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Hymotion L5's in Canada

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by nugget, Dec 11, 2008.

  1. nugget

    nugget New Member

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    I wonder what Canadians who have had the Hymotion L5 install done at one of the US installers faced in terms of duty and GST when bringing the car back across the border. I 'm on the waitlist for an install in Seattle soon. I'm feeling the pain (and weird looks from my wife) because with the Cdn dollar's fall as oil plummeted this L5 is now going to cost $3500 more! I did not realize that we had such a petro dollar.
    I spoke with a guy in Vancouver who had the install done a few months ago. When he declared it upon crossing the border the customs guy praised his 'greenness' and charged him GST on 50% of the $10K-US.
    (The Hymotion was developed in Toronto several years ago, but I guess that doesn't amount to much in terms of GST and possible duty.)
    My number is up soon according to Erin at Hymotion... this month or January. And I don't suspect we will see any PHEV taxbreaks like our US cousins are seeing any time soon.
    Thanks for any input.
    Nugget in Naramata.
     
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  2. PeakOilGarage

    PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9

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    Ouch. Do you seriously have to pay a 50% tax to bring a Hymotion back across the border to Canada? That is crazy.
     
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  3. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

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    Peakoil - yes that would be crazy but you misunderstood.

    "charged him GST on 50% of the $10K-US." ==> GST of 5% was charged on 50% of the $10K = 5%*$5K = $250
     
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  4. Prius 07

    Prius 07 Member

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    Nugget - I don't quite understand the issue beyond the currency bad news. You would have to pay the GST even if you bought it in Canada. Speaking of which can't you get the conversion done in Canada? If it is available in Canada and you can get a lower pricing than perhaps you can "sell" your allocation in the US to a US resident. Someone might be interested if as I suspect there is a long waiting list.
     
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  5. nugget

    nugget New Member

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    Nugget - I don't quite understand the issue beyond the currency bad news. You would have to pay the GST even if you bought it in Canada. Speaking of which can't you get the conversion done in Canada? If it is available in Canada and you can get a lower pricing than perhaps you can "sell" your allocation in the US to a US resident. Someone might be interested if as I suspect there is a long waiting list.

    ----------------------
    Good point about the GST. I suppose what I really want to know is about duty, if applicable. During my quick conversation with the guy in Vancouver who has had his install done I forgot to specifically ask if he was dinged duty on the L5 pack in addition to the GST.
    No, you can not get the L5 in Canada, despite the Hymotion origins. The Hymotion rep indicated they are in talks with certified installers, but that could take a while. Meantime, the province of BCis getting about 5 cars done and I'm trying to find out if they are going to Seattle or coming to Vancouver for that. Green Car Co., the Seattle installer, recently went to Wenatchee, Washington for the install of 13 L5 packs.
    I've been on the waitlist since June, and my understanding is that they are ready for me soon, but I also think that anyone booking now probably doesn't have a long wait (depending on the locale).
    It was interesting to see that the Green Car Co. recently tried to sell a 2009 Prius with Hymotion on e-bay and the bidding went up to $45,000 without achieving the reserve bid, so no sale.
    So, maybe I go ahead and get the install done on our 2005, and in the worse case scenario there is always e-bay!!
    Thanks for your comments.
     
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  6. PeakOilGarage

    PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9

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    The reserve on Ebay was $43,500. The bidding went to $42,100.
    That vehicle was later sold in the store at the asking price.

    Green Car Company always has at least one or two 2009 Prius Hymotion Plug-In vehicles available for walk-in customers who want to avoid the waiting list. We only order package #6 for the 2009 Prius, but we would do a lower package on request.
     
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  7. nugget

    nugget New Member

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    J.M., aka Peak Oil, thanks for the clarification. I was curious what the reserve would be.
    So, briefly, is there a US federal income tax advantage on PHEVs of 4 KW or greater now in place, or is it coming?
     
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  8. PeakOilGarage

    PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9

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    Yes. The federal bailout bill for the banks included the federal tax credits for plug-in vehicles. 4 kwh or more. It starts at $2,500 and maxes out at $7,500.

    In the state of Washington, starting Jan 1 2009 there is no sales tax on any vehicle that gets over 40+ mpg. That includes electrics. When we sell a Hymotion battery in a new 2009 Prius, we can include the cost of the Hymotion battery with the sales tax holiday. It is valid for 2009 and 2010 calander years.
     
