Plug-In Supply Prius+ PHEV Conversion Kit

Plug-In Supply, Inc. unveiled the world’s first Prius Conversion System priced at $4995. The PbA10 Conversion System, which turns a standard 2004-2008 model year Prius into a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) based on the CalCars Open Source design, will be on display at the Plug-In 2008 Conference and Exposition in San Jose July 22-24. A Prius with a Plug-in Supply Conversion has an all-electric range of 10 to 15 miles and improved average mileage of up to 100 miles per gallon (plus 1 cent/mile of electricity). With the conversion system installed, a Prius can be driven for the first 10-15 miles on electricity before reverting to standard Prius driving mode.

Robb Protheroe, CEO and founder of Plug-in Supply Inc. said, “In light of current and expected gas prices, and the desire for many Prius owners to demonstrate environmentally friendly lifestyle choices, we are pleased to be able to offer Prius owners an affordable and upgradable option to extend their fuel economy and enhance their electric range.”

A PHEV owner plugs in the car overnight to recharge the battery pack. This saves gasoline by substituting cleaner, cheaper, domestic electricity for a portion of the gas that would otherwise be used to propel the vehicle. Electricity from the outlet sells for less than $1 per gas gallon equivalent (GGE).

Converting the Prius to a plug-in has been a popular topic since Ron Gremban, CalCars Technical Lead, was the first to convert his Prius in 2004. Since then, about two hundred cars have been converted, in what was formerly a slow and complicated process.

By refining the design for manufacturing, Plug-In Supply’s Conversion System reduced the conversion time from several weeks to just one day in 2007. Further improvements in design have reduced the cost and complexity while improving reliability and battery longevity.

The conversion system uses new extended life lead-acid batteries (over 800 cycles), for better battery longevity than was previously available. The combination of longer battery life and lower price improves the affordability of converting a Prius. The system is designed to permit an upgrade to lithium Iron Phosphate batteries with an all-electric range of 15-20 miles, as costs for these longer range batteries decline.