Hypothetical Hymotion L5 Priuschat Group Buy Poll

Yes.

 

No. The pay-off is too long and I cannot take full advantage of the system because I cannot plug-in while at work.

 

Absolutely YES!
:clap2:

I just finished submitting a 5 page request for investment proposal to the good folks at Google begging them to fund my Hymotion L5 install as a research / advertising project. Google can write it off as an expense, I cannot. I'm not opposed to turning my car into a rolling billboard for Google and Hymotion to advertise the fact that 100+MPG is achievable TODAY if the auto companies would get off their @** and do something to make it happen.

If you head on over to RechargeIT.org, you'll see that they are BIG into plug-in hybrids and grid-tie technology. They even developed an CAN/OBDII interface to upload real-time MPG data to the rechargeIT.org web site. I would gladly volunteer to participate in this study to add to the real-world performance data gathering experiment.

It would be even better if they would help fund a group buy or group install for PriusChat members to expand the early adoption of this technology. The original RFP ended in October 2007, but I submitted one anyways since they are still reviewing applications on a rolling basis. In fact, 1000 Hymotion units at $6,500 each would be $6.5M, which is within the $10M limit for grant proposals. If we could get a Group Install of PriusChat members to add to this project, that would be awesome!

Tell you what, let's put together a PriusChat Request for Funding Proposal and submit it to Google. I already wrote one, and I'd gladly put together and submit another for a PriusChat Group Install.

Here's what I have so far:

Description of Technology:

- Hymotion L5 LiIon auxiliary battery pack, ~5kW for 2004-2008 model year Prius.

- My Prius is used for a daily commute of approximately 60 miles round trip, with approximately 20% city and 80% freeway driving. Pre-PHEV it has averaged 52.443 MPG over my ownership life of the vehicle (tracked by spreadsheet).

Biography:

I'm an Electrical Engineer. Lots of other really smart people of diverse backgrounds here at PriusChat could contribute a great deal of real-world performance data to this project.



Partnerships Necessary:

Google.Org / RechargeIT.org funding and/or hardware partnership



Funding Needs:

Up to $6.5M to fund up to 1,000 piece purchase and installation into volunteer member's 2004-2008 Prii. Actual number installed would depend on number of volunteers for this project. This project would be done to promote the early adoption, marketing, research and development efforts in PHEV technology for the benefit of adding to the public knowledge base on the performance of PHEV's in real-world driving situations.

The expense of the Prius PHEV conversion is not monetarily justifiable due to a return on investment that exceeds the life of the vehicle. To my knowledge, there are currently no State or Federal tax credits available to offset the cost of a PHEV conversion. The ROI of this conversion is mainly environmental through a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as well as reducing consumption of gasoline from foreign petroleum sources.

This project is proposed as a way to expand and contribute to the Google Prius Plug-in Hybrid fleet to allow for further research and field data collection of plug-in hybrids. The implementation of the Google designed OBD2 / CANbus data acquisition interface to capture real-world driving information from each vehicle and making it available real-time to the public through Google’s RechargeIT.org web site would be an integral part of this project. Volunteer members cars would be required to display Google and Plug In Hybrid advertising. Volunteering for this project could potentially subject the volunteer to the risk of voiding part of their factory warranty for the Hybrid system in exchange for the benefit of higher MPG and the knowledge gained from this experiment.

Since the cost of this modification cannot be immediately offset through tax credits, a corporate sponsorship from Google whereby this conversion can be justified as a research and development and/or advertising expense would be beneficial in promoting the early adoption of this technology. Additional funding or project cost offsets may possibly be obtained by Google through carbon offset credits.


Projected reductions in yearly greenhouse gas emissions for my driving situation:

Current greenhouse gas emissions:
42.476 miles per day * 365 days = 15503 miles * 0.577 = 8945 lbs CO2 per year

Projected greenhouse gas emissions after PHEV conversion:
42.476 miles per day * 365 days = 15503 miles * 0.385 = 5968 lbs CO2 per year

Difference:
8945 lbs - 5968 lbs = 2977 lbs per year reduction in CO2 emissions following PHEV conversion.

Source: Google.org



Goals and Objectives related to this project:

Through pursuit of this project, we hope to spread awareness of the benefits of plug-in Hybrid vehicle technology. We also hope to dispel the myths that Hybrid vehicles are “more expensive†to own and maintain. Most have found this to be untrue, as the vehicle is extremely well-engineered and has required no more than routine maintenance. Google or RechargeIT.org could build in a life-cycle tracking function to show the actual ownership and maintenance costs of Hybrid vehicles directly from owner's experiences.

