Thread: PHEV Lite
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Old 03-31-2008, 03:38 PM
Billyk Billyk is offline
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Real Name: Bill Kircher
Location: Southwestern Pa
Hybrids: 2005 Escape AWD
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Default Re: PHEV Lite

Quote:
Originally Posted by julianwilso View Post
If one were to purchase a replacement battery pack, wire it in parallel with the original, reprogram an increase for the all electric speed in the operating system and add an external charger, it would be possible to extend the electric operation and achieve a PHEV lite. What else would be needed? Julian
The current hybrid vehicles have a miles per hour limit on electric mode function. Thus in theory you could add another battery in an attempt to gain duration but the miles per hour limit would still exist. You would not have "much" electric assist during highway speed driving.

Since the PHEV are not currently sold to the public, it is hard to tell if they will allow sustained electric mode function at highway speeds. However, one when reads the reports from Hybrid-Plus out of Boulder, this aftermarket company does allow sustained electric assist at highway speed until the hybrid battery is depleted to a predetermined level. Shoot an e-mail to gpsman1 who has driven such a vehicle.

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2005 AWD Escape Hybrid
Best tank trip MPG 39.02 (scangauge II) for 402 miles on I-70, 10.3 gallons used over mostly flat terrain.
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