You know, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have guessed that gutting the huge inverter at the heart of every Prius would yield some lovely images, once you stepped back and forgot about their origin. But it sure as hell does. And, this teardown is pretty fascinating as well.
The inverter unit manages all of the electrical systems in the car, the high-voltage system and the normal, boring 12V system as well. It's full of complex electronics and advanced cooling systems, and this teardown and explanation is likely the most detailed one anyone has seen who isn't a Toyota engineer. Don't be fooled by the bare-bones look of the website — there's some fascinating stuff found here, if pretty technical. Most of it is over my head, but the parts I do understand are quite interesting.
Mostly, though, I find some of these parts that were never designed to be seen to possess an odd, cold, yet strangely soothing beauty. I'm including some pictures here so you can decide if I've taken the wrong pills again or if you agree. Maybe you took the wrong pills, too?
Shit, now I think I need to check on those pills.