Change normal Prius to plug in

There's lots of ways you can boost MPG and overall performance, but trying to drive your hybrid car as an EV will cause your gas engine to run more often. Eventually you will damage the hybrid battery and have to replace it because its not designed for what you're doing to it.

Just learn about "Pulse & Glide" driving techniques to maximize your MPG and start saving up for a real EV....

 

Simple question.
Simple answer: NO, not practical and maybe not possible.

ALL options might not be available to you.......or not economically wise.......
so pick the best one for YOU and then don't fret over it.

 

I was amazed when I first had my Prius and managed to get 1 mile of range EV after coasting off of a highway exit.
This gave me small taste of the EV experience. But as said, you can only get so much from a stock Prius.

Say, would it be too much to ask for you to take a picture of your engine.
I saw where Brazil Prii don't have an EGR system hanging from the driver's side of the engine. Thanks if you can!
Also what is the ethanol content of your regular gasoline?

 

Brazil the land of freedom doesn’t let you import a minor wreck from the first world and rebuild?

I would think an import of PIP 2012-2015 major components from a salvage car would be the only way to a semi reliable plug in Gen 3 car

But That is almost as dumb as the us policy

I didn’t know Brazil had rug widely available, usually e96 aquatious and always 93 RON or better (e25+)

Is everything still hydrous? That was the main way to lower cost.

Are you allowed to import new Chinese EVs? Some are only $2500 (us) before shipping and customs.

Not sure if Brazil is favorable to dual car ownership but you could then have a simple easy to repair NEV (microcar) for local short distance travel and keep your other car for longer drives.

Also Worth noting cheap antique EVs like the 1981 Comutacar exist that are simple diy projects for short distance travel and could be imported. Likewise it’s probably easier to convert an antique car to a simple electric than your Prius for again short drives. Not sure the diy route ever pays off due to its low reliability though .

Also check out open inverter forums. You can modify a Genn3 to EV but you either need to be a genius or pay a lot of money to do it.

https://openinverter.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius_Gen3_Board

Seems like a more viable option for a Orius with a failed gas engine

 

I wouldn't bother converting your regular Prius into a plug-in. I think the best thing you can do to your Prius is to upgrade your HV battery into a lithium one. The 3rd gen plug-in only does 8-12 miles on pure electric. If you do decide to buy an EV, get the newer generations with the longer ranges.

 

Why exactly do you think that would be a good idea ?

So you can have the excitement of seeing the fire department come and try to extinguish
the burning lithium battery fire before it spreads to your house or other vehicles ??

I'm pretty sure that the scant few who have done that report........little to no verifiable
improvement in overall efficiency.

 

oh no, not again

 

Yea... As I explained that's not a viable option. You're just gonna have to be patient and wait for price of EVs to come way down. In the meantime you could upgrade to a Project Lithium pack and triple your EV range/improve MPG, but you void the warranty if you use the pack as a plugin because Lithium don't like being overcharged and using it as a plugin would do that.

 

After the cost of converting it to Prius gen 3 plugin, you would have spend enough money to buy a new tesla 3 outright

 

These guys are liars!

For those that got the Lithium Ion Battery | PriusChat

NexPower Lithium Battery Long Term Update Report | PriusChat

New Hybrid Battery made by Dr. Prius, apparently. | PriusChat

 

Blind Men and the Elephant

 

Maybe they ARE.
You and I have no way of knowing for sure.

 

Remember like in the movies, Everything lights on fire and explodes

so $2500 new China EV
$2500 + $1700 taxes + shipping + customs = ????

Even with very high taxes wouldn’t you have to also pay the taxes on the parts to convert your Gen 3 anyway?

Seems like all around you either enjoy what you have or pay big taxes.

I don’t think you’ll come ahead so might as well wait for something domestic to turn up with improved tech.

Even with sky high taxes I would think a wrecked plug in or parts might still be an easier proposition than conversion.

Ah well, good luck

 

The Watchjrgo youtube channel has a geo ev with lead acid batteries for $5k. It is conceivable one could change to lithium or just run the lead acid. It even has electric powered ac but its old school separate electric motor driving s conventional ac compressor.

Most of us pay $1500 in taxes a year or more to drive a car in the US. First its fees like license plates but mostly in gas tax per gallon like Pennsylvania $0.70 and Texas at 0.38.

In reality required insurance adds quite a bit on top of everything. Plus sales tax of 6-9% when you buy it plus on all maintenance and parts.