Toyota Prius hybrid owners convert their cars to plug-ins

[steven johnson]

Cool!

Six Prius dealerships in the US now convert standard Priuses into plug-ins using commercially produced lithium-ion batteries.
The process is straightforward. The mechanics install a lithium-ion battery in the spot formerly reserved for the spare tire. They then drill a hole in the rear of the car to put in a plug point for charging. The battery has a range of 35 to 40 miles, and takes about five hours to recharge completely.

Toyota moved up the date for its roll-out of the first 500 purpose-built plug-in Priuses to later this year.
The cost of the conversions is prohibitive. Steve Rosenstock spent $10,900 converting his red 2008 model Prius to a plug-in – roughly half the cost of the entire car.On the open road, at constant speeds and in flat conditions, he has achieved mileage of well over 100mpg.


Toyota Prius hybrid owners convert their cars to plug-ins