New kits can turn your car into a hybrid.

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25104169/

 

[dogfriend]

Interesting article but:

Auto analyst Art Spinella, of CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore., expects half of the aftermarket plug-in electric conversion kits will have problems.

If you see this guy, Art Spinella, quoted on anything, be skeptical. He is the author of the Hummer vs. Prius paper that claimed that a Prius costs 3x what the Hummer does to operate. His paper has been debunked by several independent sources as complete BS.

Depending on what the costs are 9 years from now when my battery warranty runs out, I might consider a plug in conversion. At the rate that the battery technology is developing, there may be some cost effective options.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Maybe they will have a fuel cell option by that time. Ballard makes a small fuel cell which is the size of a small generator.

 

[Flandry]

That's some cool stuff. But it looks like they still have some bugs to work out. From Jalopnik:

Aftermarket Plug-In Prius Explodes In Fiery Mess

The Cooperative Research Network has reported that a Toyota Prius retrofitted with a plug-in hybrid kit manufactured by A123 has exploded in a big bada-boom. A123 produces a PHEV15 kit to convert the Prius into a plug-in model; while the Prius in question was reportedly experiencing charger-related problems, it was still allowed on the road. While driving, the occupant noticed balls of fire coming from the backseat and subsequently fled the vehicle, which then exploded.

The moral of the story? Don't disrupt the evolution of hybrids. Sure, everyone wants a plug-in hybrid, and they are definitely on their way. But there's no need to try to disrupt the evolutionary process; it can be dangerous — just ask Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park.

 

[dogfriend]

That's why Toyota and others have been using NiMH batteries for hybrids. Lithium Ion (the type A123 makes) have better power density, but they are more dangerous and the details haven't been worked out yet.

They will get it worked out.