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Installed kit from Plug in Supply getting 28 miles!

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by jim335, Oct 6, 2012.

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  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #161 bisco, Oct 12, 2012
  2. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    Robb probably hasn't had a chance to update his website yet.
     
    #162 priuskitty, Oct 12, 2012
  3. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    jim335, when you charge the extra 4kWh kit do you leave the hatchback open when it is hot, pull the packs out, or does the BMS manage the temperature?
     
    #163 John H, Oct 12, 2012
  4. jim335

    jim335 Member

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    Well, he needs to update the site if it still says no charger. I do know that the price with the charger is not more than the price on the web site without the charger. The cost is offset by needing less cells than originally planned. It is 3.17 kwh pack not 4 kwh.
     
    #164 jim335, Oct 12, 2012
  5. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    The original amount of cells was 76, what is it now?
     
    #165 priuskitty, Oct 12, 2012
  6. jim335

    jim335 Member

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    Well it is not hot outside right now, so heat is not an issue. I charge with the charger inside the car, hatch closed, and the car does not get significntly hotter than outside. I would not mind if it did in the morning because it has been about 45 to 50 degrees lately in the morning. The batteries never get hot at all whether charging or driving. The only thing that ever makes a little heat is the add on charger, but not much. If it was a faster charger maybe the batteries would get a little warm. The battery management only controls connecting and disconnecting the battery charger, when all cells are full, or the pack to the car if any cells reach the lowest safe state of charge, to protect and balance the pack. If it was hot, I could always use the remote Air conditioning while the car was plugged in to cool the car, using ac current from the lever II charger connection to the car.
     
    #166 jim335, Oct 12, 2012
  7. jim335

    jim335 Member

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    The 20 miles is not quite right either, that was based on 4 kwh battery not 3.17 kwh actually used. I have gotten up to 16 extra miles. I do know the install was much easier than regular prius.
     
    #167 jim335, Oct 12, 2012
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    jim, what kind of install instructions did you get? the ones on the site are not very informative. i am considering this kit, but am not much of a diy er and would need very specific directions.
     
    #168 bisco, Oct 12, 2012
  9. jim335

    jim335 Member

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    Robb, from plug in supply, worked directly with me on the install. He will have full instructions available by the time you need them, and if you need help, he will be there. All the people who have bought the regular prius kits got them in and are happy. One of the reasons I chose plug in supply was the customer support.
     
    #169 jim335, Oct 13, 2012
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks! do you know the high and low charging parameters of the battery? i.e. the pip battery charges to about 80% of capacity and discharges to 25% or something along those lines. i assume for longevity.
     
    #170 bisco, Oct 13, 2012
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  11. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    jim335, just for clarification .... your 28 miles in the title of this thread is the combined ev range of the built-in PiP's battery and the 3.17kWh add-on correct? That was my early assumption but if you are seeing an additional 28 ev miles, then it would be comparable to the ev range of a Volt.
     
    #171 John H, Oct 13, 2012
  12. jim335

    jim335 Member

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    the 28 ev miles are the total. I am thinking of doubling the size of the add on battery. 2 cells paired in series, same voltage but double the added amps. I will wait to see if I need that many extra miles. The added cells would not require any extra battery management boards, just a rewire and the new cells. Added cost would not be that much. That would probably give 24 to 32 of add on miles plus 12 from car total of 36 to 44, sorry for the speculation, but I need to use something for making a decision. Maybe plug in will make one and install in another vehicle. Then I could find out what would be real world numbers.
     
    #172 jim335, Oct 14, 2012
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  13. jim335

    jim335 Member

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    The full charge is contrtolled by battery management. The maximum discharge is also limited by batttery management. In using the system, the minimum state of charge is never reached, so mus be using 70% to 80%. Since the prius battery contrtols when ev miles are gone, the add on batttery follows along for the ride. The part of the prius battery used is about the same as the addon so they would be using about same % of capacity.
     
    #173 jim335, Oct 14, 2012
  14. DadofHedgehog

    DadofHedgehog Active Member

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    Jim335,
    I think you've hit on something interesting. A "stackable" extra battery capability would really make the PiP flexible as the users' needs changed from month to month, i.e. different job commutes, different users in the family over time, or for particular occasion added e-mileage, and would make a reasonable balance between E-mileage and extra weight, if the in-series connection stacking could be made intuitively simple. To me, the key for such a solution will be connecting/unconnecting in a manner simple enough and with few enough steps that I would not need to reach for an instruction sheet, but just do it.

    Yet another theoretical idea - if the future battery extra modules could be reshaped into thinner and flatter sections, to "layer" them for use with cargo placed on top as needed. That would mitigate the intrusion into cargo space of the current extra battery boxes. I often find myself folding the middle seats flat because of cargo that is bulky although not really heavy (boxed goods purchased occasionally at a big-box store like Walmart, etc).
     
    #174 DadofHedgehog, Oct 14, 2012
  15. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    Wouldn't the Volt cost less? Even if you took a hit on the trade in?

    I had gotten the impression that the 28 miles fit your commute and you didn't need more.
     
    #175 John H, Oct 14, 2012
  16. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    even with the extra batteries the PIP would still have room for five passengers:D
     
    #176 priuskitty, Oct 14, 2012
  17. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    I consider that feature the same as the guy driving the F-250 as a commuter when they use the truck capacity 4 times a year. :)

    Not sure I would want to put my kids in the back seat with the extra batteries floating around behind them though. Maybe the in-laws.
     
    #177 John H, Oct 14, 2012
  18. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    F-250 is not a PIP tho:p
     
    #178 priuskitty, Oct 14, 2012
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks. are you getting the same distance out of both batteries? i.e. 14-16? the pip battery is larger than 3.17, is it not?
     
    #179 bisco, Oct 14, 2012
  20. priuskitty

    priuskitty PIP FAN

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    I read somewhere else that the useful kw of the PIP is 2.7
     
    #180 priuskitty, Oct 14, 2012
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