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Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 3:19 pm
by Ghia66
Hi, in my shed is;
ZombieVerter VCU, software V2.15A running the following;
Toyota Prius gen 3 drive train and inverter
Mitsubishi Outlander onboard charger and DC/DC converter
BMW hybrid 330e 7.6 kWh gen 1 battery pack
Toyota Yaris accelerator pedal
Tesla model S water pump connected to skirting board radiators
Logs (speed, torque). Spot values screenshot. Params attached
Possible to unlock power/torque of the Prius gen 3 drive train?
I have a similar bench setup as The Greg RabbitMyster (my teacher) and much like him I would love to see the Prius smash the 52mph barrier!
Really want to fit this Gen 3 Prius setup (because I have one and it will be different) in my 1966 Karmann Ghia which I have just de iced from a Subaru N/A 2litre 92kW 184Nm engine that I fitted in 2019.
Have converted the Ghia from Swingarm rear suspension to IRS to facilitate the fitting of an EV drive train.
I have not welded the Prius Power split device (as ably demonstrated by Damien) but am prepared to do so and anything else that may help to unlock the power!
Thanks
Les
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 4:04 pm
by tom91
So at the moment there seems to be a firmware limited power limit on using MG2 only. As found in testing by greg
viewtopic.php?p=73007#p73007 with the support of myself.
Your speed limit is likely due to the revlim of 6000, please raise this to 8000 and see if it will reach that.
I would strongly recommend welding the power split and seeing what changes, since there can be a limit due to only sending torque requests for 1 motor.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 4:17 pm
by Ghia66
Thanks Tom, I will raise the revlim to 8000 and retest.
I will weld the power split after this
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 5:40 pm
by Ghia66
Set revlim to 8000...see log
set revlim to 10000...see log
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 5:55 pm
by tom91
So this is not the limit right now. Best get this into a vehicle with a welded PSD and then start tweaking things.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2025 6:06 pm
by Ghia66
Thanks, I will start stripping it down and weld up the power split.
Just wanted to see if it was worth my while installing it into the Ghia
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2025 3:09 pm
by Ghia66
Just had to chance my arm with a revlim 13000 run before the teardown!
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2025 8:29 pm
by Ghia66
Have just welded the Prius Power split device and reassembled.
Did a quick test using MG2 only with revlim set to 13000
Is there anything else I can do?
Thanks
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2025 8:59 pm
by tom91
Run MG1, I would not run it to that high a speed without oil or load.
This is just to check it runs alright and no strange noises. Please check the output rotates in the correct direction.
No idea if we have to invert the torque for MG1 or not.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2025 9:04 pm
by Ghia66
Thanks Tom, will do tomorrow when I get some oil
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 6:24 pm
by Ghia66
Oil in and MG1 running on revlim5000 no unusual noises.
Runs forward and reverse with output shaft matching.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 7:27 pm
by tom91
Ghia66 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 6:24 pm
Runs forward and reverse with output shaft matching.
And this matches MG2? Then we can proceed to get to loading it up, which needs a vehicle.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:09 pm
by Ghia66
Thanks Tom, anything else I can try in the interim?
I have a crude resistance rope setup on each drive hub that I could use to increase the load.
Any point in trying MG1 & MG2 together for a spin?
I am currently fabricating the drivetrain mounts to fit on the Ghia pan.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:11 pm
by tom91
Ghia66 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:09 pm
Any point in trying MG1 & MG2 together for a spin?
No the limit Greg's rabit hit was 20kW, this is not something to simply absorb in a "DIY" setup.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:44 pm
by Ghia66
Thank you
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2025 10:46 pm
by Ghia66
Well I couldn’t resist spinning the drive with MG 1 and MG 2 now the power shift is welded.
The mounts are sorted on my test chassis so now to the next challenge…the driveshafts!
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 7:14 am
by Ghia66
New Independent rear suspension and air bags are in
Engine mounts fitted to drive train
Drive shafts measured and sent off to the machine shop
Planning locations
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 8:39 am
by arber333
Ghia66 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:09 pm
Thanks Tom, anything else I can try in the interim?
I have a crude resistance rope setup on each drive hub that I could use to increase the load.
Any point in trying MG1 & MG2 together for a spin?
You may break things, so dont...
On the other hand you may try to rotate assembly by MG2 and then put the MG1 in regen

. This should be interesting...
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 6:09 pm
by Ghia66
So I hit 86 kph on my third test run in the Karmann Ghia.
I reckon it will go faster when I have enough open road and have corrected the massive toe in on the rear wheels…so maybe the 52 mph Rabbit limit will be broken

ZombieVerter VCU, software V2.15A
Toyota Prius gen 3 motor and inverter welded power split device
BMW hybrid 530e 12kWh gen2 battery pack
BMW Safety box
What do I need to try now?
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 6:13 pm
by tom91
Can you get a log showing, speed? A log showing udc and idc would be useful too so see how much power she draws.
Be good to go out to a strech of road where you can do 60mph and see how fast it goes.
How does the acceleration feel?
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2025 6:29 pm
by Ghia66
Thanks Tom, will attach a log.
I am battling to get enough granny charging time for the battery pack so I can venture to a good road but will do!
It seems to accelerate quicker off the line in reverse (this may be due to the massive toe in on the rear wheels) When in drive it really needs the pedal nearly to the floor and then it gets moving quickly.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 7:13 pm
by Ghia66
Whet for a test run in the Ghia and reached 103kph (64mph) but no faster. So the 52mph barrier has been passed!
It drives smoothly but the throttle needs to be pushed down a long way to get really motoring.
It spun up to 7959 rpm should I do a test run with revlim set to 13000 now?
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 7:29 pm
by tom91
Can you please next time add
"idc" and "potnom" instead or "KWh" or "AMPh"
Please post your params.
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2025 7:48 pm
by Ghia66
Thanks Tom, will do.
Worth trying 13000 rev lim?
Re: Unlocking the power/torque of Prius gen 3 drive train?
Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2025 9:30 am
by tom91
I do not see your Params, so who knows what is going on.
I need data to make conclusions and recommendations