Plug-in Prius Hybrid Basics

At a glance features of the plug-in Prius Conversion:

• Up to a 2/3 reduction in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

• Up to 100+ MPG for the first 30-40 miles of driving on a single charge

• Automatically reverts to standard hybrid operation until next charge – driving range not limited by battery charge

• Charges from standard household outlet

Specs at a glance:

• Compatible with 2004-2009 Toyota Prius

• Cargo space preserved

• Installed in just a few hours

• 5.5 hour charge time

• Certified to federal new vehicle safety standards

Q: What is a Plug-in Hybrid?On the most basic level, a plug-in hybrid (or PHEV) is just a hybrid with a rechargeable battery. It still uses both gasoline and electricity to drive (like the standard Prius), but because the battery is rechargeable, the car uses more electricity and much less gasoline, which significantly boosts fuel economy (or eliminates gasoline consumption altogether). Plug-in hybrids shouldn’t be confused with fully electric cars, which derive 100% of their power from electricity. Although the goal is to eliminate petroleum usage, plug-in hybrids are advantageous for their ability to use gasoline in addition to electricity, so you won’t get stranded with a dead battery.
Q: What’s the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a regular hybrid?A regular hybrid has a very limited amount of battery power, and is mostly gasoline-powered since the battery can only be charged by recapturing energy from braking and deceleration. A plug-in hybrid can be re-charged at home or at work, so a much larger portion of driving is powered by electricity, not gas.
Q: How is the conversion performed?The process for plug-in conversion and operation is surprisingly simple. (See the video). Here are the basics:

• Automatically reverts to standard hybrid operation until next charge – driving range not limited by battery charge

• Charges from standard household outlet

• A supplementary battery is added to the trunk of the car and connected to the main hybrid system.

• A plug is embedded in the bumper, which allows you to charge the new battery from a normal household outlet.

• The new battery drains while you drive, assisting the gas engine and often times (especially if driven properly) replacing engine use entirely.

• After the supplementary battery pack is fully depleted, the car will operate like the original factory Prius until you charge it again by plugging in.

Q: Why are you only doing plug-in conversions for the Toyota Prius?Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid conversions are currently the only commercially available conversions with realistically affordable prices and more than limited quantities. While it is possible to convert a Ford Mustang into a fully electric car, it will probably cost at least $70,000 and take a lot of custom engineering. The Toyota Prius is the only car on the road with several commercially available conversion kits on the market—kits that can be installed in a few hours using basic tools. The Prius’ hybrid battery system can be piggybacked on relatively easily, meaning that the new, larger battery simply supplements the old one (as opposed to entirely replacing the internal combustion engine and standard vehicle drivetrain). We vetted all the available Toyota Prius kits (there are three) and chose the A123 / Hymotion conversion kit based on overall quality, price, and most important, safety testing.
Q: How much will my mileage improve with this conversion.Generally, about double the mileage. More details about cost savings can be found on the PHEV Cost Benefit Analysis FAQ.
Q: How much will my car’s green-house gas emissions change after this conversion?It’s based on usage and where your electricity comes from. Check out the Environmental Benefits FAQ.