A123's Hymotion Names 6 Garages to Give Prius a Plug
At the same time that Detroit is dragging its feet, startups are moving quickly to get plug-in hybrid electric vehicles into customers’ garages. Today A123 System’s plug-in conversion company Hymotion announced the first six locations for its Green CHIP (Certified Hymotion Installation Partner) dealers. So now, if you’ve got a Prius or Ford Escape and live in San Francisco, L.A., Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis or D.C., you know where to go to add a plug to your hybrid. For the list of dealers names check here.
Hymotion said in April that it would start doing plug-in conversions in July. Don’t hold your breath. The three dealers on the list that we were able to get ahold of had not even heard of the product.
The kit, the A123Systems Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module, costs a hefty $10,000 plus fees and adds electric capacity, enabling you to drive in electric mode for longer, cutting down on gas-usage and carbon emissions. A123 Systems says that a converted Prius can get over 100 mpg for 30 to 40 miles. But at $10K you likely won’t make your money back on gas savings, even with skyrocketing crude prices.
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.
“Detroit draggin its feet” – funny, but as I see it, Detroit is the only place where a built-from-the-ground-up plug-in is being developed. The exobitantly expensive Hymotion conversion of which you think so highly of actually invalidates your warranty, produces a car that cannot be serviced at Toyota dealers, throws away your spare tire and requires another new very expensive battery a mere five years down the road. yes, I’d say your right in claiming that Detroit is “dragging its feet.” So what does that make Germany and japan, neither of which has even mentioned a date for a plug-in? Nothing like pure ignorance. Get some knowledge before you spout your wisdom, brainless one.
“Dragging their feet” ? Are you a complete moron, or just one of them part timers? I see that GM has had its Volt program on a fast track, with the highest priority of any development program in their history.
You people are out of touch and pretty damn incompetent as liars to boot. Quit lying you silly fools.
As a whole, the auto industry is definitely dragging its feet. It seems to me they are in shock and, again, as a whole, not reacting to the reality of higher gas prices. Sure, I can buy a car from one manufacturer and get subsidized gas for 3 years. Hey, I have a better idea car industry- increase the vehicles fuel economy by just 3PMG and I can continue to reap the benefits of lower fuel costs FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, not just the three years of the gimmick that is being advertised.
Hymotion is not providing a plug in upgrade to Ford Escape yet, just the Toyota Prius (2004-2008).
I am not surprised that calling the CHIP dealers out of the blue will not get you speaking to the right people about their involvement as a certified dealer to install the Hymotion modules. The A123 Systems web site specifically says to not call the installers about installations but to work through A123 Systems directly. The installs are not starting until July. My upgrade is not scheduled until sometime in September in Boston MA.
Payback is never the point for anyone who is an early adopter in changing the paradigm about energy use. What is the payback on leather seats, side curtain airbags, a 6CD in dash CD Player or sunroof? There is no payback on amenities. Spending $10,000+ to get over 100MPG is an amenity. It is not done by those who want to save money at the pump. It is done by those who have the means and want to reduce their personal climate changing emissions- otherwise known as carbon footprint.
Many people spend $35,000 for a car. I spent $25,000 for a Prius and am upgrading it with an environmental amenity for $10,000 and will be cutting my carbon emissions in half in the process. I couldn’t think of any better way to “invest” the money.
I may be living in a fantasy land but I think that the car manufacturers are in cohoots with the oil companies. They could easily build vehicles that get way way better mileage than they do now but I think the oil companies pay better. I like to see them coming out with green plugins though. I need to invest in a prius and leave the dodge v10 in the garage.
BMW M3 Beats Prius in Fuel Economy Test:
BBC – Top Gear chose the most extreme examples to make the point – a sedan equipped with a V-8 engine producing 414 horsepower against the Toyota Prius with its 76 horsepower hybrid motor. The EPA rates the BMW at 14 miles per gallon in the city, and 20 on the highway which compares unfavorably to the 48 and 45 figures for the Prius. In this test, the M3 matched the speed of the Prius as the hybrid ran flat-out over ten laps of the 1.8 mile Top Gear Test Track in Surrey, England. Measurements taken after the run show that the Prius returned just 14.3 miles to the US gallon, while the BMW had 12 percent better fuel economy at 16.1 miles per gallon.
I think toyota – just made money on us when sold “green” prius.