Prius Battery Replacement (GenII) Like you've never seen - NEW Cylindrical Cells

Thanks. I see recycle bins at Homedepot, Bestbuy, etc., for regular cordless batteries and such, who I doubt would even accept an original Toyota NiMH pack (looks like the Toyota dealer is the only option for them). Are you suggesting I could recycle the cylindricals at Homedepot/Bestbuy locations because they could be dismantled into individual cells and dropped in their recycling bins? Or are there any industrial battery chains across the US that would accept the pack as a whole?

Also, talking about cells, is each one of the cylinders an individual cell, or does it have smaller cells inside of it?

Thanks in advance.

 

The regular recycler for my home area says:

"No Car or Truck Batteries Accepted

No Batteries Over 5 lbs Accepted"

Hence the question. I guess I would have to call them to see who can take large scale batteries. But I suspect they will simply ask me to approach the dealer the moment I mention about a hybrid battery. Can you please point me to the websites of recyclers in your area? Perhaps they can point me to their counterparts in my area? I am in East Central Illinois.

Also, separate from the recycling queries, I was also wondering if each one of the cylinders is an individual cell, or does it have smaller cells inside of it?

Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks. I have also found this, that in fact shows the kind of cylindrical cells you have on offer:
What Can I Recycle? | Call2Recycle | United States
But it does only show the local Homedepot, Lowes and Staples. I guess recycling won't be an issue.

I am confused. I thought each "block" of 14.4V is being replaced with 3 cylinders, which means each cylindrical cell should be 4.8V right?

 

Oh, OK. Now I understand. From a lay person perspective, I am curious: would it have been better to have each row be a single cell of 4.8V, for lower internal resistance, etc.? Or better yet, the whole block being a single cell of 14.4V? I heard Toyota couldn't do this because of patents on large format NiMH batteries that expired last year or so? I heard they were sued successfully by Chevron because of use of large format batteries in the original RAV4 EV?

 

NiMh chemistry produces 1.2V. There is nothing you can do about that. Those are laws of physics and chemistry. So a single NiMh cell will ALWAYS be 1.2V no matter how big you make it. To make more voltage cells need to be connected in series to form modules or batteries (battery is a collection of things. In this context - cells, in artillery context - guns, for example).

 

Toaster, are there any idiot proof installation videos that detail every step in replacing the original modules with your modules/kit?

 

Thanks. I would be grateful if you can explain in layman terms what "large format NiMH battery technology" is that was apparently patent-encumbered until recently causing Toyota to stop making the original RAV4 EV:

Patent encumbrance of large automotive NiMH batteries - Wikipedia

 

Actually the powertrain of the RAV4 EV came from Tesla when Toyota owned part of them. The RAV4 EV stopped when the powertrain supply was exhausted. 2500 Gen 2 units, I believe.

 

For the second generation, it did. But the first generation used NiMH.

Also, I think I have found what large format means: "large-format NiMH batteries (i.e., 25 amp-hours or more)" from the article mentioned above.

 

Your article also says this:

 

When my pack goes this is the direction I'm going.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Hi 2K whats the latest price out the door now for Pchatters?