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Jungle Motors offering Prius plug-in conversions
The San Juan Capistrano-based company makes kits that convert standard cars to electric vehicles.
By Susan BelknappPublished: December 07, 2008 10:30 AM
Orange County’s largest electric vehicle conversion company, Jungle Motors, announced today that it is now offering a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) conversion for the Toyota Prius. The PHEV system can double the car’s efficiency to more than 100 miles per hour, in “enhanced mode.”
The company’s previous conversions systems have been for Porsche 911s and Chrysler PT Cruisers.
“We convert the 2004 to 2009 standard Toyota Prius by adding batteries and hardware to dramatically improve its performance,” says Brad Sachs, director of Jungle Motors. “When we complete the conversion, the driver has three options for motive power. Normal Prius Mode, Enhanced Prius Mode and Battery-only Mode.
“In Normal Mode, the vehicle performs like a stock Prius getting over 40 miles per gallon. In a blend of Enhanced and Battery-only Modes, the car delivers over 100 mpg. And in the Battery-only Mode it becomes an Electric Vehicle (EV) and gets infinite mpg as the gas engine is totally bypassed. All the user has to do is plug in the vehicle at night to recharge the batteries,” continues Sachs.
The current technology utilizes lead acid batteries and offers over 10 miles of 100 percent electric range. The next upgrade – due out in February 2009 – will utilize lithium iron phosphate (lifePO4) batteries. This will give Prius drivers 40 miles of “engineless” range that will enable 70 percent of all drivers in the U.S. to drive without ever turning on their gas engines.
The company has plans for similar kits for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and other hybrid vehicles in the near future.
Prices for the Toyota Prius conversion start at $4,995.
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The company’s previous conversions systems have been for Porsche 911s and Chrysler PT Cruisers. “We convert the 2004 to 2009 standard Toyota Prius by adding batteries and hardware to dramatically improve its performance,” says Brad Sachs, director of Jungle Motors. “When we complete the conversion, the driver has three options for motive power. Normal Prius Mode, Enhanced Prius Mode and Battery-only Mode. “In Normal Mode, the vehicle performs like a stock Prius getting over 40 miles per gallon. In a blend of Enhanced and Battery-only Modes, the car delivers over 100 mpg. And in the Battery-only Mode it becomes an Electric Vehicle (EV) and gets infinite mpg as the gas engine is totally bypassed. All the user has to do is plug in the vehicle at night to recharge the batteries,” continues Sachs. The current technology utilizes lead acid batteries and offers over 10 miles of 100 percent electric range. The next upgrade – due out in February 2009 – will utilize lithium iron phosphate (lifePO4) batteries. This will give Prius drivers 40 miles of “engineless” range that will enable 70 percent of all drivers in the U.S. to drive without ever turning on their gas engines. The company has plans for similar kits for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and other hybrid vehicles in the near future. Prices for the Toyota Prius conversion start at $4,995. |
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