This project also desires to contribute to any research by Hymotion in refining and improving their L5 auxiliary battery through field use experiences and Engineering feedback. This project will also attempt to achieve further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by recharging the PHEV through renewable sources such as solar photovoltaic or wind power. Additional experiments in using the Prius as a grid tie vehicle to provide power company peak load capacity could also be possible.


Here's what I would need to complete a PriusChat Hymotion L5 Group Install grant proposal:

Anything I might have overlooked, especially with regards to justification of this project and the goals and objectives achievable through this project.

 

Yes for me too! $6,500. would be about my price point as 11K (cost plus tax & destination charge) would put my break even at 12.5 years....a bit too long!
Count me in if we can pull this off.

Good luck with the Google connection! That would be fantastic!

Lee

 

As much as I'd like to say yes... it's just not in the budget anytime soon. Add $500-800 for the electrician and it's just too much $$$. I'll let you guys be the labs rats. Keep us updated though as far as pricing, etc., just in case I find a big pallet of money between now and then.

 

now just because i originally suggested the idea doesnt mean that i will automatically say yes...but

1) anyone computing a linear equation involving the exponentially rising price of gas needs a serious lesson in economics

2) anyone who thinks a "dollar" is going to be worth a "dollar" in a few years... you might want to think about that "ROI" and the value of the cash invested. i be willing to bet that before half the ROI is realized, the money spent will only be worth ¼ to ½ its value... so now that $6500 you spent today is only going to be $4,000 in 3 years?? guessing here... but i doubt that it will be even close to $6500

3) money invested well, is money well spent. its a no brainer to me that if you can afford to do this today without financing it, its by FAR the best money you can spend. im sure most do not live paycheck to paycheck, but at the same time, we have all grown comfortable with the extra money we have at our disposal. that will shrink greatly on a weekly basis very fast and very soon. not only is gas going up but so is everything else transported by a gas (or diesel) guzzling vehicle. not having gas be one of the things that is spiraling up will be a very welcome thing

4) its true that the price of technology will go down. i predict massive acceptance of this will happen if early adopters put it out now. but if its $3,000 (my predicted price) what will it really be cash wise? and are you willing to wait another 2 years? the DVD was one of the fastest accepted new technologies ever and it took like 3 or 4 years... how long can we wait?

5) the website says "standard household" electricity. i take that to mean 15 amp 110 volt AC

obtw... i said yes

 

Sorry, no. I have already signed up for one individually

 

Then you are a yes, like chogan2.... see his post.

 

Yes!

 

I responded YES earlier, but had a question now.

I understand this to be a Hypothetical Hymotion L5 Priuschat Group Buy Poll .

Is there any set goal in number of commited people before Hymotion is contacted about our interest? Who is going to contact them? Or is this simply just a poll out of curioisity?

 

Put me down for a hypothetical yes, AND an actual "HE_L yes"

 

I'll be in if the price drops a little or if Google pays the bill. In our approach to Hymotion, I think we need to highlight the enthusiasm of PriusChat and how our group would be the best phanatical group of promoters and field data collectors Hymotion could hope to find.

I'm really struggling with the price. I believe it is a break even price out about 5 years, but would also make a nice down payment on a 2009 Prius to create two Prius household. But wife doesn't drive every day like I do.

 

I completely agree and feel that should be included in our email proposition to Hymotion.

 

As Evan stated earlier, we will let the poll run for two weeks. At that point, someone should contact Hymotion Sales and make a pitch. We could put together a nice letter with our numbers at that point.

My thoughts are if they bite a little it would be helpful to our members. I for one would be proud to put a Hymotion badge on the back of my Prius.

 

I would be 100% yes, but cannot commit the funds at this time. I am sold on the product, and I think at $6500 this is a steal! Just don't have the cash on hand. Maybe in the next ~6 months or so, but that is outside the scope of this poll. Was planning to use home equity to do a conversion anyway, but the mortgage company froze our (and almost everyones) line of credit. Refi is almost impossible in the current climate. Wish we had cashed out when we refi'd a year or two back, but we were trying to be responsible.

Rob

 

I've been thinking about this lately. What's the point in having a Hymotion Prius if nobody knows about it? There should be some tasteful and attractive magnetic decal(s) stating "Hymotion PHEV 100+ mpg".

As a condition of the group buy we could offer to advertise for Hymotion provided the design is well received and included in the kit. Any graphic designers and decal manufacturers out there want to create something based on their logo, to be used in the pitch?

 

I have a graphic artist on staff and would be glad to offer services to have something designed.

 

No.

Unless they want to throw in an extra kit for me in exchange for design/animation services. Everyone wants a fancy 3D animation featuring their product, right?