Okay, I can finally tell you what I've known for months.
When Kim Adelman, the founder of Plug-in Conversions Corporation, was here in Omaha doing the first install of his third generation plug-in Prius kit, he told me he and a partner in Chicago were developing a software upgrade that would enable his conversions to drive on electric power past Toyota's self-imposed 34 mph speed limit.
Understandably, Toyota imposed the 34 mph limit on its Generation II cars (2004-2009) to protect the battery pack, which only stores 1.3 kWh of energy. Allowing the car to go any faster would, they reasoned, quickly deplete the pack and likely shorten its life.
Ewert Energy Systems in Chicago, which developed the "hack" around Toyota's software limit, also helped develop the interface software between PICC's Gold Peak NiMH pack -- the only one of its kind using the same battery chemistry as what's in the Prius. With nearly six-times the amount of available energy as was in the original Toyota pack, the PICC car will now be able to drive at speeds up to 70 mph, with this caveat: the battery will be depleted at around 25 miles according to PICC's press release. There is no mention what impact this will have on the life of the battery pack.
Adelman promised when he was here last in Omaha doing the install on Omaha Public Power District's 2009 Prius that once the upgrade was ready, he would return and install it, which means EV World should get an early look at the finished product. If and when we do, you'll hear about it here first. So, stay tuned.
For more on the OPPD plug-in conversion watch my video interview with Kim.
