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How do we convert past date into future date?

Will Toyota convert a regular Prius into a PHEV (at some future date)?

  • In addition to offering a PHEV, perhaps selling a conversion kit for older Hybrids can be a significant source of revenue for the company?

  • Answer:

    No. The HEV prius has a relatively weak electric motor that isn't really suited for the additional work that a PHEV would use. On top of this, there are significant warranty and liability issues with retrofitting used cars of varying condition. On top of this, even at $5 a gallon, the average owner would have to drive for many years to come close to breaking even. I'd argue that it's a waste of R&D- Toyota has sold 1.5 Million HEV Priuses, and it's better to invest this money in improving future product rather than selling a multi-thousand dollar upgrade to people who are unlikely to spend the money in any proportion relative to the investment in future product that they'd give up.

Nick Nguyen at Quora Visit the source

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Extremely unlikely because it would be extremely costly.  The labor costs to convert an existing HEV to a PHEV would be much greater than the labor cost differential between building a PHEV annd HEV at a factory.  Also, the tax credits for PHEV conversion have expired, meaning the consumer would have to pay an much higher net price difference. And it is not because the HEV Prius has a weak electric motor.  Both the HEV and PHEV Prius have a 60 kW motor (http://www.toyota.com/prius/features.html#!/mechanical_performance/1223/1225/1227/1229 and http://www.toyota.com/prius-plug-in/features.html#!/mechanical/1235/1237).  The difference is that the HEV battery cannot supply enough power by itself (except at very slow speeds/acceleration) and needs the engine to run a generator to generate enough electric power.  The PHEV battery can supply more power to allow all electric driving.

Joseph Chang

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