Plug-and-play Prius Problems

[Jones Beene]

This well-thought-out site describes the growing pains of becoming fully "plug-compatible" and the various possible configurations and the warning to avoid the Prius Hacks.   As many suspected, even though the Prius was a huge advance, it is not the optimum situation for either cost, performance or efficiency. And things may have gotten worse rather than better because of the underlying IP situation. The Prius just happened to fit into a time-niche, and the market is now fully open for a better configuration.   http://drivingthefuture.com/hybrids.htm   Many experts say that the ultimate vehicle until the "one good battery" comes along, is the "strong PHEV (serial hybrid)," because it can serve all missions and all requirements seamlessly to the driver, except for not being completely ZEV ( i.e the true ZEV has no ICE at all for backup).   The electric motor is the only traction power for the strong PHEV serial hybrid. That's the key idea, eliminating layers of complexity. Most Prius hybrid owners did not realize how slow the car is in "stealth mode" on the interstate, even hacked. That cannot change with the more batteries. The electric motor is simply too weak.   With the full-serial config, electricity is fed to the much stronger electric motor from a battery system which is capable of running the car for a substantial period of time, and at interstate speeds of double the present Prius. The battery can be charged by an ICE engine-generator (genset) , which can also go direct to the motor. Others might say that the ZEV requirement is the "gold standard" and makes avoiding the serial configuration worthwhile, if it can be done at all - or at least making the ICE only an add-on. For example, you could fit the optional engine-generator into a dock (or trailer) on the ZEV when you need to go long distances, otherwise, use the extra space a cargo area.   The problem as always with going full ZEV is poor battery choices. The hacked-Prius is generally NOT ACCEPTABLE. It is can be a Frankenstein car (the plug-capable hacked Prius), which supposedly cannot drive over the 43 mph in stealth (battery only) mode, even on the highway (unless its downhill) and that slow speed is illegal in some places - and further, with very risky and pricey battery options which void the warranty, and put the driver at risk - this begs for a redesign to serial config. It would be so much easier to make the Prius truly plug-capable if it were designed for that serial configuration.    Here is the untold story which is why the Toyota is not there yet. In July 2004  Toyota, Matsushita Electric and Panasonic agreed to a $30M settlement payment in a patent-infringement suit involving the nickel metal hydride batteries used in the Prius. To avoid continuing payments they must eventually switch to a non-infringing design. Under the deal, Energy Conversion and its subsidiary, Ovonic Battery Co. Inc., will receive a $10-million fee from Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Panasonic EV Energy Co., and Toyota Motor Corp.  In addition, Cobasys LLC, a company co-owned by Energy Conversion and ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures LLC, will receive $20 million, according to documents filed recently with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.   Toyota will also, in the newer models most likely go to a lesser efficiency battery than before, rather than pay the exorbitant royalties. The focus of this settlement relates only to base patents for the nickel metal hydride batteries.   One might have suspected that big-oil - specifically ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures LLC is the real culprit trying to limit full plug-and-play.   Jones