Are Prius cells worth anything?

[Roswell Bob]

My son just picked up a wrecked Prius Hybrid. He said it is totaled. Are the battery packs worth anything?

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Not for DIY Powerwalls.

Small format NiMH is a horrible option for power system storage. NiMH can't be safely paralleled.

 

[Roswell Bob]

Not for DIY Powerwalls.

Small format NiMH is a horrible option for power system storage. NiMH can't be safely paralleled.

Ok, Thank, I let him know.

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Ok, Thank, I let him know.

To elaborate, Ni chemistries experience a voltage drop at full charge. When cells are in parallel and one gets full, all parallel cells and any charging sources dump their current into the one cell with lower voltage. More current, more heat, more voltage drop... Thermal runaway.

Been there when it's happened. Very exciting.