Toyota is dubious, and doing it just might void the warranty on a $30,000 car, but a group of Prius enthusiasts have found that it’s actually possible to top up the battery by plugging it into a wall outlet:
The whole idea of a hybrid-electric car like a Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid is that you don't need to plug it in, eliminating what many people would consider an inconvenience. The battery is charged when the small gas-engine component of the vehicle kicks in, as well as through a complex process called regenerative braking that captures energy when the brakes are pressed.
But according to a recent story in the Christian Science Monitor, a small group of hybrid owners has begun to tamper with the cars, modifying them with plugs so the batteries can be charged overnight through a standard wall socket. This allows the vehicles to travel further in a zero-emission, battery-only mode before the gas engine is required.
It raises the question: Why aren't hybrid cars being built with the plug-in option?
full story
CSM article here:
In effect, these backyard mechanics have turned the hybrid car's appeal on its head. Instead of emphasizing gasoline over electric power and the convenience of today's cars, they're aiming to create less polluting higher-mileage vehicles that emphasize electricity over gasoline - even if it's a bit less convenient.
"One guy I know plugs his Honda hybrid into a windmill for power," Kroushl says. "It costs him practically nothing to drive."
(With all due respect to the zero-emission vehicle people, who I accept are basically on the side of the angels: the electricity their cars run on was made by burning coal, among other things. These are coal-fired vehicles. Hardly the maker’s fault, but still.)