Question about Plug-ins

As you say, I think you've answered your own question. The battery charges up so fast that it wouldn't be much gain charging it from the net. I try to leave my battery at 2 bars at night (several miles of city traffic to drain it from) and even when in the 70's the engine running for a few minutes is enough to move the energy back into "7 bar (just under green) range.

If my battery was fully charged each morning I would be wasting that energy as it couldn't be stored anywhere.

So for plug-ins to make sense (and I for one really want one) they need to be able to make the average persons commute i.e. ~25miles. Then you could run the Prius in battery mode only for an extended period and for shorter trips the engine would never start.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bob Allen @ May 22 2006, 02:00 PM) [snapback]259310[/snapback]</div>

I have wondered about that, too - but for a different reason. My Prius will be garaged for 4 to 5 months over the winter. What will happen to the NiH battery? If this is what cranks the engine, what to do if we come back to dead batteries? The book says "call the dealer". What would the dealer do - recharge? With what?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 24 2006, 12:17 AM) [snapback]260189[/snapback]</div>

Not an option - we will be away for the winter. We need the charging part of the dealer's scanner!

Will the disconnected NiH battery self-discharge?

 

Home charging *would* be possible, even if it's sort of a hack, given
the right parts:
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=19503
but you'd want to be VERY VERY careful to not get anywhere near
overcharging, which would begin changing the cell chemistry.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ May 23 2006, 10:17 PM) [snapback]260189[/snapback]</div>

I don't know about Canada but in the US there is one charger for each region. It is in the hands of a regional rep and he/she decides when and where it is to be used. The dealers even large ones do not have a charger.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hdrygas @ May 30 2006, 01:55 PM) [snapback]262876[/snapback]</div>

I discussed this with our dealer's Prius tech. He advises that the HD battery will not self discharge during the 4 months that we are away, and if it does, their remedy is to replace the battery. This says to me that a fully discarged battery is considered unsalvageable, at least by this dealer. I guess that I will remove the 12 volt AGM battery, leave it on a battery tender (BMW has one for their AGM motorcycle batteries) and see what happens.

Side note - Before buying the car, I discussed the storage problem with the sales rep, who brought the shop tekkie into the discussion. They BOTH were under the impression that the 12 volt battery cranks the engine, and that a jump start would start the engine and, in turn, recharge the HD battery!

If the HD battery fails, it will be an interesting warranty question - although I predict that Toyota's position will be "misuse of the battery - no warranty.

Thanks for the response.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave Thompson @ May 30 2006, 06:09 PM) [snapback]263157[/snapback]</div>

where is the battery located?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(powrfuel @ May 30 2006, 08:18 PM) [snapback]263165[/snapback]</div>

Their both abaft the rear seats. The Traction battery is pretty much under the rear seats and the 12V is in the right rear corner.

 

Can't wait fast enough for development for the current cars., and hope Toyota or someone will pick up the "ball" and make a car with PHEV and give the mileage these cars deserve. Been watching and reading and waiting for pertinent info. 2 current companies plan to or are marketing systems., but COST is still very high. Calcomp (a california firm) is marketing or trying to market a $12,500 SYSTEM., and there is a Canadian outfit that has sold to fleet owners a $9,500 system, and they do plan to market for a few models including Prius, the $9,500 is for the Prius.

Both systems have additional battery capacity, the California system removes your current batts., and installs larger units, with a sophisticated charger. The Canadian system has a battery box that sits on top of the existing batteries, and you keep the existing ones too. Both systems revert to normal operation once depleted., both offer appx. 25-40 miles range at speeds under appx. 50 mph. Both systems have plug capability, to re-charge off the 110 volt or 220 volt. Costs for the plug in capacity on the electric bill is appx $1.00/day, lower in some areas. In some cases one rarely goes to the gas station, in fact some concern is expressed for the quality of the gas in the tank, once this gas sits for months in the gas tank. On longer trips, the mileage is increased due to longer boosting, but the extra capacity can only be replaced by plug in re-charge, not the engine proper. Claims range to appx 80 pmg highway on longer trips, to 250-300 miles, thereafter revert back to original performance. Mathematically as best as I can calculate, payback for the "increased" efficiency is appx. 9 yrs., a bit long. Hopefully the price can come down, or better yet the manufacturers can offer this, even as an option this would sell, (put me on the waiting list)?!!!! Keep posting you all on the subject, and ps at this time Toyota WILL void any warranty for such modification.