Seek battery packaging whiz for late August PRIUS+ project

PLEASE FORWARD
If you know of anyone who might fit the bill, please feel free to send along this message (which is being posted to several hybrid and electric vehicle lists)

We're looking for an expert with the time, skills, and tools to put NiMH battery modules together for PRIUS+, the first prototype conversion to grid-charging of a mainstream vehicle by the California Cars Initiative (CalCars).

WHAT WE NEED
528 "D" sized NiMH cells packaged into 44 modules of 12 cells each, wired in series, plus a fuse and terminals. The connections should be spot-welded, and each module covered with shrink-wrap, or otherwise held together and insulated from shorts when modules are stacked.
And it's even better if you have equipment for charging and testing the packs.
Check out our spec sheet in the Photos area of http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/priusplus/ or
http://www.calcars.org/NiMH-12Dcell_module...ecR1_040813.gif (230KB)

WHEN WE NEED IT
The time available may be as short as around August 23-31.To make our deadline, we need modules built by September 1. The problem is that battery vendors may not be able to build them in time for us. We haven't yet ordered batteries, in part because we need to know we can get them made into modules quickly enough,
If you're involved, you'll know you contributed to a pioneering effort, and we'll publicly credit you -- we hope to get some media attention. This is an all-volunteer project, but a small "honorarium" might be possible, since we'll be saving on our battery costs).

BACKGROUND
Our goal is to drive this prototype PRIUS+ from California to the international Plug-In Hybrid Workshop, September 20 and the Ride'n'Drive at the Electric Drive Transportation Association Conference and Exposition the following days.
See the message, "Exciting Challenge"
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/priusp...plus/message/99
"PriusPlus Conversion Technical Group Is Open For Viewing"
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/priusp...lus/message/103
and other messages including
"Preliminary components list and budget"
"Candidate battery packs"
"Comparison of possible PRIUS+ configurations"
for more details about where we are in this conversion project.
(Files referred to in those messages are also available to non-members at
http://www.priusplus.org in the "Information if you're technically inclined" section.)


Comments on the project to the list, but if you're interested, please contact either or both of us with information about your availability, location, experience, etc. Thanks in advance for your help!

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Ron Gremban [email protected]
Moderator & Technical Lead
PRIUS+ PHEV Conversion Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/priusplus
http://www.priusplus.org
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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Felix Kramer [email protected]
Founder California Cars Initiative
http://www.calcars.org
http://www.priusplus.org
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