Has anyone installed the enginer PHEV?

Plug-in supply is another PHEV conversion company. They're out of Northern California.

Their kit is based off of the Prius+ design from EAA/CalCars. This kit should technically give you more range than a DC/DC conversion, except, the one I have uses PB batteries. If I were using LiFePo4, I wouldn't be complaining.

I just want something else that I can easily upgrade(in terms of capacity). You'll max out at 5kwh using the Plug-In supply kit that I have.

You can keep paralleling additional strings using Jack's kit. (Which, I will be doing)

 

I am purchasing the demo vehicle from EngineR in Auburn Hills over the weekend. I'm no engineer, but it looks pretty good to me.

 

Hey, I just ordered the 4kw unit with the discount of being a Test Pilot. It should be here in 3 weeks. I will keep everyone posted. If this works, it's going to be great because of the affordability.

 

Same here except I got the 2kwh unit. One way commute to work is ~20 miles, but I figure with P&G I should be able to get there without fully discharging the pack. I can always order the additional batteries for around $1000 if I need more capacity.

Comparing this to the Hymotion unit, it's about 40% of the capacity for <20% of the cost (excluding installation since I don't have figures for the Hymotion...probably similar cost). If I get the additional batteries later I wind up with 80% of the capacity of the Hymotion for about 30% of the cost.

 

I think Jack's kit is clever in that you can use lower cost chargers and the invertor allows you to output a constant voltage. The drawback is that you don't get an increase in regen bracking capacity, (I'm thinking you could actually have a decrease in capacity) I think it only works one way due to the invertor. The invertor is also less then 100% efficient, so the battery capacity is not what is delivered to the motor. It is probably between 80 and 90%.

 

I asked Jack about that. He said 90-95% efficiency. It is easy enough to measure. I will post the efficiency as soon as I get my hands on the converter. I'm assuming 90% so the 4kw conversion, when compared with Hymotion or the other conversions, is really only 3.6 kw. Take note of that when doing your comparison calculations.

 

I agree that you would have a decrease in regen capacity. The Aux pack is isolated from the OEM pack via a transformer (I'm guessing here) in the power converter. That means that no power can flow backwards into the Aux pack. Since the Aux pack charges the OEM pack to 240V, you will normally see the OEM pack at seven green bars. There is very little room left in the OEM pack to accept regen. In EV mode, that would probably not be the case because the power converter will not be able to keep up with the EV demand and the OEM pack will drop. In that case, you will have normal regen capacity.

 

One more thing!!

I am worry....

How can I prevent to drive car off while it's charging?? It could be my wife, my daughter forget to unplug the charging plug.

Any suggestion??

I saw a driver drove off his car at self service station (he was pumping his own gas for his car), while the gas dispenser (pump) still in his gas nozzle.

 

I know that the system interfaces with the ECU to prevent charging while the car is on. I don't know if it won't let you start up if it is plugged in. My solution to the problem is to put the plug socket on the front bumper so that when I back out of the garage, the plug just pulls out by itself.

 

Simple solution to a simple problem......
Stupidity can be avoided by means of abigsign posted in the steering wheel indicating "CHARGING ".
I have mine always handy

 

Ordered the 4kw unit today. Looking forward to getting it installed.

I like the simplicity of the system and of course the price makes a lot more sense than any of the alternatives.

 

I think it is important for potential buyers to be aware of the differences between Hymotion and Enginer. See Hobbit's link to the thread on CleanMPG.

 

I will be picking up Jack's red Prius with their EngineR conversion in a day or two. I'm looking forward to reporting in.

 

Good luck with the "NEW" car :rockon:

 

I saw that car at Green Drive Expo. Very nice ride. Do you plan on upgrading to 4kwh?

 

he is selling the demo car already....
no more demo's then?

 

**disclaimer** I AM NOT A TROLL!! **end of disclaimer**

i think i will wait for the eestor conversion kit, hopefully available by early summer 2010

 

lol

 

It's for the add-on pack. It sounds an alarm when a cell hits 2.75v and then shuts down that cell. Makes sure no cell gets discharged too much. It also prevents them from getting charged too much (I think it allows each cell to go to only 3.8v)

Yes, it did indeed keep sounding off even after the system was shut down, and i share your concern. I've asked Jack how to shut off the beeping without recharging, haven't heard back yet. I'm not sure there is a way short of pulling over and disconnecting the BMS entirely.

One idea I had was to rig up some sort of monitoring system so the driver sees when a cell drops to let's say 2.85v, and he/she can shut off the system before an alarm sounds. But I have to figure out how to set that monitoring system up...

Thoughts welcome!