Enginer no longer selling online (Prius PHEV kits)

[GeneralAnarchy]

Enginer just posted this on their home page:

Starting Feb 1st, Enginer will no longer offer our products online. Please contact your closest dealers.

Place your orders fast. We might be moving near the end of this golden age of DIY PHEVs. Like appstores and pharmaceuticals, the OEM and their ruling class will soon decide all things for us.

[Ryland]

Do they give a reason? from their wording it sounds like they are tired of dealing with the untrained public.

[GeneralAnarchy]

Originally Posted by Ryland

Do they give a reason? from their wording it sounds like they are tired of dealing with the untrained public.

Not that I could find on the Enginer boards. One theory is Enginer business is being pressured by its professional installers some of whom who are busy moving entire threads (including basic stuff about inability to recharge in subfreezing weather!) into their restricted forums. They should leave product information in light of day.

Bummer because, for all its good and bad, Enginer is the only viable DIY PHEV. Without DIY options I suspect we'll all be suckered into OEM PHEV which looks inflexible as possible and doomed by crazy government stimuli.

[Daox]

The kit itself is extremely simple. Someone could make their own with a pack and charger. They just need to find a dc to dc converter that boost voltage to 245V or whatever it is.

[GeneralAnarchy]

Originally Posted by Daox

The kit itself is extremely simple. Someone could make their own with a pack and charger. They just need to find a dc to dc converter that boost voltage to 245V or whatever it is.

You won't get 2-year warranty. Installing my Enginer kit was far easier and cheaper. I knew of bugs that were worked out beforehand. It's not Enginer's fault, the product seems better each day. We'll just have to look back and wonder why the installers did this to themselves.

[Old Tele man]

Originally Posted by Daox

The kit itself is extremely simple.

...unfortunately, so are many unknowledgable customers.

[RobertSmalls]

Golden age? I don't know, I haven't seen too many smiling customers having great success with their Enginer kits. In fact, I think there have been about as many Enginer uninstalls as installs.

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by GeneralAnarchy

Bummer because, for all its good and bad, Enginer is the only viable DIY PHEV. Without DIY options I suspect we'll all be suckered into OEM PHEV which looks inflexible as possible and doomed by crazy government stimuli.

There's the BMS+ too. It's not as easy to install for a DIY'er and the owner needs to decide what packs they want to add, how to charge, and all that, but it does appear to be more cost effective and efficient.

[GeneralAnarchy]

We'll speak nostalgically about a time a PHEV kit was available. Right about the uninstalls and the BMS. You aren't going to design a BMS on your coffee table before breakfast. Despite the glitches 2010 was a PHEV golden age compared to having to scavenge for used PHEV parts in a couple years while retrofitting our kits to lead acid.