Just finished my PHEV project.... yipee, it works!

[Webbcam]

Hi Seattle EV guys.

I am from Spokane and a new member of your group. Being snowed in over the last few weeks meant more time to work on my projects. This Monday and Tuesday I installed a lead-acid plug-in kit on my 2005 Pirus. Tested it Wednesday and today and over the first 20 miles the ICE only turned on twice for a total of 30 seconds. The on-board computer claims greater than 99.9 mpg. I haven't fully tested the full electric mode (didn't start with a full charge) but it also seems to be working well. It is supposed to deliver 10-15 miles without using the ICE at all. Having about a 50% charge it pooped out after 8 miles of city driving.

I'm happy!......a) it works!, b) I didn't electrocute myself!, and c) simple enough operation to make it the default mode for the car (my wife HATES my gadgets).

I used a kit from [www.pluginsupply.com] that is based on the Cal Cars open source PHEV project (the so called Prius+). Ordinarily they only sell to dealers but since there are no dealers anywhere near Spokane and because of my experience with working on cars (in the dark ages before medical school) they agreed to sell it to me.

The cost was $4995 plus $250 for delivery. The circuit boards and charger are capable of upgrading to LiFePO4 batteries when they come down in price. The lead-acid batteries should be good for 800+ cycles and last about 2-3 years. When I upgrade to Lithium batteries they should last for the life of the car.

Robb Protheroe from Plug-In-Supply has put together a very nice kit. It is well thought out and assembles very easily. He even included beefier coil springs for the back so that the Prius doesn't drive around with its rear end dragging the ground from the extra 360 pounds of the kit.

I'll keep you guys informed,

John C.

[Jim]

Congratulations!!

Now if only Toyota would start providing plug-in capability.

[lenapralos]

Congrats on the plug in project.  How many & what type of lead acid batteries did the kit take and at what voltage does it function at?

I'm currently converting a 1984 Honda civic to a plug in hybrid with 6 12v lead acid batteries, a medium 6.7" motor for the drive system, and a honda generator in the trunk, hopefully giving the charging system around 40 amps to throw into the 72v system.

I have 3 schematics for a homemade charging system, 2 of which are capacitive chargers, the other uses a chopper, (oscillating MOSfets).  I would be happy if I could claim  99mpg+.   The components I've purchased for the kit so far are around $2000 dollars including the car.  Hopefully if the charging system does what I hope it will I will upgrade to a propane generator.

-J

[Webbcam]

Congrats on the plug in project.  How many & what type of lead acid batteries did the kit take and at what voltage does it function at?

The project uses 20 EB20-12v sealed batteries from BB Battery Company. They are wired in series and the resultant 240v tapped into the Prius's main battery via contactors. The charger I am using is from Guangzhou Kingpan  (www.kingpan.cn) and is the model 28804DA. It is designed for lithium batteries (so I can upgrade in the future) and in the main charging mode (constant current) delivers 4 amps at 206-288v.

Your project sounds fun although way above my head at this point. Good luck.

John C.

Edit: Except for the word "welcome" the website above is in chinese! sorry.