« BCAA: Hybrids Not as Expensive as Most Think...at Least in Canada | Main | Bibendum Rally: From Kyoto to Aichi Prefecture »

EDrive Plug-in Prius Launched in Europe

9 June 2005

Amberjac Projects, a UK company, has announced that it is working with EnergyCS and Edrive Systems to launch the EDrive plug-in hybrid conversions in Europe.

EDrive Systems is a joint venture between EnergyCS and Clean-Tech which has introduced a commercial retrofit system that converts a Prius into a plug-in or “Gas-Optional” hybrid (PHEV or GO-HEV). (Earlier post.)

Amberjac Projects is in the process of acquiring exclusive European rights from Edrive Systems and EnergyCS to offer integrated conversions and licensing of the Edrive Systems plug-in concept to integrators and OEM manufacturers.

A converted Toyota Prius will be available for demonstrations at the end of July 2005, with a fully commercialized vehicle conversion available in early 2006.

Amberjac is seeking early adopters for initial development vehicles—at a higher initial cost—to assist with the data generation programme or for extended fleet trials.

Recently the Edrive Systems Plug-in Prius hit nearly 102 mpg US measured by the fuel tank over the first 60 miles and a net 84 mpg over a 150-mile course in the Tour de Sol. (The Prius also consumed 10 kWh of electricity for charging the Li-ion batteries. The Tour de Sol group calculated the net effective mileage (factoring in the grid power) of 67 mpg US.) (Earlier post.)

Plug in upgrades will be offered for other hybrid vehicles as they become available from OEM manufacturers, such as the new Lexus RX400h hybrid, GS450h hybrid and the European version of the Ford Escape hybrid.

The key modifications of the Prius Plug-in conversion are:

• A 9kWh Valence Saphion Li-ion battery system that replaces the standard 1.3 kWh NiMH pack

• A BMU (Battery Management Unit) system that interfaces seamlessly with the Toyota Hybrid System

• A compact onboard charging system to allow charging anywhere

The plug-in Prius provides up to 35 miles in full EV mode at urban speeds below 33 mph, and is targeted to deliver 130 mpg (Imperial) in the combined European driving cycle.

Resources:

• CalCars—the organization that is jump-starting the plug-in market by doing the initial development work on the plug-in Prius

• CalCars Message Archive—News from CalCars on Plug-ins

June 9, 2005 in Europe, Hybrids, Plug-ins | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (1)

Comments

Post a comment
[Please keep comments on topic. Disagreement is fine; insults, abuse or wild diversions are not. Comments not meeting those standards will be deleted. Abuse of another commenter’s email address will result in the banning of the offender from this site. In an attempt to prevent the posting of insulting and abusive comments, this site maintains a list of prohibited words and phrases, which, unfortunately, grows with time. Including one of the prohibited words or phrases will flag the comment as “spam”, and it will be blocked.]

Green Car Congress only allows comments from registered users. To comment, please Sign In.

You are currently signed in as (nobody). Sign Out

Comments:

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/22062/2613807

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference EDrive Plug-in Prius Launched in Europe:

» Re: Who killed the electric car - MOVIE from tribe.net: www.greencarcongress.com
Actually, plug-in hybrid cars getting something close to this mileage are alr... [Read More]

Tracked on Jul 2, 2006 12:09:05 PM