I work with various Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries in my day job, converting Priuses to Plug in Priuses in Berkeley...

The batteries are wonderful providing you have a good BMS (battery managment system).  I would not use them in a Vanagon (or any vehicle) without a BMS....LiFE04 are not that dangerous, they are just expensive.  It would be sad to kill them because you didn't invest in a BMS.

This is a Vanagon forum so I'll be brief.  If anyone wants to discuss Prius technology or LiFE04 batteries contact me at paul@3prongpower.com or visit http://www.3prongpower.com

Paul

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From:         Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Reply-To:     Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Date:          Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:24:07 -0700

>I think the Prius fits its niche well. They have been economic and reliable for owners for a decade. (I think both Toyota and its dealers were nervous when the Prius was released in large scale. Maintenance problems could have turned out a nightmare for dealerships and PR disaster for the company. They are now relieved to know that it seem to outlast the pretty generous warranty). However does it last two decades, like a good quality regular car? Or three, four, five or six, like many of our VW buses have? I'm curious to see that first before I buy a used Prius and potentially have to deal with degradations during the tailend of its life.