Video: Prius LiOn Battery Dissected and Discussed

I am sure @2k1Toaster @TMR-JWAP & @Raytheeagle would be interested. I wonder if the PiP uses the same pack? @TampaPrius.com may be able to tell us.

 

Currently on the way to my local loading dock are (3) 2016 NiMH battery packs from very low mileage wrecks. (2) are the Gen4 style and one is the Gen3 style. I was seriously contemplating buying at least one 2016 LiON pack just to play with to see if a Gen 2 pack could be built using the LiON modules. Kinda like a self-bought Christmas present to use for experimenting. After watching a lot of that video, I'm feeling more like keeping my money for something else........It looks like it would be way too much work and I'd probably end up with some "wow" photos to be used as examples of what NOT to do. Posting that video probably just saved me a thousand bucks. I wasn't smart enough to look for it myself before pricing them.

On another note, there's going to be some Gen2 packs, built with 2016 Gen3 and Gen4 modules, available in January!!

Anyone within about 250 miles of Columbia, SC who is interested in discussing/getting in line early, feel free to message me.

 

Are you mixing Gen 3 and Gen 4 modules? Gen 4 supposedly uses a higher grade of Nickel.

 

No mixing like that. I plan to use each of the (3) 2016 batteries to do a direct 28 module swap into (3) gen 2 battery cases.

 

Watching the video we can plainly see why the Prime pack is not "bent" to fit more capacity and why that causes the space below the battery. Maybe one day the replacement for the Prime will use its' own trunk bottom pan without the spare tire dimple. Now that Toyota are actually going to build EVs.

 

Professor John Kelly from Weber State University in Utah has a whole bunch of videos on all the generations of Prius on YouTube.

Weber State University

He has ones on the Gen 4 transaxle and and the inverter, converter.

 

WeberAuto - YouTube

 

Interesting. Mr. Kelly said worst case it could take up 109 hours for the car to rebalance the battery. That gives us a balance current of 3.6 Ah / 109 h = 33 mA. I wish he had taken the computer apart. I would like to know if it is active or passive balancing.

 

You could contact him, I'm sure he knows and if he doesn't know he would find out.

 

i would like to know this too. i sure it's just like the lipo's in RC cars. it charges though the main DC wires and is monitored with the sense lines to ensure even charging.