Yesterday a local business owner, Eric Sevim of A+ Japanese in San Carlos, demonstrated his PHEV converted Toyota Prius with me as a passenger. The concept is fantastic, an extra battery supply installed with perfect fitment and seamless software installation makes for an additional 40miles of electric motoring. After the 40 plus or minus miles, the Prius operates normally off its pre-existing hybrid configuration. Whenever convenient, the car can be plugged into the wall using a normal household extension cord and charged up again. If your daily mileage is less than 40 you may very well burn less than a gallon of gas per week.
I've seen plenty of experimental or homemade installations, but the Hymotion product installed by certified A+ Japanese was perfect, it was even crash tested during development. I was told they do the installation in 1 day for customers with standard hybrids, and 100mpg is about normal. Amazing.
Due to our legislative experts the car does require the engine still run for 58 seconds when you first operate the vehicle after a complete power off (parking). Eric tells me this law is in place for all vehicles to effectively heat up their catalyzers for proper exhaust gas treatment. Eric has become active in California vehicle legislation. Perhaps we'll get this law overturned as more PHEV's emerge.
This is a product and service I can recommend to my own clients. A+ Japanese can be reached at 650.595.CARS.
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