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Switching NiMH to Li-ion battery in 3rd Gen (2013) Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Rehan Farhat, Aug 15, 2022.

  1. Rehan Farhat

    Rehan Farhat New Member

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    2013 Prius
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    I have 3rd Gen Prius 1.8 (2013 Japanese Model). At 130,000 km mileage, I saw for the first time hybrid battery pack replacement error. The immediate changes I noticed were
    a) 4 yellow warning signs (including engine check, ABS, Yellow triangle and one more),
    b) car lost pick (torque),
    c) you cannot select power mode (i drive mostly on power mode) or in fact any other mode,
    d) If you try to push hard accelerator paddle, the engine will rev high and pick up the speed gradually, but if you release the paddle, its rev will come down very slowly.
    e) when breaks are applied, no noise heard but as soon as car starts breaking in the last moments, I can hear a sound like (tak tak tak tak which reduces with the wheels as they stop). And lastly,
    e) the breaking efficiency will deteriorate significantly (this is the most disturbing issue)

    I am using OBD2 to remove error and car usually runs initially for 400km and later on up to 100 km and error comes back after that and I just use OBD2 again. I understand that I have to replace battery since day one and I m prepared to buy it too. Now the issue is that I like in Karachi, Pakistan. Toyota dont offer new batteries in Pakistan. The second option is to buy from importers who import used batteries from Japan but the import bans are currently in place in Pakistan so we are sort of out of stock in Pakistan for these batteries. I have been proposed by such an importer that I can get 2021 Li-ion Prius 4 battery which can be used in my Prius C (3rd Gen) and I have also seen Dr. Hybrid videos in which he is doing the same thing. Being a non technical guy, I am unsure about it. Can experts tell if this is okay? Also attaching a screenshot of comment suggesting against using Li-ion in my prius.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 Rehan Farhat, Aug 15, 2022
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    So you're saying the 2021 Prius 4 battery will go right into your said Prius c which is the 1.5 1NZ engine still correct. That sounds plausible I guess I think they both run on the 212 volt system if I'm not mistaken which is the same as my generation 3 and generation 2 Prius which those battery packs can interchange The equipment can't generally but the pack can. So I know that the guys on this list are using a doctor Prius battery that is some kind of nexcell corp. Setup but I first saw the round cell batteries on Alibaba.com years ago and they were showing a conversion from the square plates nickel metal hydride to the round cell life power or Lion I don't know which they were but it doesn't matter at this point and then all of a sudden the doctor Prius guys came out with their battery which looked exactly like the battery setups on Alibaba which of course are made in Asia somewhere. So I think as long as the car is built and based on the same voltage should not be a huge issue lithium ion I guess can discharge at a higher rate faster rate whatever I would imagine there's limiting software built into the system somewhat in the Toyota but how much I don't know but the guys are running the lithium battery here in generation two and three cars but they're not plug-in capable.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Aug 15, 2022
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think i read that someone tried this and it worked fine. but don't blame me if your garage burns down
     
    #3 bisco, Aug 15, 2022
  4. Mr. F

    Mr. F Active Member

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    Can you post a link for these?
     
    #4 Mr. F, Aug 19, 2022
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #5 bisco, Aug 19, 2022
  6. Mr. F

    Mr. F Active Member

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    The OP reportedly found videos of 4th Gen OEM Li-ion batteries being used in a Prius C which normally takes NiMH packs.
    The only video I was able to find was of an aftermarket Li-ion battery pack with a custom-built BMS for drop-in compatibility with NiMH systems being installed into a Prius C, which is quite different.

    The latter may work depending on the ingenuity and rigor of the designer of the BMS, and on the extent of safety testing done. The former, however, sounds quite hazardous without knowing any mitigating factors, which is why I was curious to see more details of that process.
     
    #6 Mr. F, Aug 20, 2022
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ah
     
    #7 bisco, Aug 20, 2022
  8. Aftab Ahmed

    Aftab Ahmed New Member

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    What's the update ??? Were you successful with your plan of running prius Gen 3 on Li ion btry ??
     
    #8 Aftab Ahmed, Jan 2, 2024
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