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Plug-in Supply kit - EV only mode

Discussion in 'Prius PHEV Plug-In Modifications' started by orahm, May 9, 2011.

  1. orahm

    orahm New Member

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    Does anyone have real life experience with the newest 10kw Plug-in Supply kit installed. I'm curious if I can run the Prius in EV mode only.

    Does the new software allow EV mode from the beginning of my trip without starting the ICE for warming up reasons?

    How hard can I press the gas pedal before the ICE kicks in?

    Most of my daily trips are within a 15 mile radius. I can make it back to my charging station withing 30 miles. I don't need the heater here in Hawaii, but the AC would make it more comfortable. The fastest speed limit we have here on the island is 55mph so I can definitely keep it below 70. Most driving conditions don't require hard acceleration. With that said I'm wondering if I can use my Prius 05 with the newest plug in supply kit as a pure EV with the option of very occasional ICE driving on a road trip.

    Any experience of drivers or the suppliers of the kit is welcome.
     
    #1 orahm, May 9, 2011
  2. kiettyyyy

    kiettyyyy Plug-In Supply Engineer

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    At the moment, yes, the car does start in EV without warming up the ICE. This may change in the future to comply with CARB requirements. But... I'm sure it could be arranged ;)

    Requesting power from the engine isn't necessarily a question of how hard you're pushing the pedal with our software. Our method is a bit more complex, but elegant. We look at how fast you're accelerating and compare it to a curve where the car "should" be accelerating based on the current speed and throttle position. If the throttle/acceleration curves do not match, the engine turns on and promptly turns off as soon as both curves match. I think I may have said too much...

    Range for you should not be an issue. My car is actually sitting at the ATDS test lab in Ontario, CA for EPA emissions testing. Last week when we performed the FTP 74 test, we were able to achieve a 45 mile EV range(using the latest software and electronics package).
     
    #2 kiettyyyy, May 10, 2011
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  3. liskipper

    liskipper Member

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    Who is we? Is/will this product be available commercially?
     
    #3 liskipper, May 10, 2011
  4. scottsim

    scottsim New Member

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    Indeed, it is available and functional thru PlugInSupply...the software keeps getting better and a new release promised soon that will allow 72mph (as opposed to the current 52mph) impure (ICE only idling) EV speed.
     
    #4 scottsim, May 10, 2011
  5. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Oh... I think that some one in Long Island wants to have one installed....:rolleyes:
     
    #5 mrbigh, May 10, 2011
  6. orahm

    orahm New Member

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    Thank you for the information so far. It looks like my questions about the EV mode from the start and the speed limits as of right now have been answered. The open question is still how can I adjust my driving style/acceleration to the curve what kiettyyyy is describing? Will I learn how to do that, kind of like pulse and glide? I have the coastaltech EV switch in this car and with it I can drive in EV mode for about 1 mile max, that's if I'm real gentle on the pedal. Will it be somewhat similar to that technique or hopefully less sensitive? Basically, can I use the prius pretty much as an EV with this kit? If yes, I believe this setup rivals or actually beats the specs of the chevy volt.
     
    #6 orahm, May 10, 2011
  7. scottsim

    scottsim New Member

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    Just like driving a Prius pretty much forces a change in driving habits, the conversion to a PHEV will do the same, taking it up a notch...Other tools that will help are a SCAN II guage or a CAN bus monitor.
     
    #7 scottsim, May 10, 2011
  8. kiettyyyy

    kiettyyyy Plug-In Supply Engineer

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    Funny thing to ask... this curve is pretty easy to drive.

    During the emissions testing, I'm not allowed to drive the car. Other drivers/technicians are the ones who follow a speed within a tolerance displayed on a screen in front of the car. (I'll post photos of this awesome test later)

    Long story short, anyone can drive the car in EV mode without changing their habits. The only thing that habit change can do is increase your fuel economy.
     
    #8 kiettyyyy, May 11, 2011
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  9. kiettyyyy

    kiettyyyy Plug-In Supply Engineer

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    We -> Plug-In Supply, Inc (Plug-In Supply)

    It was introduced in commercial conversion kits sometime around March.
     
    #9 kiettyyyy, May 11, 2011
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  10. orahm

    orahm New Member

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    So you mean: Basically the ICE does not come on in normal reasonable driving. It's possible that it will come on if for some reason I don't pay attention and hit the gas real hard in a curve or something along those lines. Correct me if that's not right.

    The test results would be interesting to see. If I can drive so the ICE does not start I would not care for emissions in my case because there aren't any.

    I hope my "fuel economy" will be not be measured in "mpg" but more in miles per watt.

    I just checked out the prius phev 2012 and it can only go 15 miles per charge. Your kit with the bigger batteries seams a more aggressive step towards pure EV if everything works are discussed.
     
    #10 orahm, May 11, 2011
  11. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

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    Miles per watt-hour. Just saying.
     
    #11 Corwyn, May 11, 2011
  12. kiettyyyy

    kiettyyyy Plug-In Supply Engineer

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    Yeah, it's pretty easy to drive in EV if you're a reasonable driver..

    As for rating fuel economy, we're moving to MPGe. It does account for watt hours per mile.
     
    #12 kiettyyyy, May 11, 2011
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