Charging

No, but it is generally advantageous to keep it charged. Depending on your electricity rate, you could save money by plugging it in. The more often you keep Prius Prime fully charged (at home, work or anywhere with a public charging station), the greater your gasoline fuel savings will be.

Prius Prime's battery can be charged in less than 5 hours and 30 minutes by plugging the included charging cable into a standard household outlet. When using a public charging station (240V), Prius Prime can be fully charged in approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes.

The battery in Prius Prime is designed to last for the life of the vehicle.

Prius Prime must be plugged in to fully recharge the battery. The vehicle can also partially charge itself with onboard charging, as well as with a regenerative braking system that works during deceleration. When braking, it uses kinetic energy from the front wheels to produce electricity that partially recharges the battery and helps extend your range.

Can Prius Prime run when the battery charge is empty?

No special charging equipment is required for Prius Prime. Prius Prime comes with a standard-outlet charging cable.

You can easily charge Prius Prime's battery by plugging its included charging cable into a standard electrical outlet. No additional charging equipment is needed.

To maximize your savings and minimize your emissions, you should charge as often as possible to enjoy the most electric drive miles. If the charge does run out, Prius Prime has a gasoline hybrid system, so you can leave range anxiety behind and start looking ahead.

Standard 15-amp GFCI outlets are usually 120V, while charging stations feature 240V charging that typically charges about twice as fast as a 120V standard 15-amp outlet. If you want faster charging at home, a licensed electrician can install a 240V charger to help decrease charge times and increase convenience.

Prius Prime uses less than 3.3 kW to charge with a wall-mounted level 2 charger, which is roughly equivalent to powering a small, residential air-conditioning unit. Using the included charging cable requires much less power.

Prius Prime uses the industry standard J1772 for charging. Fully compliant equipment should work with Prime. The included charging cable maximizes the compatibility.

The charge inlet door is located on the right rear quarter panel. Use the supplied charging cable by plugging it into a standard household outlet as often as possible to help maximize your miles.