Has anyone tried the cylindrical style Prius Batteries from China?

They're near identical to what you get with an OEM pack, but more problematic if you sell the car in terms of next owner dealing with warranty etc.. Also cost wise, they aren't much different than the lowest price Toyota replacement packs from a dealership.

But if you can wait till this fall @jacktheripper who also created the Dr. Prius app is going to be selling a lower price Lithium pack that will work just as well. Or for more money he'll also sell a performance pack that will help with MPG and more consistent power.

 

My understanding from a user here who tested their batteries is that CEBA is cr*p. Their batteries were tested to mot meed their specifications. @2k1Toaster here, who helped CEBA develop the brackets. sells a high quality cylindrical kit for $1600 delivered anywhere in the US. The link is in my signature.

NewPriusBatteries

 

CEBA packs may be a problem but there have been no known problems with @2k1Toaster pacjs. He has said that many times. The pack has been evaluated by experts here and he has several taxi customers.
How would a Lithium battery interface safely with a charging circuit designed for NiMH? If it were feasible I am sure @2k1Toaster would have done that. He works daily with rechargeable batteries and tested his pack design extensively.

 

Satisfied customer here with 2k1Toaster.. 10K miles with no issues.

I really appreciate the improved air circulation. Reported temps were typically120 Farenheit with the OEM pack, now usually between 95-105 with cylinder cells.

 

I still have the stock hv bat, stays in higher 80Fs in 100F temps with AC on lowest setting for an hour drive daily.

 

My dealership could not tell me what a normal temp should be. From a recommendation on this forum, I used Hybrid Assistant to control the fan.

After installing cylindrical modules, the Prius is able to regulate on its own. 95-105 is the Reported range seen in Hybrid Assistant.

 

That’s high for winters.

 

Not really, for San Antonio. My wife loves air conditioning. We experience 100 degree days in the middle of May

 

^ This

$800 for a used/unknown-condition battery is no deal. If it was $300 - $400 and you're doing the work yourself, you might be able to justify the cost/benefit ratio. But even at the lower cost, I'd go with a new one from @2k1Toaster.

 

I'd love to be sure that Jack will have these ready to go in the fall. I believe that he is legit, but we don't know yet whether he can pull it off. As an owner of an aging Prius, I'm rooting for him.

You are right that it is a challenge. Jack beleieves that he can overcome it. Jack and 21K have different kinds of expertise. Here is a link to the thread where Jack reports on his plans:

Rainbow Prius Hybrid Powered by Lithium! | PriusChat

 

IF they are going to be the same price, for the same performance, there is not advantage.
It would just be a personal preference.
IF you have to purchase more equipment to get more a little out of the battery, it will not be worth it.
It would have to be a huge increase to justify the extra cost.

 

I've used them a bit before....

Junkyard battery for $800 is a terrible idea unless you plan on getting the codes cleared, emissions passed, and then selling the car to an unsuspecting person in a month.

The CEBA cells, hold up in the heat. My testing has identified their main issue to really just be capacity. The metal shell and increased airflow, just like our cells, keeps them cooler than stock and will be good in a hot climate. The capacity problem is that they just aren't truly the rated capacity. They are supposed to be 6.5Ah like ours. There's are marketed as 6.5Ah but are really closer to half that on a good day. The Prius will drive just fine with these modules for some time. But most likely 3 to 4 years before you start seeing aging effects that would take 6-8 years on the larger capacity packs. It's just time and physics.

I am a tad biased, but if the choice was $1600 for 3Ah modules or $1600 for 6.5Ah modules, it wouldn't be a hard choice to make.

 

How can I get in touch with you to discuss some more about your packs, I tried via the website without success.

 

@2k1Toaster sometimes responds here when tagged like I just did. I just put the @ symbol before the username.

 

I got my used one from a 2014 for $450. I ran the VIN on car fax before I bought it. I swapped mine myself, and have had no issue. But your experience may vary. It’s a crap shoot, try at your own risk. But I’m happy with mine.

 

@2k1Toaster is there any other method I can get in touch with you concerning purchasing packs from your company, I tried the website without success. Email, WhatsApp, iMessage etc?

 

The difference with your scenario is that you knew exactly what you were getting: a late model battery with a known (or at least partially known) service history, for an excellent price. My issue is with folks paying 3-4 times what you paid, and getting a battery pack of unknown age, mileage, and service history, that someone is calling "reconditioned". It just seems like false economy... IMHO.

 

You can email, use the contact form, send us a text, or send me a PM.

We were closed during the period you were trying to contact me but you should have been contacted since then.

 

I have 3 kits from newpriusbatteries.com and been using one for 2 years now and its a daily driver.. currently at 30-35k miles on them and its still perfect. Never had one issue after install..