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Future Plug-In Pedestal

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Fuel Economy' started by bee13, Jul 9, 2006.

  1. bee13

    bee13 Member

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    I've been wondering about the home plug-in receptacle installation for the hoped-for plug-in Prius. What would it look like? What kinds of exotic components would be required? Would the home "service station" look industrial strength or would it look and behave like a standard 110VAC receptacle?

    Anybody have any pics or drawings?
     
  2. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    I would guess that toyota would make it as "friendly" as possible. They don't want to alienate potential consumers just because the interface looks confusing or something. So my guess is it'll be a fairly simple hookup, probably just an AC-DC converter with a retractable cord that plugs into a port on the front of the car. if Toyota was really smart about it, they would make sure it was very small (or perhaps integrate the converter in the car and have the car plug straight into a wall socket?) so it would be taken with you on road trips easily.
     
  3. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    For it to be viable, it has to be ABSOLUTELY standard, installable
    by any electrician or even a competent home user. 220V, 30A just
    like a dryer outlet, using standard plugs. Many EV owners carry a
    fistful of adapters to various high-current plug types around, just
    because they never know what they'll run into while traveling.
    .
    The system should be chargeable from a 110V outlet too, but that is
    much slower and should NOT be the preferred option. A good charger
    should just deal with whatever comes in over a wide range [like most
    computer power supplies nowadays -- 80 to 250 V or something] and
    just hand appropriate power out the other side. There may need to
    be some option for the user to tell the supply "you can only draw
    X amount of current" at any given voltage since the supply doesn't
    know what its circuit is fused at.
    .
    _H*
     
  4. wstander

    wstander New Member

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    Why not an R/V type plug?

    I have a 115vac/50 amp service on the side of my house, and there are many R/V service stations across the country.
     
  5. bee13

    bee13 Member

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    2005 Prius
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    Four
    I have seen numerous photos showing charge stations with plug-in-capable cars happily getting their batteries (I assume traction batts) "topped off." I also assume the vehicle owner pays a fee and that the pedestal accepts money and/or plastic. True or not true?

    How are these pedestals configured electrically? Are they wired for 220VAC? Is the plug user-provided, and is the plug configuration similar to, say a dryer or electric stove? A 30 amp RV plug seems plausible, and there are a heck of a lot of them around.

    I'm trying to visualize what I would have to do in terms of a household electrical installation when plug-in becomes more widespread.