New Plug-in Hybrid...Debuts at Clean Energy Event (Prius 125 mpg)

[jpak]

New Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Debuts at Clean Energy Event

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060918005081&newsLang=en

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2006--A new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, capable of 125 mpg and receiving electricity from or sending it to the grid, will be available for viewing at "Clean Energy Partnerships." The event, part of the statewide Colorado's Tech Week, will be in Fort Collins on Monday, September 18.

The Colorado Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) is working with several partners on this project. Hybrids-Plus, Inc. converted a 2006 Toyota Prius into a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for demonstration purposes. A123Systems supplied the state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Xcel Energy will perform a benefit analysis of the project.

"Hybrids-Plus, based in Boulder, Colorado, is one of the few companies in the country to offer this conversion. This PHEV demonstration is generating a great deal of interest in other hybrid conversions," said Drew Bolin, director of OEMC.

The batteries are a new generation of high-power lithium ion used for, among other things, cordless power tools, and have been installed as a self-contained battery pack in the rear of the vehicle. The design takes some of the space occupied by a storage tray now in the trunk, but allows access for, and to, the spare tire.

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[soothsayer]

1. Sweet! Moving in the right direction!

[DaveJ]

2. This is the real weapon...

...against big oil terrorists.

[flyingfysh]

3. Prius leading the way, as usual

I have a conventional (non-converted) Prius which sometimes gets over 63 MPG.

There's no reason Detroit couldn't have made the same kind of car. But they chose to build SUVs instead.

[skids]

4. Good to see A123's batteries are making rapid progress.

Previous PHEVs were all using Valance Tech Sapphion. Now we have some competition in the field.

[YankeyMCC]

5. Well when can I trade up then :)

I JUST bought a Prius this week.

[FogerRox]

6. There are kits to make your Pruis a plug in hybrid

[YankeyMCC]

8. Yeah, I've heard of that and plan to look into it too n/t

[tinrobot]

12. The kits cost about 10 Grand

Hopefully, prices will come down as the technology matures.

[FogerRox]

13. A plug in battery charger, 10k? OMG rip off

[Dead_Parrot]

15. Erm, that does include a hefty new battery...

The standard Prius battery is ~1.3KWh: the upgrades increase that to closer to 10KWh, and adjust the car's systems so it "knows" it's got the extra capacity and uses it.

The charger's pretty much free. :)

[skids]

7. As soon as you want...

They are post-factory mods. Won't do much for your warranty, but you can get them now. The one linked above is not the only one available, there are I think two other PHEV kits available with different prices and performance specs for 2004+ Prius.

Unfortunately mine is an 02 and nobody seems to be making one for it. If I had a job I would have traded up to a 06 last year to be in a position to buy one of these kits at some point later on.

[Dead_Parrot]

9. What you should do...

...is compile a list of your posts about 123 and send it off to them - I reckon they owe you a customised upgrade for the free publicity. ;)

[skids]

17. Nope it's my citizens duty...

...to promote Massachusetts businesses. :-)

Besides, you shouldn't complain, weren't you the guy that had stock in beaconpower? Or was that phantompower? :-)

[Dead_Parrot]

18. Phantompower...

I also own Hatrack's left knee. I invested in NNadir's modesty, but it's been reduced to junk bond status.

(Sorry NN :D)

[papau]

14. Post 2004 Prius conversions have 2005 web pages - what's 2006 news?

http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/news,view.spy?artid=63626&pg=1
6/2006 story on Toyota researching plug-in


http://www.hybrids-plus.com/ht/faq.html

Example of 2 (Prius-30 and Prius-15 versions) 2005 options for post 2004 Prius

The Prius-30 can store twice as much electricity as the Prius-15. Which model will work best for you depends on how much you tend to drive per day. (No need to consider how far you drive when you go on a trip: that's when the PHEV starts behaving like a regular HEV.)

It does not make sense to carry more electrical energy in the car than you are likely to use in one day, so you do not want too big a battery pack.
On the other side, you want enough electrical energy to supplement the gasoline for most of your driving, so you do not want too small a battery pack either.
Roughly, the threshold is 40 miles per day:

The Prius-15 model is better for you if you drive 40 miles or less per day
The Prius-30 model is better for you if you drive more than 40 miles per day
Consider also that:

The smaller model is lighter and less expensive
The larger model may not be discharged as deeply, so may last longer
The smaller model fits seamlessly in place of the original battery. The Lithium Ion cells used by Hybrids Plus are flame-proof (unlike the "laptop" types used in some conversions). They contain no liquid chemicals to spill (unlike "lead-acid" types used in some conversions).

[Qutzupalotl]

10. Put solar cells in the roof.

You park it all day in the sun, it's ready to go.

Solar window screens too. Why not?

:shrug:

[mom cat]

11. Love it. Here is a good idea too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2173463

[Dover]

16. In a conversation with a Toyota dealer, I was told they are coming out

with a different looking model in the next year or two. He told me this after I asked him why fuel efficient cars always looked a little goofy. He didn't mention the plug-in feature. He was just referring to its appearance. But I haven't seen any press on this, so perhaps he was wrong or they opted for continuing the current look (which is growing on me, btw).