The California Cars Initiative wasn’t content with the hybrid engine technology in the Toyota Prius, so it’s gone a step further: The group is souping up the vehicles with additional batteries and the ability to plug into a wall socket to charge up.
CalCars technology lead Ron Gremban (left) and founder Felix Kramer stand by the converted Prius+, which they say can get 100 miles per gallon of gas.
On the dashboard stands the modified car’s control/display unit. The standard Prius display continues to work.
The EnergyCS/EDrive lithium-ion battery pack in Kramer’s converted Prius.
Members of the Prius+ team, which did its first conversion in September 2004, starting with a low-cost lead-acid battery pack. From left to right: Gremban, Kramer, Marc Geller, Kevin Lyons, Andrew Lawton.
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.
