openinverter forum

Overwhelmed with the amount of words on the OEM Parts: Category:Toyota wiki page, newb asks: Which Toyota Prius motor would you recommend we use for a front wheel drive conversion? I understand there are different generations of them, but what I'm specifically asking is do we use the regular non plug in one or the plug in one, or does it make a difference?

Johannes sells the Toyota Prius™ Gen2 inverter controller so do we assume that's the non Plug In?

Damien sells the Prius Gen 3 Inverter Logic Board again not specifying regular or plug in

I ask because the Plug In motors appear to be more powerful, correct me if I'm mistaken.

Prius	Prius Plug-in
Second generation (XW20; 2004-09) 50 kW (67 hp) @ 1200 rpm 400 N·m (295 lb·ft) @ 0 rpm
Third generation (XW30; 2010-15) 60 kW (80 hp)
	First generation (XW30; 2012-16) MG1: 42 kW (56 hp) MG2: 60 kW (80 hp)
Fourth generation (XW50; 2016-22)
	Second generation (XW50; 2017-22) MG1 (model 1SM): 23 kW (31 hp) MG2 (model 1NM): 53 kW (71 hp)

I used the non-plugin one in the A2 conversion and indeed it isn't mighty powerful. The inverter though has a lot more to give than the motor can take. In other words, if you can get ahold of the plugin transmission I'd think the non-plugin inverters can still run it. Not even sure if there's a separate set of inverters for the plugin version.

What about the lexus rx400h with the Prius inverter?

We now turn to our Field Correspondent: The Greg, reporting live from a Pick N Pull a famous junk yard chain in California, USA, tell us what we are looking at The Greg:

What we have here is a beautiful (Second Generation, non plug-in) 2008 Toyota Prius, offered in silver metalic

I would like to point out some things to you of what you may find in the scrap yards in United States, note the cut high voltage orange cables, I am being told by the PnP Weekend Staff (pronounced: Not Very Experienced) that, that is part of their "production process" and it wasn't butchered by the DIY gorillas like me


Inverter, obviously NOT in it's stock location

and here are some of those cut high voltage orange cables

my OCD made me rehome the Inverter back in it's stock location


this is what the nest looked like under the Inverter, note more cut high voltage orange cables, or the other ends of them this made The Greg sad

since we called ahead and had them strip the entire front clip off for us [joking] I thought this would be a good opportunity for a little Glamour Motor Mount Photo Shoot, GMMPS for any of us interested in a Prius power plant transplant utilizing stock motor mounts Johannes style


Top Motor Mount

Not Top Motor Mount

this being a front wheel drive car (something as a self proclaimed Muscle Car Guy, MCG I must snub my nose at) I decided to document it's arithmetic

note the CV axles run in front of the shock towers


US Driver Side this is the electric motor side

US Passenger Side this is the gasoline engine side

here we can see just how low the motor hangs in it's stock form

It's worth pointing out right about now, that the Gen3 Prius is like 20% more powerful than the Gen2. As is every generation than the previous. And, I keep forgetting whether the Gen2 or Gen3 transaxle is easier to use. I don't think you do the same thing to each one to enable it for EV-only use. I know I've asked this several times before, but, as to where here exactly, I'm not sure.

Also, I don't think Johannes used a dual-motor version, since, I don't think he's designed a dual-motor version. The motors will spin at different speeds so some kind of... thing is important to get that to happen.

Once inverter is plenty powerful enough for both motors, if you had two separate motors, but since they're turning different speeds you a need a separate inverter and controller. The Prius has the separate inverter right there, just no way to control it yet.

Kind of a waste. Hauling around a motor you don't use, and an inverter you don't use, just for lack of control circuitry.

Johannes has said the Prius board wasn't that great of a seller, but, to me, the market is in favor of solved problems. The more problems you solve, the better adopted it will be. The Prius inverter has so many solved problems it could be a hell of a solution if there were the brains to control it. Two inverters, heavy duty DC/DC, built-in A/C inverter, maybe a repurposeable inverter as a charger.

...

More importantly...

Why're you tearing apart hybrids in a junkyard? Your truck doesn't need this.

... what aren't you telling us?

MattsAwesomeStuff wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 10:54 pm ...

More importantly...

Why're you tearing apart hybrids in a junkyard? Your truck doesn't need this.

... what aren't you telling us?

CV Axles and Steering Rack also from a Second Generation Non Plug-In 2007 Prius this time

Are you grabbing the power steering assist too?

jrbe wrote: ↑Mon Jan 01, 2024 2:44 amAre you grabbing the power steering assist too?

It's ... so... much... work...

To get to the controller it's basically the last thing you'd take out after disassembling the entire dash right to the firewall.

Might as well take the A/C stuff, compressor, evaporator, HVAC box. He'll have the dash apart anyway.

Especially if the donor vehicle has A/C, to just swap out the compressor with the Prius' motorized one (powered by a 4th inverter inside the inverter).

jrbe wrote: ↑Mon Jan 01, 2024 2:44 am Are you grabbing the power steering assist too?

No Sir, I was just at a junk yard and happened to be walking by this beauty so I decided to snap some pictures and share them with you all.

Is this what TOYOTA means by liquid cooled inverter?

well, this could explain why the Gen 2 Inverter connected get hacked and bush wacked


How to Change Inverter in 2004-2009 Toyota Prius (easiest way)

Toyota Prius Gen3 inverter replacement

guys I just want to make sure we don't get into a bidding war on eBay for this Gen 3 Prius Inverter



so I beg to differ Mr. Maguire

Damien demonstrating Prius Gen 3 motor working:

2010-15 Prius Gen 3 JunkYard Lessons Learned:

as of January 2024 it is nearly impossible to find motors and inverters in these cars in the local self service (you pull it) junkyards (in California anyways) they may have the vehicle, but the parts are long gone




People's Exhibit A (2015 Toyota Prius)

Gregski wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 4:28 pmas of January 2024 it is nearly impossible to find motors and inverters in these cars in the local self service (you pull it) junkyards (in California anyways) they may have the vehicle, but the parts are long gone

Because of legislation change?

You were there two weeks ago and they had several.

MattsAwesomeStuff wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:56 am Because of legislation change?

No, no legislation change, the year roll over has nothing to do with it if that's what you were thinking.

MattsAwesomeStuff wrote: ↑Thu Jan 18, 2024 6:56 am You were there two weeks ago and they had several.

Those were Gen 2 (2004-09), now I am reporting on Gen 3 (2010-15) the point being, the cars show up as listed in their online inventory, but when you get there they are completely picked already

johu wrote: ↑Sun Dec 31, 2023 10:27 am I used the non-plugin one in the A2 conversion and indeed it isn't mighty powerful.

How many amps/volts or kW are you talking about?

At 360V it outputs about 50 kW up to 50 kph and in field weakening diminishes to 30 kW at 120 kph. As far as I remember this translates to 1500 and 3600 rpm auf MG2

So it was...