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People who have committed to a conversion include Aart J. de Geus, chairman of Synopsis; Erik Straser, a partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures; Gary Dickerson, CEO of Varian Semiconductor; and Cal Chow, CEO of Nanosys. (http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9869592-54.html?tag=nefd.blgs)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/PHEV_Prius.jpg Michael Kanellos - CNET - Feb 11, 2008

If you've got a fancy job in the Bay Area, you're probably going to get the sales call from Sass Somekh.

Somekh, the former president of equipment maker Novellus and an alum of Applied Materials, has started OurPower.org (http://www.ourpower.org/) as a way to promote plug-in hybrid conversions. Converting a regular Prius to a plug-in isn't cheap. The price runs about $10,000.

Even if gas rises to $4 a gallon, it would still take nearly 100,000 miles of driving before you broke even. (OurPower.org is working with A123 Systems, the lithium-ion battery maker, to perform the conversions.)

Rather than try to promote this on the mass market, Somekh is hitting up CEOs and other heavy-hitters in the area. If they convert their cars, the reasoning goes, their ever-obsequious vice presidents will follow.

So far, he seems to be drawing a crowd. People who have committed to a conversion include Aart J. de Geus, chairman of Synopsis; Erik Straser, a partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures; Gary Dickerson, CEO of Varian Semiconductor; and Cal Chow, CEO of Nanosys...http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9869592-54.html?tag=nefd.blgs

The cost to convert a Prius is just too great. I am just going to have to patiently wait until Toyota develops its PHEV.

But when they do develop it I will be the first in line and will be confident that it will be engineered with the competency we have come to expect with Toyota!

I wish I had that kind of disposable income.

Wait a second...

One of the criticisms of electric cars has been the range. They can only go 250 miles or less on a charge.

An electric car getting 250 miles would last me for 3 weeks of commuting and would cover most of my long trips as well. I know that there's the "or less" in that statement, but you're going to complain about 250 miles? What the deuce?

Wait a second...



An electric car getting 250 miles would last me for 3 weeks of commuting and would cover most of my long trips as well. I know that there's the "or less" in that statement, but you're going to complain about 250 miles? What the deuce?

It's a stupid line for the article. I've re-written it:

"One of the criticisms of electric cars (EVs) has been the range. They can only go 250 miles or less on a charge.

While a valid concern of most consumers, it has absolutely nothing to do with my article on Prius PHEVs and their much more limited EV range and an all important gas engine backup for motorists to avoid being stranded.

One of the criticisms of hydrogen fuel cell powered cars (FCVs) is the lack of infrastructure backup such as the so-called hydrogen highway, among other things. That too has nothing to do with the Prius PHEV in my article. Why did I mention EVs and but not FCVs when neither are PHEVs..........the real subject of the article? Your guess is as good as anyone".

Hi All:

___Just a few comments … I love the idea of the PHEV conversion of the Prius’ but with that limited 34/41 mph non-sense, everyone of them really throws away a lot of the potential. Once Toyota’s OEM PHEV-6 ECU flash is some how incorporated, these things become as practical as any other mod or hack other than the cost. 62 mph all EV allows you to actually not use fuel at all and it is sitting in anyone’s drive that owns a Prius-II other than the re-programming. The current crop of PHEV conversions without the 62 mph capability is a very tough sell.

___On a positive note, if Toyota can make the Prius-II PHEV-6 for a $1K premium today, imagine what they can do with tomorrows tech about to come out of their own labs :rolleyes: I highly doubt they have been resting on the Prius’ laurel’s the past 4.5 years ;)

___As for CEO’s and such purchasing PHEV conversions, I highly encourage it! If it helps bring the cost of a PHEV-30 or 40 conversion down to a much more reasonable $5K or less, why shouldn’t those with big $’s spend it on something like this rather than a Hemi powered Durango or latest MS Synch loaded F-150? Money well spent on the former and not so on the latter imho …

___Good Luck

___Wayne