Hybrid vehicle conversion biz plugs into Boulder

BOULDER, Colo. — When his Berkeley, Calif.-based electric vehicle conversion company had expansion in its sights, Paul Guzyk's eyes landed on Colorado.

Noting the Rocky Mountain state's favorable alternative fuel tax credit for consumers combined with the northwest Denver area's affinity for the Toyota Prius, Guzyk determined Boulder would be an ideal locale for a branch of 3Prong Power.

This fall, officials for 3Prong Power inked a joint venture with Boulder-based EVolve Electrics, an electric vehicle components manufacturer, to form Boulder Hybrids Conversions — a firm initially focused on converting hybrid Prius vehicles to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

The way December's going, Guzyk is feeling like he made the right choice.

"This month we (are performing conversions for) 20 cars," he said. "Basically, we're working every day except Christmas."

Boulder Hybrid Conversions' process involves installing an additional battery to neighbor the existing electric battery and covers the spare tire chamber. The two conversion kits — a 4-kilowatt-hour system and 10-kilowatt-hour system — are promoted as having the ability to improve mileage on a 20 percent level to an 80 percent level.

Based on driving habits, one conversion could top 100 miles per gallon, he claimed.

Guzyk said the lures of increased efficiency and reduced emissions are boosted by the state tax credit — 85 percent for conversions completed between Jan. 1, 2010 and Jan. 1, 2012 — which could slice thousands off the approximately $5,000 or $12,000 installation.

"It's a much better value proposition for the customer," he said.

Boulder Hybrids Conversions' market is niche. There are about 10,000 Prius vehicles in Colorado and to qualify for the tax credit, the car has to be registered in the Centennial State.

Boulder Hybrids Conversions intends to expand to serve other hybrid models within the next year, Guzyk said, adding he's aware that conversions might not always be his firm's focus.

Toyota soon will release its plug-in Prius. A conversion could be less expensive than a new car, he said, but his firm is keeping its eye on new technologies.

"This is what we're doing now," he said. "It's hard to say where we'll be in the future."