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The entry titled "Valence delivers an extra jolt for a converted Prius," and any of the comments about it.
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Home > Plugged In > Archives > 2008 > February > 19 > Entry
Valence delivers an extra jolt for a converted Prius
Valence Technology Inc. said Tuesday it is providing the batteries for an add-on pack that’s used to convert a Toyota Prius into a more fuel-efficient, plug-in hybrid vehicle.
The Austin rechargeable battery company said it already has supplied OEMtek with 300 of its battery modules, which are installed over the tire in a Prius’ trunk. Valence said it plans to ship an additional 600 modules by the end of the month.
OEMtek’s BREEZ system can boost the Prius performance to as much as 90 miles per gallon in highway use and 150 mpg in city use, the companies said in a release. OEMtek, a Silicon Valley firm, will install about 40 BREEZ systems in March and ramp up to 100 a month by the end of the year.
For now, the systems will be available only in California.
Earlier this month, Valence announced a deal to supply battery systems for Smith Electric Vehicles, one of the largest manufacturers of electric vehicles. The Smith and OEMtek deals are the first significant production agreements the company has announced in at least two years, during which it fixed some problems in its manufacturing process.
With some long-term testing programs wrapping up, these new production deals could boost revenue for Valence, which has streamlined itself but still hasn’t reported a profit since it was founded in 1989.
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