Has anyone heard of a guy in Corte Madera who has installed additional batteries in his Toyota Prius and now gets 180 mi/gl. Does anyone know his name or any hint how to get in touch with him?

[jsjjane]

I'm not sure if this is what you are talking about, but you can go to www.calcars.org and get info about making the Prius a plug-in hybrid. Way better mileage - dont remember just how much. Jane

wohlii wrote:

Has anyone heard of a guy in Corte Madera who has installed additional batteries in his Toyota Prius and now gets 180 mi/gl. Does anyone know his name or any hint how to get in touch with him?

There is a news article about him, Ron Gremban, here:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8930811/
but be warned (I'm an engineer like Mr. Gremban) you don't get something for nothing, of course.

1. The installation means putting these very heavy batteries into the car reducing the efficiency of the whole package.

2. Your electric bill goes up.

3. The energy still comes from our lovely, highly efficient california power grid

4. The total cost of ownership is higher than the base-level Prius.

5. Nobody has (as far as I know) studied the total fuel burden to the planet including manufacturing the batteries and generating the power to compare against a hyper-efficient fuel-only car such as a Suzuki. (I'm on to research that one over the next few months.) Motorcycles are still the most efficient from a total energy burden point of view. But I don't like dying young, it can ruin your day .

Regards

Duncan

wohlii wrote:

Has anyone heard of a guy in Corte Madera who has installed additional batteries in his Toyota Prius and now gets 180 mi/gl. Does anyone know his name or any hint how to get in touch with him?

[mediatorguy]

There's a different group doing the same thing - they were part of the Fuels of the Future exhibit (produced by Harmony Fest) at the Sonoma County Fair this week. Look up: http://www.calcars.org/

Matt

catraeus wrote:

There is a news article about him, Ron Gremban, here:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8930811/
but be warned (I'm an engineer like Mr. Gremban) you don't get something for nothing, of course.

1. The installation means putting these very heavy batteries into the car reducing the efficiency of the whole package.

2. Your electric bill goes up.

3. The energy still comes from our lovely, highly efficient california power grid

4. The total cost of ownership is higher than the base-level Prius.

5. Nobody has (as far as I know) studied the total fuel burden to the planet including manufacturing the batteries and generating the power to compare against a hyper-efficient fuel-only car such as a Suzuki. (I'm on to research that one over the next few months.) Motorcycles are still the most efficient from a total energy burden point of view. But I don't like dying young, it can ruin your day .

Regards

Duncan