Adding more Prius batteries

Um, apparently Youtube. (we might have been able to give more help had you linked the Youtube clip)

 

Here is the link -

 

I believe this is the same person that blew up her packs in a charging thermal runaway incident. The car was written off by her insurance.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...lectric-vehicle-mod-under-way-bristol-uk.html

There are a few people out there that have been able to make such a setup work, but it takes VERY close attention to detail with multiple failsafes. If you are going to go to such trouble, use lithium.

 

Yep she blew her Prius up and has now moved onto a Leaf. What she doesn't know about EV's isn't worth knowing. I believe she's also a journo for various EV related websites and publications too - international and UK based.

 

For those who care, the incident is buried in the above thread but can be found here:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...e-mod-under-way-bristol-uk-32.html#post885615
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...e-mod-under-way-bristol-uk-33.html#post887261
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...e-mod-under-way-bristol-uk-33.html#post889411

It makes one respect the amount of engineering for safety that Toyota must've done (into the hardware and software of stock, unmodified hybrids), which clearly seems successful.

 

I don't know of anyone who has done multiple NiMH packs in a III. There are a few, mrbigh and nwpriusplus, that have done it in a II. Aftermarket kits are available: Enginer.us, PluginSupply.com.

To put it gently, if you have to ask if it is possible to add NiMH packs to make your III into a DIY PHEV, you are at least a year away from having a safely working system.

 

you have a 2012 car... they sell a plug in version for a reason... it would possibly end up costing you more to make a plug in than to just buy it from toyota...

 

Hi Wade
The Australian company NilCO2 has several packs that can be fitted as a supplement to the existing standard hybrid battery. Convert Your Hybrid into a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle have had displays at the Canberra EV festival for at least the past 2 years.
They have a K40 pack that can be installed and removed without upsetting the car or diagnostics and gives 40km (25 miles) of range. These can only be charged from the mains and can't be charged by the Prius. (c.f. 24km ~ 14 miles with the PiP)
Their bigger packs like the K140 replace the 1.2kW HV battery with a 14kW battery, plus changes to Prius computer messaging and uprated rear suspension struts.
Quoting from an email I got from NilCO2, "K140 pack users are recording <0.6 litres/100km at average speeds of >75kph including highway peaks of >100kph. Urban use has clocked prolonged (>80km from a single charge) primarily EV mode consumption down to 0.3 litres/100K."
NilCO2 also do solar roofs (for non-sunroof models) but don't expect to never plug in again.
Australia doesn't quite have the Magnussen-Moss provisions, so car manufacturers can blame everything on the unauthorised bumper sticker you fitted instead of acknowledging fault. However, I understand that the K40 kit (which doesn't replace the HV battery) has never caused issues with Toyota Australia.

 

Now that's interesting. Will give it some serious reading.

 

I'd imagine you could probably get one from an out of state dealer.

 

You CAN go and buy one, you are just going to have to go farther than Kentucky.

Should still be cheaper and more reliable than making your own.

(if you follow Paradox's advice, I will sacrifice and trade my 2009 for a 2012 straight across)

 

Shelor Toyota
2257 Roanoke Street
Christiansburg, VA 24073
(540) 382-2981
Christiansburg, VA 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Base New Hatchback near Roanoke, VA near Blacksburg, VA Motor Mile Toyota

about 520 miles

 

just for your consideration:
I'm in dallas, tx and had mine shipped about 1k miles from Tuscon, Az.

Az won't be getting anymore, btw.
they financed in the shipping charge, $1200, with the car purchase.
not terrible.

 

The K40 pack is a 4kwh Enginer kit. You can buy these on EBay and have it delivered to Australia and install it yourself if you like DIY stuff. Nilco2 is an authorized dealer and installer of Enginer kits.

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

Enginer PHEV | eBay

Nilco2 told me that the K140 pack is home grown technology. Most PHEV kits in the USA if not all of them do not replace the OEM HV battery.