REVIEW: Hymotion Battery Plug-In Prius

The Force,

What is the difference between the coolant hack versus the 52 MPH hack? I use the 52 MPH hack, but I'm not familiar with the coolant hack. When it is this cold the 52 MPH hack won't allow you to draw too many amps and the car is very sluggish on EV.

---Kent

 

I contacted Carolyns Luscious garage for the info and switch. Works very well except in the extreme cold you have no power. It does cause dash to light up like Christmas, but the codes are easily cleared. Only disadvantage, you must restart car to get engine to start again.

---Kent

 

Yes, cold weather is definitely affecting results.
Grill blocking is a big help though. We have been around 30-40 degrees in Seattle. I am still maintaining my 99.9+ mpg.

I was really struggling before the grill blocking.

 

so you get some kind of button and a control board?
what did you pay for it?

 

I got a push button that fit beside the Hymotion on/off switch and a diagram of which wire to cut and run to the switch. I paid for the knowledge not parts.

---Kent

 

Do you have a switch to force EV mode with your Hymotion? I would love to have one on mine, but have heard conflicting reports about whether it supports it or not. I have heard that some of the newer Hymotions do not (that it overrides it) but some of the older ones do not.

 

TheForce,

It is obvious that with the Hymotion mod installed, the addage,
"Ultimately all the motive power comes from the gas tank," does not
hold true. To reach the MPG figures you're getting, a lot of motive
power comes from the extra battery. I know that MPGs are a function
of route and topography among other things. In your case, it would
appear that your particular daily driving needs fit nicely with the
Hymotion output capacity.

In the stock Prius, the gas engine is assisted by the HSD/HV battery.
In your car it would appear to be the other way 'round.

I looks to me that in your particular driving conditions your Hymotion
equipped Prius has become essentially an electric car assisted by a
gasoline motor. It is natural then to ask, why aren't you seeing 200,
300, or even higher? It's in the math of course. When you're using as
little fuel as you do, even a short engine run, say to cover a mile at 50
MPG would greatly inflate the denominator in the miles/gallon
calculation.

At any rate, many thanks for your on going reports on your experience
with the Hymotion mod. Despite my leaning towards getting something
like the iMiEV when they are finally available, your story keeps me
coming back to considering the Hymotion as a practical alternative
that is here now.

Why don't I jump on the Hymotion? There is a possibility we will need
a second car in the forseeable future, and I'll need the doh-ray-me.

Keep up the good work out there on the cutting edge. :rockon:

 

And that was during cold weather temps. I suspect you will do even better this summer. Great job !!! :rockon:

 

All very interesting and thanks for the detail Mr. Force

Two comments/questions:
1) You CAN NOT force EV with the hymotion engaged?? Bummer. It would be a great EV only car for those with 10 to 15 mile commutes if you could.

2) The charger for the Hymotion is IN the spare tire well. Hadn't realized that before. I wonder how many kWs they could fit in a battery that sat in the spare tire well with an external charger for those that only charge at home (or maybe portable enough to toss in the back for charging at destinations.

OR: maybe how many MORE kWs the Hymotion battery could hold if the current total volume was batteries, not batteries and charger.

OR: lift struts on the current battery (without the charger) so you still have the spare tire. Hope to never need it but don't want to leave home without it

 

Why and what are we upgrading. My Hymotion seems to be fine.

---Kent

 

Strange, if you have a phone number for the person please send me it. I have not had any problem since I put the L5 Battery Booster on. If it only updates for CARB, I'd prefer not to have it, unless other benefits are stated.

---Kent

 

????'s

I drive 80 miles a day. mostly 80% of speeds under 35mph/10% hwy/10% 45mph.
going to own the car for the next 3 yrs or 150k miles (at 41k now in one year)
drive about twice a mo. out of town (around 600miles hwy)

ok now the ???

1. Is this a good choice for me?
2. can i plug it in between trips ( car avg about hr off time between jobs, then drive 10 miles to next)?
3. do i turn it off for those long hwy trips or leave it on?
4. at what speed does ice turn itself on ( i do have ev mode and and do now how to use it)?


currently i can avg (before the new tires) 57mpg with EV, EBH, and Grill block. i dont see myself has a hypermill driver ( if traffice is going 55mph in a 45mph zone i go with the flow).

without those small mods i can avg 49mpg.

thankyou
mike

 

With only three years expected ownership, I doubt you would recoup your investment unless gas goes to $4 or more per gallon again. The Hymotion pack is expected to last 100,000 miles at full capacity and then start to decline from there. Nobody really can say for sure, though, since we are still waiting for real world results.

That said, you would probably at least double your mileage with the Hymotion. I just did a quick calculation, and figured if gas averages $3 per gallon over the next 3 years, you drive 150,000 miles, and the Hymotion doubles your mileage, you would save $4,000 in gas (keep in mind that this is offset by energy costs if you have to pay for all the kWh you use). I suppose you may get some money back on a higer resale value, but I doubt it would add $6000.

Your commute does sound pretty ideal for the Hymotion. The Hymotion pack when fully drained needs about 4.5 - 4.8 kWh to charge back up. The pack charges with a standard 120v outlet at about 1 kWh per hour, so if you could plug it in for 4 hours during the day you would almost have the ability to go through 2 full charge cycles in one day, whch should get you 60 - 80 miles in Hybrid mode or 30 - 40 miles in pure EV mode.