Some Questions for the Experts

The 12V outlets are located next to the cupholders on the center console & in the middle of the rear seat area. My advanced came with a 110v charging cable. Charges in 5.5 hours

 

Both 12V outlets are outside of the box. In the front, next to the cup holder on the outside of the center console & outside of the box in the center console pointing toward the rear passengers

The Prime can be charged at the mall, I tested it out at a local library tonight. Free + fast charging. Download the chargepoint app to obtain a better idea of charging locations and prices. 90% of the charging stations near me are free

 

Cool beans.

 

So far, Art is the only one here that has taken delivery of a Prius Prime.
Or, at leasdt, nobody else has taken time from their "fun" to post about it.

 

All hail Art!

 

For the Prime, what you need to know about the standards for charging is pretty simple. There is AC Level 1 and AC Level 2 charging; the AC is usually dropped in conversation because the original nomenclature didn't use it, and humans are lazy. EVSE(electric vehicle supply equipment) is the official term for what people refer to as the charger or charge cord; car companies might call it a portable EVSE.

The only thing you really need to know about AC Level 1 and Level 2 is that they use the same connector on the car.

Level 1 is charging from a standard, 15amp outlet in North America. New plugins should include the EVSE for this; it is the basic charge cord.

Level 2 is still AC power, but at a higher voltage and amperage, like what is needed for a clothes dryer or RV; Level 2 EVSEs are available that just plug into those type of outlets, instead of being hard wired in. This is faster, and with less charging losses, than the level 1. Ultimately, the charging speed is limited by the onboard charger of the car though.

Level 2 isn't a need for a PHEV with the EV range of the Prime; charging to full will be done well under 8hrs. If there is no problems with the outlet you plan to use, picking up a second portable EVSE and some type of cord/hose hanger is the cheapest path for plugging in convenience.

Sounds like the Prime doesn't need level 2 for pre-conditioning the cabin either, but it might be worthwhile to look into if you plan to make use of the feature often. Opt for the higher amperage if you do go for level 2 at home. The extra cost isn't much, and you'll be set for a future BEV or PHEV with longer range.

Just to note, since it isn't a concern for the Prime, DC charging, like CHAdeMO and Supercharger, is referred to as Level 3. It was once officially that, but is now DC Level 1 and DC Level 2.

 

This is true, but be aware that the amperage difference is very small for the Prime.

Level 1, 120V 12A
Level 2, 240V, 14A [EDIT: this should be 16A]

 

Twice the voltage means it uses more than twice the power, but for a shorter amount of time.
Many people put in full level 2 to accommodate future EVs.

 

I assure you, it isn't a concern with the Prime. The plug used for AC charging, either level, was standardized before the Leaf and Volt went on sale. Only the Level 3/DC fast chargers have varying standards, and North America doesn't get that as an option on the Prime. I don't think any PHEV now available here offers it. So those standards are only a concern if you are buying a BEV.

DC chargers cost more to put in, and businesses, like the mall, want you to hang around longer, so those chargers are more likely the be the universal standard AC type.

Besides, you'll have the most efficient hybrid ICE car available when the charge is gone.

Might as well considering the price difference for the equipment with an install cost likely the same.

 

Prodigyplace already replied, but just to nail it down, the voltage and amperage matter together:

120 V ✕ 12 A = 1,440 watts

240 V ✕ 14 A = 3,660 watts

-Chap

 

I know that (I'm a power electrical engineer), I was just pointing out that a 30A 240V circuit isn't going to get you the 24A you might think it would because the Prime has a 3.3kW rated battery charger.

By the way, I was wrong anyway - it's 16A at 240V. Just looked it up (page 125 of the owners manual). But the battery charger is still 3.3kW.