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power outlet on plug in prius?

Discussion in 'Knowledge Base Articles Discussion' started by prius04, Dec 6, 2011.

  1. prius04

    prius04 New Member

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    I'm getting the new Prius Plug in sometime in April. I currently drive an 04 just passed 100k.

    Is there a 110 outlet on the new car? My dealer didn't know and an internet search didn't help and a PriusChat search didn't help.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not that i have heard.
     
  3. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    One end of the charging cord has a plug for a 110 outlet, the other fits the receptacle in the passenger side rear fender. You need a dedicated 15 amp circuit in your garage or other parking space.

    Edit:
    Oops! I misunderstood. You are asking if there will be a place to plug in say, a 110 volt appliance.[​IMG] A nice idea, but I haven't seen anything about it either.
     
  4. prius04

    prius04 New Member

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    That's why I haven't been able to find an answer. Each time I do a search, it thinks I'm asking about plugging the Prius in to charge it, not plugging something into the Prius to power something. Yet years ago, there were articles all over the place about how wise it would be to put such a plug on these cars, for during power failures and such. On my 04, the book that comes with the car says don't even put a converter into the cig lighter plug.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't think toyota wants to get involved with people running their household appliances off the car and risk the liability that some idiot would leave the ready car in an enclosed garage.
     
  6. rogerv

    rogerv Senior Member

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    I've heard that you can use the Prius as an emergency generator, but have no idea how it is done or how much power it can supply when the regular residential service is down. Does Toyota also recommend against that practice?
     
  7. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

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    Power inverter plugged into the lighter and an extension cord into the house. Was able to run a couple of lights and a small fan and also charge up phones and ipods - it made evenings after Irene hit this summer a bit more civilized.

    As to the original question - I'd doubt it - ev range is so very touchy and variable as it is, the last thing needed are more things plugged into the car.

     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would think their lawyers don't encourage it.;)
     
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  9. ggood

    ggood Senior Member

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    Toyota introduces generator for Japanese hybrid cars | TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk

    "Following the devastating effects of the March earthquake and Tsunami in eastern Japan, Toyota will introduce a 1.5kW power supply option for the Japanese version of the Toyota Prius.

    The decision to introduce the generator followed feedback from Toyota Estima hybrid car owners, a minivan produced exclusively for the Japanese market, who used the vehicle’s existing onboard power supply system to charge mobile phones and maintain communication during periods of extended blackouts.

    It is expected that Toyota will donate and retrofit the power supply system to about 40 Prius hybrids owned by the Tohoku Prefecture. It will have the ability to provide power to a Japanese household for around two days with a full tank of fuel.

    The generator will be introduced within around six months and is expected to be offered in other Toyota hybrid cars in the near future. The move follows on from Toyota announcing an advanced household energy management system that integrated Prius Plug-in Hybrids with smart grid capable homes produced by the Toyota Housing Corporation."
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they're probably not as lawsuit happy as we are.
     
  11. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The Ford Escape Hybrid has had two of them, I think, from the get go.
     
  12. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    What you're asking about is called a Voltage Inverter. You want something that will convert the Prius' 12V DC to 110V AC. There are two ways to do this: First, you can use a cigarette lighter adapter, but this provides a very limited amount of power. The second approach is to use a larger, 1000 Watt inverter, which you would have to connect directly to the 12V battery. These inverters cost $300 to $400, but they supply a significant amount of power. The vehicle will provide this power continuously as long as the ignition is on. The high voltage traction battery will continue to charge the small 12V battery, and when the high voltage battery depletes, the engine will automatically start, charge the battery, and automatically shut off. This will continue for several days, until you run out of gas. You need to install this type of inverter into the car; the cables which attach to the battery are very thick and need to be bolted to the battery terminals.

    For a 1000 watt inverter, you'd be looking at something like this one:
    Wagan 1000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter Elite 2203

    A third approach, which would be to power off of the high voltage battery directly, is quite difficult and expensive and I wouldn't recommend it.