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Does all the hype about the new Chevy Volt and other plug-in hybrids on the horizon have you feeling a little bit down about your old hat hybrid? Are gas engines a thing of the past? Don’t despair – there are now aftermarket conversion kits that let you change your hybrid vehicle into a plug-in. Kits like the Hymotion L5 conversion kit from A123Systems, Poulsen Hybrid and the VS Composites Electrocharger are designed to add green to your existing car and save you on gas, too.
In fact, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes a tax break for consumers who convert their hybrids into plug-ins. Until December 31, 2011, you can take a tax credit worth 10% of the cost to convert your vehicle, maxing out at $4,000. With the Hymotion kit costing about $10,000 (plus labor for installation), you stand to get quite a bit of free money from Uncle Sam for the project.
Plus, if you already took a tax credit for buying a hybrid vehicle, you can still claim the plug-in hybrid conversion kit tax credit, too. As of now, Florida also offers a $5,000 rebate for drivers that convert their Toyota Prius Hybrids into plug-in hybrids. The conversion must be done at Foreign Affairs Auto on Military Trail in West Palm Beach and costs $10,400, but after the $5,000 rebate and the $1,000 tax credit, you’re looking at about $3,400 for the final bill. Reports indicate that the car gets up to twice as much miles to the gallon, with some sources reporting up to 150 miles per gallon for their converted Prius.
However, before you rush out to jump on the plug-in bandwagon, you may want to consider a few things. For one, when MSNBC covered third-party conversion kits back in 2008, Toyota spokesman Bill Kwon stated that they were “concerned” that such a conversion might “push some components beyond their design parameters” which might cause parts of the system to fial or present “occupant safety” compromises.
Not only that, Toyota is planning on rolling its own Hybrid Plug-in and is selling 150 of them in the U.S. While you’re unlikely to get your hands on this limited run of 2010 Toyota Prius Plugin Hybrids, you may be able to get a plug-in car backed by a manufacturer’s warranty and rigorous testing if you have the patience to wait. Otherwise, feel free to convert to plug-in at your own risk.