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  9. RetroCanada

    RetroCanada New Member

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    I have to say I'm extremely disappointed in Hymotion. I was on the notification list for the availability of the upgrade a couple of years ago. I was surprised when Canadian technology was sold to an American company and was only being offerred at an American dealer. My polite emails over the past year requesting information about when and where the conversion might be available in Canada have gone unanswered. If I'm going to fork over ten grand plus, I want to have faith in the company. I even tried getting answers wearing my other hat - as a journalist for a national media outlet. Still no answer. I seriously question why a company would ignore questions from a journalist interested in learning more about product.

    Personally, I think if they can't be bothered to respond to a patient potential customer's questions, it's a sign that once I'm back over the border, I'm on my own. No thanks.

    I should add that my inquiries to Tesla Motors about the availability of their vehicles elicited immediate response and dialogue.

    When and if it's ever available where the technology was developed, I'll consider it.
     
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  10. PeakOilGarage

    PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9

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    RetroCanada,
    Based on your location, it looks like Vancouver BC will be your closest location.
    We are considering opening a Green Car Company store in Vancouver before the end of 2009. We would also install and support Hymotion batteries at the location in Canada.
     
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  11. nugget

    nugget New Member

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    Retro--I too had no response a couple of years ago in e-mailing and faxing the Hymotion people. Perhaps they were too busy wooing A123?
    I must say though that I have all the confidence in A123. I attended the Power Up Summit Plug In Hybrid Event in Wenatchee, WA last May, where key people were there to answer questions. It gave me enough confidence to get on the waiting list in June. Since then, I have found the communications with the customer service rep to be great. ANd, from what I have been gleaning from this and other sites, A123/Hymotion has stood behind the product, tweeked it when required, replaced some batteries, been responsive to after sales service, etc.
    Peak Oil Garage---Erin at A123 said that Vancouver might be a possibility, but too early to say. She did not say it would be an expansion by Green Car Co. I'm glad to hear that you can expand the expertise built in Seattle-area.
    I don't know...maybe I should 'pull the plug' and give up my spot on the waitlist for a Seattle install and wait for Vancouver when it opens.

    Nugget in Naramata (Okanagan), BC.
    Hey Retro, we're just about neighbours.
    for more info, google "prius naramata"
     
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  12. PeakOilGarage

    PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9

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    Nugget, the technicians in Bellevue Washington are very experienced (100+ installs) at this point.
    If I had to pick someone to do the install of a Hymotion battery, I would let them do it instead of waiting for some new technicians in Vancouver BC to learn the process.

    Since the waiting list is mostly caught up, any new location will only be doing a few per month. These guys in Bellevue Washington were doing 2 per day for the past few months.
     
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  13. nugget

    nugget New Member

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    Great points Peak Oil. I'm hoping Santa brings my wife's blessing to the L5 conversion. The pressurte is on now because Erin at A123 says it ready to go ahead soon.
    I've been garaging the car during this recent cold snap, and this morning drove out with the car's back hatch open (open in order to take the recycling and garbage can down the long rural driveway).
    Heard the crack and stopped. I wrecked the fin attached to the rear window that has the third brake light on it. Its still on, but I'll need to replace it one day. So, that'll probably be $600 bucks at the body shop. Hey, it could have been worse, I could have taken out the whole hatch.
    Oh well, she --my wife--was good about it...she's had a few blonde moments too!
     
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  14. philmcneal

    philmcneal Taxi!

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    do you guys offer the upgraded shocks to offset the 180 lb weight as well?
     
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  15. glaf8421

    glaf8421 New Member

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    Luciousgarage in San Fransico can supply the upgraded springs. I ordered them and had them installed here in Miami. Works great. The car sits normal and also the handling is improved (more stable).

    Grant
     
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  16. PeakOilGarage

    PeakOilGarage Nothing less than 99.9

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    Yes. Call Susan or Dan at The Green Car Company
     
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  17. REV

    REV New Member

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    The good news is that you can now get your Hymotion Plug in installed in Vancouver. The bad news is that it will be impacted with the 5% GST. We are hoping to avoid the 7% duties but are waiting for a ruling. Our installed price is $14495. can.
     
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  18. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

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    Thanks for posting that.

    $14495 includes the GST/PST? and there might be 7% duty on top of that?

    I'm going to write the premiere and tell him we need a government rebate on this conversion.

    EDIT: Oh I see you are the installer. Cool.
     
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  19. REV

    REV New Member

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    The Ontario Government just announced they are going to come up with a bag on incentives to encourage EV conversion and acceptance. It would be a big help to all of us if the BC Government would follow suit!
     
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  20. Fibb222

    Fibb222 New Member

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    They should considering how they already have a carbon tax and plan for serious emissions reductions.

    What about the taxes? in or out of 14495?
     
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