Rainbow Prius Hybrid Powered by Lithium!

From what I’ve read, halfway through the year they switched to lithium

 

Absolutely. In fact the specs on Toyota.com for 2021say Li for all U.S. Rav4 hybrids while the specs on Toyota.ca say nimh. From Toyota.com:



The manual for 2019 shows nimh, For 2020 and 2021 gives both options:

 

my manual from March_2020 just has the NiMH option.
I'd like to see what the newer manual says about reading TPMS from the car and Toyota app...my manual is a little vague on that

 

...I do not see any reference to Li on the 2020's op manual, I see no manual updates for 2020.
It would make sense that the HV battery-type shift in mid-year corresponded with 2021 model Year, right?

But thanks, I think I won the argument on Reddit since I only said it was Li now, not that 2020 was included.

By the way on the question, LI vs. NiMH reliability, we have no info from Toyota for some years on their NiMH failure rates, which seem to me better now than my 2006...but we just do not have any data to go on whatsoever. We had CR survey in 2012 which captured a snapshot of Gen1 and early Gen2 HV batt failure rates...anything past 2007 MY was too new to show any failure rates in 2012.

 

It would make sense but that is not what Toyota did. They started putting Li batteries in the 2020 Rav4 hybrid in June. On the Toyota Tech info site they list two versions of the 2020 manual, one through May and one starting in June:



I'm glad you won your argument.

 

Installed Dr Prius Lithium prototype upgrade.

Search "Lithium prototype test"

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Installed Dr Prius Lithium prototype upgrade.

Search "Lithium prototype test" View attachment 200411

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I just registered Priuschat when I saw your LFP Project !
Already installed such a LiPo battery as a 12v on my 2008 Lexus GS 450h (works great) and I was wondering how to make the same for the traction battery, and then I saw your Project
When you will be ready, will you also provide 40 cells battery for the GS ?
And if yes, will you be able to ship to France ?
So exited about such an upgrade...

 

Wonder if any +MPG for Li?
Recall Gen4 Prii Eco with the Li had a lot better MPG...but we never knew how Toyota managed that MPG quote (weight class etc).

 

You will need only 20 for GS450h...
What is the condition of your battery???
(Use HybridAssistant to create a report or Jack's Dr Prius naturally)
but using HA, it is easier to compare trips before/after swapping battery.
ps: I am also in Fr and familiar with GS450h...

 

Hybrid battery is ageing but still working ; didnt tested it yet. Will do.

Good to hear, thanks a lot.
And would it be possible to order it from Europe ?

To frenchy : my GS 2008 hybrid battery is working but showing its age (500m-1km max in EV mode) : Dr Prius test wouldn't go until the end (connection problem / timeout). I will try again.

 

I've purchased Toyota/Lexus pack for OBD Fusion app, enabling approx 1000 sensors real time values on the GS, reading and logging, including hundreds concerning Hybrid Battery. I'll be able to compare/graph data.
.

 

I would suggest to use a "good interface".... You will certainly not get a better success using obd fusion!!!!
Dr Prius is very robust even with lousy interfaces (I checked myself and compared with HA).

 

Interface is vgate iCar Pro BLE 4.0. Dr Prius works great with it in "Dashboard mode", I have all blocks in real time and solid connection

It's only when I do the 1st battery test, it goes well until 80% but then it stays there (maybe I don't accelerate enough, but with such a powerful car, I've got to be cautious).
Concerning the battery life expectancy test : the 1st step seems to be much longer than the 1 minute expected, so I stopped there, fearing to further wear the battery.

 

When I do that test, I floor the accelerator which revs the engine for a bit but then it stops. I have to take my foot off the gas, then floor it again. I'm not sure why it stops like that but repeating revving the engine several times does work to fully charge the battery and complete the test. So, it also takes me longer than one minute.

 

Hello, sorry for hijacking the thread but the dash screen in your video looks very slick. Any chance you could share some details of how you did this too please? (tablet model, how you mounted it to dash, how it interfaces with the car, and the software used before we see you go into Torque) Thanks for any pointers. Cheers, Nico.

 

can I check if this will work for ZYX10 models (1.8L hybrid c-hr)? This lithium packs will certainly be very helpful to shed some of the unwanted weight away!

 

it's a Samsung tablet. We use the Tab Pro. They're really cheap now that they're roughly 5 years old.
.