Have you ever wondered how the battery pack in the Toyota Prius work? As I was preparing for a vacation with my family, I was wondering what happens if I don’t take the car out for a few weeks. Is there a way to directly charge the Prius on an outlet? This led me to share the results of my research here.
The primary method used by Toyota Prius to charge the battery is the regenerative braking technology. It is true for all models – old and new alike.
Let us look into the details below.
The Toyota Prius is a revolutionary car which forever changed the world of automobiles. The concept of electric cars is yet to be widely adopted in all countries.
Yet, if Tesla is so popular these days, they should definitely thank Prius for launching an electric car a decade ago and introducing people to a more eco- friendly solution for their commuting purposes.
The Prius Charging Technology and How it Works
The primary method used by Toyota Prius to charge the battery is the regenerative braking technology. It is true for all models – older and newer alike.
When you are commuting every day amidst heavy traffic during peak hours, you will obviously be forced to brake multiple times. Such repetitive braking and acceleration often consume more gasoline than when you drive the same car on the expressway.
The hybrid technology makes use of this repetitive action that most people do and turn it in your favor.
Every time you apply the brake, the kinetic energy produced is converted into power and stored in the battery. The Prius uses the lithium-ion battery pack and it keeps saving power until when it is needed to give it back.
Whenever you are driving light, such as drifting on an expressway or in lesser traffic conditions, the car switches to the electric motor to save gasoline fuel making it more fuel-efficient as well as reducing emissions.
The entire regenerative braking technology is automatic. The driver need not worry about doing anything manually, as it works automatically every time you apply the brakes.
Prius Charging Methods – A Simple Guide
The Toyota Prius is powered by a parallel hybrid system.
In simple terms, it can run both on electric motor and a gasoline engine. When you want to drive your car, you will have to fill up the tank with gasoline as you would normally do whereas the battery pack can be charged in different ways.
The way it worked was different in older Prius models. However, in the newer Prius models, you don’t have to entirely rely on regenerative braking to charge the battery. There are plug-in versions of Toyota Prius knowns as Toyota Prius Plug-in hybrid or Prius PHV or Prius Prime.
The battery can go from zero to full charge in 5 hours and 30 minutes. You can choose to charge it by using the charging cable in a 110V power outlet which is applicable only for newly released plug-in hybrid Prius models.
If you live in a different country where 240V is the standard or available in public charging stations, the charging period is cut down in half to just 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Level 2 stations can provide 12 miles of coverage for an hour of charging but it works only if there are charging stations on your route.
Prius Battery and Charging Module
A significant advantage of Prius is its capability to make use of the power generated by the gasoline engine and turn it into a source of power to charge the battery enclosed within.
In other words, this is hybrid technology at its best which keeps carbon emissions to the lowest possible level.
At the same time, it helps improve fuel economy by seamlessly switching between the gasoline engine and the electric motor.
Toyota also launched the plug-in hybrid model in 2012 and ever since then, there are more ways to charge the car. You can actually use a power outlet to keep it charged, unlike the older models that didn’t have this facility.
For a primer on how Prius transmission work here.
Common Issues Prius Customers Face and How to Solve Them
Issue 1: Battery Pack Draining
Many customers, when buying a Prius, are not aware of the fact that all models released before the Plug-in hybrid variant relied on them using the car every day. The battery pack drains if it is not used for a couple of weeks.
Solution
The best way to ensure the Prius battery doesn’t drain is to take the car every day for a ride so that regenerative braking works and it is charged automatically.
All you have to do is drive the car and it will take care of the rest to make sure the battery doesn’t drain unless you have a plug-in variant which can be plugged to a wall socket.
Issue 2: Battery Performance is Low
Considering the fact Prius is a hybrid car which relies more on the gasoline engine and less on the battery, it is supposed to offer the maximum mileage. However, a lot of people love to buy older Prius for reduced costs.
It is also a great way to get into the world of hybrid vehicles without spending a small fortune. The most common issue that one would come across in this choice is that the battery performance may not be on par as suggested by a lot of other owners. If you are going to always drive the car with fuel, it doesn’t make much sense to get a hybrid vehicle.
Solution
The easiest and the most obvious solution is to replace the battery.
If you have plans to purchase a used Prius, make sure to negotiate the rates in such a way that you have enough room in your budget to buy a new battery.
Besides, compatible battery packs for the particular model should be available in your city. When you proactively plan your purchase, you can get the best hybrid experience and also get fuel savings provided by a reliable battery setup.
Issue 3: Headlights Randomly Turning Off While Driving
This is easily one of the most dangerous problems faced by Prius owners.
When you are driving at high speed in the night, the headlights may simply turn off randomly without the driver doing anything at all. It is one of the most prominent complaints found in the Toyota Prius models released in 2007.
Most models released after 2010 have very little problems to talk about and are far more reliable. However, they are more expensive.
Solution
Being a dangerous issue, this has to be solved immediately. Common advice is to avoid models released in 2007 as they have been reported to have the highest headlight problems. If you come across the same in other models, consider changing the lights and also get it repaired by a certified electrician.
Toyota’s official service centers may have a solution if you have one in your city.
How Fast Can Prius Charge?
By default, when the Toyota Prius came into being, it was charged only through normal driving.
However, the official Toyota website lists that the 2019 edition of the car can be plugged in to charge.
The Prius is equipped with fast charging technology which works only when you plug it into a powerful charging station.
When charged in a typical home plug point, the car’s battery can be fully charged in 5 hours and 30 minutes which is applicable for the newer models as listed in the official FAQ. When you choose to plug it at a 240V charging station, the charging time gets significantly reduced and the battery takes just 2 hours and 10 minutes to get fully charged.
With the help of the regenerative braking system, the battery can automatically partially charge itself. It makes use of the kinetic energy produced every time you brake and convert it into electricity that the battery could retain. In the long run, it helps save fuel emission.
Older Prius Models vs. Newer Prius Models Charging Style
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid model was officially launched in 2012 and ever since then, the company has been offering the best of both worlds for users. While regenerative braking exists in newer cars, the kinetic energy generated is not the only source to charge your car.
If you own a new model that supports plug-in, you can choose to plug it into a power outlet in order to keep it always charged and ready for a drive.
In the older models, as it relied only on the excessive power generated by the engine, charging took longer and the car had to be taken out every two to three weeks. Otherwise, the battery may lose the power stored and it might lead to more issues unless you plan to regularly drive the car to keep it in working condition.
If you are opting for a used car, it is important to know that the hybrid system is not the best as it is now in newer models that offer plug-in hybrid technology.
Final Thoughts
Toyota has significantly boosted the battery capacity to deliver more mileage and better top speed when compared to older models released before 2010.
Either way, Prius is one of the most favored cars in the world in the hybrid scene and you will easily be able to find the one that best suits your budget and your everyday requirement. It is an enriching experience to choose the right model and make some modifications so as to get the most value for your investment.
I have also written about EV mode in Prius here and about PWR mode here.
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary method used by Toyota Prius to charge the battery is the regenerative braking technology. Toyota Prius Prime models are Plug-in hybrids that allow the battery to be charged from a power outlet.
It depends on the model, plug-in hybrid models which are Toyota Prime, need to be plugged in. Other models use regenerative braking technology to charge the battery automatically and don’t need to be plugged in.