Toyota to Equip Prius With Power Supply Function

TechON! ^ | Jul 21, 2011 16:45 | Naoshige Shimizu, Nikkei Automotive Technology

[Red Badger]

Toyota Motor Corp announced July 19, 2011, that it will equip the Prius with a function to provide electricity from its rechargeable battery to external equipment.

The function enables to power, for example, home electric appliances in the case of power outage. Toyota plans to release it as an option for the Prius in 2012. Its price has not been determined yet. The company intends to make the function available to other hybrid electric vehicles, too.

Toyota has already equipped the hybrid electric version of the Estima with a power supply function.

"(After the Tohoku Earthquake,) users in the afflicted areas told us that they charged their mobile phones by using the Estima during the long blackout and it helped them," Toyota President Akio Toyoda said.

Because of such responses from the users, Toyoda decided to equip other hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) with the function.

The maximum output of the power supply function is 1.5kW, and it can power almost all kinds of home appliances including TV, PC, rice cooker and dryer. When the SOC (state of charge) of the rechargeable battery is lowered due to power supply, the engine is automatically started to charge the battery. When the fuel tank is full, it is possible to continuously supply electricity at the maximum output for about two days.

[RC2]

Now they need a fold out solar panel that can be used instead of gas from the car. Why not go all the way?

[ArrogantBustard]

Will that little plug-in inverter deliver 1500W?

(The answer to my question is "No".)

[Cyber Liberty]

Ford has had it for years. I have an ‘09 hybrid and it has it.

[thefactor]

See post #19.

[FreedomPoster]

I would not recommend trying to power a 1.5 kW load though a cigarette lighter, but that’s just me.

[RhoTheta]

Now they need a fold out solar panel...

Good point. I wonder how much of a home solar installation you could install for that $40k.

[King_Corey]

Get a 100% haggle-free price quote on a new 2011 Toyota Prius! Compare to Dealer cost=$22398, invoice price=$22868, MSRP pricing=$24280

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Don’t think I need a Prius....EVER

[JerseyHighlander]

Actually many options, the Aims 1250 Watt Power Inverter seemed to be the most popular choice in Florida after the 4 hurricanes in 2004, which was the last time I thought about this.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-audio-electronics/10745-power-inverter-option.html

also people have built UPS systems in their houses to connect to their Prius, running separate electrical systems etc.
http://priups.com/riddle/answer-1.htm

[brownsfan]

“A full tank of gas will power my shop for 1 day.”

Very cool. I’m not a tree hugger, but, I’m not opposed to doing what’s smart. If a Prius will serve enough functions, it could become useful. As I said the price has to drop, I think it’s around $24k for 2011 Prius. I wouldn’t spend $24k for a car that gets slightly better mileage than a Hyundai Elantra.

My commute is short, I have no objection to alternatives if they make sense.

[ArrogantBustard]

My brother's Escape Hybrid (2 years old) has a built-in 15A, 120VAC outlet between the front seats.

Nice feature, glad to see Toyota including it.

[brownsfan]

Pretty cool. Not a cigarette lighter plug in, but it’s worth a look. We don’t have power issues, but something like this would be almost as good as having a generator, and save a lot of food in the case of an outage.

[Yo-Yo]

The difference is, those adapters give you a 1A current draw. The rating of the Prius is 1.5kw, or roughly a 15A circuit. You could run your refrigerator and a sump pump on that.

Given a choice between running my refrigerator and a sump pump from my Pious or buying a $300 2 KW generator, I'll take the generator, thank you.

This whole concept is stupid.

For the record, my 2005 Chevy Uplander has a 120VAC outlet in the tailgate area, and my kids have run their Wii from it, connecting the audio and video to the DVD entertainment system's flip down LCD screen.

There is a use for 120VAC inverter power in a car, but not as an emergency power source to run your home.

[RC2]

You could install a whole house solar system for that price. You can also buy a solar generator that can almost run your whole house for less than $10K.

[killermosquito]

I just bought a pressure washer for my house. As I look at it I’m thinking why didn’t they provide a way to use it as an air compressor too?

[Neoliberalnot]

Can you provide a website for this product. I am interested and certainly can’t afford to buy a Prius when I can use my Chevy truck. Thanks for any info.

[DBrow]

Designing cars for the collapse of American civilization! So forward thinking and clever.

[Poser]

If they weren’t so damned expensive, I’d buy one but the extra $9,000 for 2-3 miles per gallon isn’t even cost effective at $10 a gallon, much less $4.

[ArrogantBustard]

But no one is going to buy a Prius simply because they offer this option.

Of course not. I have a 1500W generator, not a Prius. I'm not in the market for a hybrid vehicle at all. If I were, though, the presence or absence of a built-in 15A 120VAC circuit might well be a deciding point among competing vehicles.

[muleskinner]

Can you get us a Bill of Materials and some directions on how to set it up in a car/truck?

This would be useful in California when the Big One hits.

Thanks

[muleskinner]

Can you get us a Bill of Materials and some directions on how to set it up in a car/truck?

This would be useful in California when the Big One hits.

Thanks