Where can I go in S. California, to convert my (Lexus 400h) hybrid truck into a plug-in?

Question

Where can I go in S. California, to convert my (Lexus 400h) hybrid truck into a plug-in?

Answer 1

why not get a plug-in vehicle like the Phoenix SUT?

http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com

converting any hybrid to plug-in will invalidate the warenty

Answer 2

Why would you want to?  NOt only would you have no warranty, but it will probably cost you $30,000 to $50,000 minimum to add battery packs and make other changes.  You will also cut your vehicle range from probably over 350 miles to less than 150 miles.

I think you would be well-advised to await changes in technology rather than be the first in line on this one.

Answer 3

A list of companies doing aftermarket plug-in hybrid converstions is at:

http://calcars.org/howtoget.html

but so far the chosen vehicles seem to be the Toyota Prius, the Ford Escape Hybrid and the sister Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

For cost reasons, unless you are a fleet owner or other high-mileage driver it probably will not be worth the cost of the conversion for you.  (Conversion pricing is high due to startup costs and low volumes, besides the pricing of the needed additional battery packs.)

Toyota/Lexus will no longer warranty such a vehicle (so there goes the 8 year/100,000 mile hybrid warranty, and the 10 year/150,000 mile warranty on the hybrid battery if your vehicle is an AT-PZEV model in a CA emissions state), but perhaps the aftermarket PHEV installer will offer you a warranty on their product?

To note, converting to a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) does not reduce the vehicle's range.  It gives the owner the option to recharge the (newly added larger) hybrid battery pack at night (cheap electricity and off-peak electric load which would otherwise be lost).  The vehicle would run for a certain distance (longer than stock) on the stored electric power alone, and when the battery pack is depleted to a certain point the vehicle reverts back to its original hybrid self and runs on a combination of the gasoline engine (which will also recharge the battery) and the electric motor.  A PHEV would add a greater all-electric range to the existing hybrid, besides the ability (but not the requirement!) to plug it into an electric source.

Answer 4

Toyota/Lexus hybrids are not designed to be "plugged in", period.  Except maybe a block heater, but surely you don't need one of those in S.Cali.