Rear-mounted J1772 port (and range-extending trailer option)

[Dav]

Or- one could leave the car stock and not try to make it into an experiment that has been played out on every EV forum over the years. If you want extended driving buy a hybrid or volt.

No, that's not the American way!

First you buy it brand new, then you start customizing it right away!

Besides, most on here haven't been on other EV forums for years. Much of this is brand new to them. Let them have fun.

 

[mitch672]

to be realistic, if you need extended range, it's less money to buy a good used 2004-2009 Prius, then install a "PICC" PHEV conversion kit ($6,500 for 6KW 20-30 mile range, or $13,500 for the 12KW 40-60 mile range). THe PICC kit will heavily favor EV, and can run up to 70MPH in all electric. There is also a "hybrid" mode that favors EV, but keeps the ICE warmed up for instantaneos power demands, it uses very little fuel, and averages almost 300mpg in hybrid mode.

Also, when the pack is depleted, its still a Prius, and you will "only" be getting in the mid 40's for MPG...

News story about the PICC kit: http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=23691

Ewert brothers: http://www.ewertenergy.com/index.php

older PICC kit: http://www.pluginconversions.com/picc_pressrelease61009.html

 

[HPEV]

You can't charge the vehicle while it's moving. In fact there's a cut off that when the J1772 is connected the car won't move. It's a safety feature.

I actually like the idea of a range extending trailer. You would not need to or even want to go through the J1772 port though because the onboard charger is too weak at 3.3kW to move an appreciable amount of power. Instead of even using AC power at all, it would be better to have a high voltage DC output from a genset or battery bank on the trailer and connect DC power going into the LEAF's pack.

This would not be a simple $4,000 solution but a much more expensive one to give you the kind of power needed to sustain driving and/or add meaningful range.

 

[Coffee_Slurry]

If I'm going to belch fumes while running, and park a trailer, I might as well get a Prius and be done with it.

I can't imagine the efficiency you're going to get with a portable generator/charger, but I'm certain you will have to turn in your Eco card. No smug for you.

The whole idea of a "range extender" add-on makes zero sense to me. You go right ahead, but man.. what a backwards way of getting somewhere.

Take the $5k+ and spend it on car rentals, no? If you spend more than that on long-range rentals, maybe the EV shouldn't be your only car. Just sayin'