the Prius reported trip mpg. I reset it each time I charge the system. Before installing the system I got 55mpg. my wife got 50mpg. On a careful trip with optimization I could get 60pmg but that is the best I could do. All trips included the warm-up and started and ended at my home.

After the System was installed I consistently got 80mpg on a 55 mile trip that included 55mph on the hyway for more than 1/2 the trip. On shorter trips I could do a little better.

I have a 3k converter and 4kwhr of batteries. I also always charge the Prius HV batteries to 7 or 8 bars before the trip.

At 45mph The prius will fire the ICE. At 42mph I can run only on the electric motors. I can hold 42mph (using the ICE only for the initial acceleration from a stop light) for about 5 miles, with the Prius HV battery starting at 7 bars and ending at 3 bars.

Thanks,
Dan

 

I recently put together a PHEV comparison sheet for the available Gen2 PHEV modifications over on the Gen2 PHEV forum. I'm working on pulling together what little information is available about future Gen3 PHEV systems into a list (albeit a short list) and comparing them with the upcoming Toyota PHV. Hopefully that'll give you some idea what to expect.

I hope to post the list on the newly formed "Gen3 Toyota PHV" sub-forum under the "Gen III" main forum so feel free to stop by there for more details.

Andrew

 

Link Please.

 

I'll post a link here when it's uploaded. I hope to have it up in the next few days--just gotta get a few last details right.

Andrew

 

Mmm, all true but you get what you pay for. Batteries aren't cheap at this point (not the really good ones anyway) because production simply isn't large enough. PHEV's/EVs aren't likely going to be saving money any time real soon--people are buying them now to reduce emissions, oil consumption and to silently sneak up on people in the dark (not that I've ever done that...)--not to save money. The pay-off period on any PHEV system is likely going to be longer than the life the vehicle (yes, even the cheap systems) unless gasoline hits $8 a gallon (which I believe will happen soon, just not sure if it will be within the life of my vehicle which is already 6 years old).

Even with the OEM PHV you'll still have the same issue if you want more than 14 miles of EV range. What we need is a significant battery breakthrough to allow for larger capacity at significantly lower production cost. For now, PHEVs are an investment (and hey, people spend $10,000 on far less useful things that never even have the ability to pay for themselves all the time ).

I share your desire for cheaper solutions, but for now this is where things are...

Andrew

 

The limiting factor for Enginer is not the batteries (/assuming at least a 4 kWhr system--and according to the manufacturers specs/) it's the DC/DC converter. Sure, you could have multiple converters even with the existing setup (though rumor has it that if you start stacking up the converters you start throwing codes while driving)--but if you're really interested in pursuing maximum EV you probably want either a significantly beefier DC/DC converter (like that of the Hymotion system) or a straight up battery replacement (like PICC) to allow for 100% battery power at all times.

Enginer's goals are different than that of Hymotion and PICC in the sense that they're trying to provide a more economical approach whereas PICC / Hymotion are trying to deliver a more powerful approach. It's all about what you want / expect from the system and what sort of driving habits you're willing / unwilling to change. There is no right or wrong answer necessarily--it all depends on the end user.

Frankly, I don't understand how on earth Enginer makes money on their current system since the batteries alone cost almost the price they sell the whole system for--my guess is they get a ridiculously good deal on the existing batteries they use (not to mention dirt cheap assembly / component costs for the rest of their components) which is probably why they use them.

Andrew

 

All depends on how much you're willing to draw from the batteries at sustained drain. According to the battery manufacturer the cells can handle higher sustained discharge--but battery manufacturers love to stretch the truth in their datasheets to make their products look good.

My guess is that Enginer discovered lifespan issues if drained faster than ~5 kW. Plus, that's a lot of current at the higher C rates.

Since Enginer has access to extremely cheap parts & labor I don't think they're in any financial trouble--otherwise they wouldn't be selling their system for so very cheap I would guess but one never knows.

Andrew

 

If they've had 100 or so orders during the July sale then they've had $49k in deposits, and will have a total income of $249k. I'm sure any battery manufacturer will give some discount for customers ordering in those kind of quantities.

I do worry however that once all the people -likely- to convert their car have bought a kit that the company will fold. Hopefully they'll continue to revise the product with better batteries, some kind of simple SOC spoof option, more powerful converters, and a display for knowing what the kit's doing. if they could work in a 60mph EV hack on the gen3 as well that would be brilliant.

 

They sold a 4kWh at $2252 on ebay a week back. Prius Plugin PHEV Conversion Kit with Lithium-Ion 4KWH - eBay (item 200500631860 end time Aug-03-10 17:27:09 PDT)

 

As promised, here is a link to the post with the spreadsheet comparing the various PHEV systems available for the Gen3 (2010) Prius.

http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-...ric-vehicle-comparison-chart.html#post1168090

Andrew

 

I wonder how much space they are saving by going to the pouches and what brand? I know the pouches are usually a lot smaller than the same Ah prismatic cells.

 

Oh wow, that's really interesting. presumably more cells means higher current, will we now see the converter actually put out 5KW i wonder?