Originally Posted by PriusGuy04

Toyota warns that use of the EV button could reduce fuel efficiency. Also, extreme swings in
SOC of NiMH batteries can cause damage or shorten the usable life of the battery. The system is
programmed to avoid over-charging or deep discharging, but some risk to the battery may exist. If you
have a problem with your battery or Hybrid system or ECU and you have performed this modification, it
may void your warranty and you could be responsible for thousands of dollars for repairs even if it can't be
shown that the EV button was the cause of the damage. Consider this very carefully before you perform
this modification
<3 copies snipped...>
Toyota’s hybrid car, Prius, can get 40 miles to the gallon. How about 100 miles per hour? Shocking, and rightfully so. This dream car would get its boost from electric batteries.

A California non-profit company has designed a conversion kit specifically for the wildly popular hybrid that would improve on the car’s “green” engine by making it into a part-time plug-in. The kit’s extra batteries plug into an electrical outlet and hold a charge that powers the car entirely on electricity 20-60 miles, after which its hybrid gasoline-electric engine kicks in so you’re not stuck on the roadside. The company says it’s great for the lower-speed, short commutes that comprise the majority of our automobile use. Less gas consumption, fewer emissions, a cleaner environment.

The hitch: The kit is not a Toyota product, and the auto manufacturer says that owners who install it void the car’s warranty, discouraging many Prius owners from trying the kit. Ira’s guest is not out to take business away from the auto companies; in fact, he hopes to persuade them to work together with his company to incorporate the technology into a product that would be beneficial and affordable.