My trip to Auto Be Yours in Scottsburg, IN. Home of the Hybrid King and Prius PHEV master Steve...

Here is my car returning to its place of origin.  Steve Woodruff performed FREE warranty work on my car.  I am VERY satisfied with the vehicle.  It is amazing that it was once a wreck!  You talk about the ultimate recycling!  Steve's website:  www.autobeyours.com

Here is probably the only ALL Electric Prius around.  It was made with a collaborative effort of Steve Woodruff of Auto Be Yours and Plug in Supply.  Steve calls this the ePrius.  I was able to drive it during my visit.  I must say...very very very cool!  Notice!!!  No GAS ENGINE!!!

The ePrius on You Tube!

Earlier work on the ePrius!

ePrius early very rough mode!!

Hi stins,
     Steve must simply search the country salvage yards and insurance salvage.  Some cars are not fixable but they are used for parts.  My car came from CT and I live in IL.  It is interesting to walk around his shop (and it is rather large!) and see the different Priuses and where they come from.  I am a bit obsessed with the Priuses  and I even watch Steve's live feed from his security cameras.  He lets anyone who wishes view the cameras.  Instructions for getting access to his cameras are on his website www.autobeyours.com.  I am planning on getting my next car for my kids from Steve also.  One of the coolest things on his website is the stretch limousine made from 2 Prisuses.  Steve didn't make it personally but the make came to Steve for technical advice.  Without doubt, Steve is the Prius guy in the USA.

Kent

Hi dana,
     The all Electric ePrius is a loving project by Steve at this point and not practical quite yet.  However, he keeps tinkering with it.  When Rob from Plug in Supply came, they hooked up a 10 KWH battery supply and I believe their range was about 35 miles.  The car has nice pick up and a top speed of 52.  My PHEV can go all electric as I have the same basic kit with lead batteries.  I max out about 10 miles but I have a gas hybrid back up!  Steve's ePrius has NO GAS ENGINE!! That is really cool.  
     Steve told me that they have recenlty made a new computer hack and can go up to 70 mph with the new kits coming out but I don't think he has done that yet, but he will.  That will make them a pretty reasonable electric car.  Find a salvage Prius with no motor, add Lithium batteries and presto, for about 12,000.00 you have a real electric car not one of those NEV plastic toys. 
     I thought of buying an EV but didn't see the advantage over my PHEV that can run EV.  I reallly scare McDonald's employess when I drive up in "stealth" mode, which is what Plug in Suplly calls EV.

Kent

Hmm...for that price, I will put around at 52 mph for awhile.  I would better use the 2,000.00 software upgrade towards a new set of Lithium batteries.  Of course, I'm sure that price will drop in the future.

Here is the youtube video of the 70 mph hack.

Hi Steve,
     Thanks for joining the huddle!  It is nice to have the source online to be able to answer questions first hand.  It is awesome that you hooked up with Chris, Andrew, and Kim!  I of course knew you had a good relationship with them already from your website www.autobeyours.com  I also put a photo album of my trip to visit you on www.priuschat.com 
     Let me know about that Open House! 

Kent