Plug-in Hybrid Conversion FAQ's What is the difference between your conversion kit and others? Did Pacific EV develop the Plug-in hybrid kit that you are installing? Can I use the kit for other hybrids? Does the kit adjust the voltage as the temperature fluctuates? Does it come with all the necessary instructions? Will it work in EV mode only up to 34mph, or will it go up to 50mph? When the gasoline engine is on, will it behave like a regular hybrid, or will the gas mileage still improve (ie. even when the gas engine is running)? How does the low-speed EV mode work? How many amps does the charger pull (my garage has a small breaker)? How does the modified hybrid mode work? Are the electronics in the Prius 'fooled' into thinking that the battery is more charged than it is (resulting in more electric power being used)? Do I keep my spare tire? If so, how accessible is it after the install? Will the kit damage my hybrid? Will the auxiliary Lithium-Ion battery cause a fire? How is this kit comparing to Calcars' design? Is there an interlock to prevent the car from being started while the car is plugged in? How long does the battery last? What is the warranty? Will the kit void my warranty? How much does it cost? How long does it take to install one? Should I wait for GM Volt or Toyota PHEV? What happen if PHEV battery runs out? How do I recharge the battery pack? Am I going to get 100 MPG once I install the Enginer Kit? What other accessories are available for my Hybrid?What is the difference between your conversion kit and others?To lower the kits cost, Enginer did not pursue maximum EV. If you travel 20+ miles daily, the result is the same whether you use the battery power at the beginning under an all-EV scenario or release it in a controlled manner over a longer period and at higher speeds. Did Pacific EV develop the Plug-in hybrid kit that you are installing?Pacific EV had the development of a plug-in hybrid kit on our list of things we wanted to develop until the Enginer kit became available. We felt that most of the early adopters to plug-in hybrid technology had already purchased the higher end kits that became available earlier but that there was plenty of people who wanted improve their gas mileage but just could not afford or justify spending over $10,000 for a kit. The Enginer kit fits fills this need. Can I use the kit for other hybrids?Yes. The conversion kit is programmable and can be reconfigured for any hybrid vehicle by adjusting output voltage and current settings. However, the battery box may have to redesign to fit into donor vehicles. Does the kit adjust the voltage as the temperature fluctuates?Yes. There is temperature compensation for summer and winter conditions. Does it come with all the necessary instructions? Will it work in EV mode only up to 34mph, or will it go up to 50mph? When the gasoline engine is on, will it behave like a regular hybrid, or will the gas mileage still improve (ie. even when the gas engine is running)?As listed in the user manual, Enginer does not pursue maximum EV only driving but instead simplified the design and installation to preserve the OEM control algorithm for emission control and prolong battery life. How does the low-speed EV mode work?Most use the integrated prius functionality, which frequently locks you out and automatically exits when needed. The plug-in power PHEV uses a different system that forces EV and goes up to 52MPH. How many amps does the charger pull (my garage has a small breaker)?Approximately 7 Amps @120VAC How does the modified hybrid mode work? Does the lithium pack power the motor directly, or does it charge the traction battery?Yes and Yes. It supplements battery electric power when the electric motor is used and charges the battery to a higher SoC when it is not. Are the electronics in the Prius 'fooled' into thinking that the battery is more charged than it is (resulting in more electric power being used)?No. The OEM NiMH battery has more power because the Enginer kit continuously charges it to a higher SoC. Do I keep my spare tire? If so, how accessible is it after the install?Yes, but not in its original location. Typically, you'll have to stow the tire in a new location. Will the kit damage my hybrid?The Enginer PHEV conversion kit will not harm your hybrid since it only connects to the OEM NiMH battery's output in parallel. The stock HV controller will maintain the SoC of the original battery but use more electricity with SoC nearing 80% SOC. The Kit does not force EV mode by spoofing CAN messages like other conversion kits. It also includes both voltage and current limiter to make sure the OEM NiMH battery is not over charged. Will the auxiliary Lithium-Ion battery cause a fire?No. Enginer uses the latest and safest Lithium Phosphate batteries with low cell voltages (3.2V). Additionally, very low internal resistance results in very little heat build-up. The Enginer PHEV Conversion kit limits current output to further reduce heat build up and prolong battery life. The pack is only warm to the touch while under load. The Li-Ion battery packs chemistry is designed in such a way there is no chance for thermal-run-away like other Lithium chemistries (Cobalt oxide, Manganese Oxide). How is this kit comparing to Calcars' design?The kit is a simplified and improved vs. Calcars' in the way it is connected and releases energy. The PHEV battery pack does not connect directly to Prius' OEM NiMH pack directly. It uses a customized isolated DC/DC converter to control the release of energy to the inverter and OEM NiMH battery. It does charge and assists the stock battery during driving when vehicle is booted up. It does not have the 100 MPG capability of Calcars' over short ranges and at slower speeds. At higher speeds over 20 miles (2KW)/40 miles (4KW), the Enginer kit is equivalent to Calcars'. The controlled release of energy (constant output current of ~10A and set max voltage range 320V for Prius-I, 240V for Prius-II) results in lower power requirements for all components and longer battery life and reduces cost dramatically. Is there an interlock to prevent the car from being started while the car is plugged in?No. It is not really needed since it is isolated DC/DC converter. You can even use a roof top solar panel to charge the battery while it is running. How long does the battery last?The Lithium-ion battery is rated for 2000 cycles when using 80% of the packs total capacity and 3000 cycles using just 70%. If you charge it daily, you would normally have six to eight years of use. What is the warranty?There is a two year warranty on parts and labor. Will the kit void my warranty?The Magneson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits Toyota from voiding your warranty unless they can show that the PHEV conversion damaged your car. Our kit is less likely to affect the original design of the vehicle because the interface is simpler and far less intrusive than other PHEV conversion kits and methods. How much does it cost?The 2kwh kit for Gen 1 is $3,300 installed. The 4kwh kit for the Gen 2 and Gen 3 is $4,995 installed. How long does it take to install one?It takes typically one day, though it may be two days if extra items are purchased along with kit. Should I wait for GM Volt or Toyota PHEV?It could be a two to three year wait and will be much more expensive than Enginer's PHEV conversion kit. The best way to reduce oil consumption is to retrofit existing hybrids on the road today. What happen if PHEV battery runs out?The converter will shutdown the kits output and the vehicle will return to its normal non-PHEV mode. How do I recharge the battery pack?You can plug in the included charger into any standard 110 volt, 7 amp AC outlet using a 3 wire, 14 gauge extension cord. The conversion kit includes a charge inlet receptacle for mounting on rear bumper or the front bumper for an additional charge. Am I going to get 100 MPG once I install the Enginer Kit?Enginer never advertises 100 MPG performance like its competitors. There are many factors affecting fuel efficiency including temperature, terrain, driving speed and charge frequency. Enginer made trade offs between short range fuel efficiency and total ownership cost. You should receive a 30 to 50% fuel efficiency improvement with the Enginer kit. You can get higher MPG if you charge it more frequently (charging at work) or drive exclusively in the city. What other accessories are available for my Hybrid?You can have a block heater installed that is connected to the bumper plug and will charge your kit and warm your engine block at the same time. Having a warm engine block will reduce the time your engine will spend running in the morning just to warm the block up, hence saving more gas, especially in the spring, winter and spring seasons. |