When to plug in?

Congrats on your new PIP!

Yeah, you're 100% correct, you can plug in to charge and remove the charge whenever you like.
The PIP is smart enough to protect itself from damage in either case. The PIP uses Li-ion cells anyway, so no memory issues in any case anyway.

Enjoy your new ride!


PS...
I'd highly recommend you upgrade to 240v charging via EVSE Upgrade for Plug-in-Prius / Rav4 EV [UT1R1] - $239.00 : EVSE Upgrade, Low-Cost EV Charging Solutions
Your PIP will full charge in 1.5hrs vs 3hrs on stock 120v charging. I got through many Saturday's on full electric only because of the L2 240v charging.

 

When to plug in?

Whenever and wherever you can.
Period.


Er.....Unless you don't have permission to use the plug in question.

 

Whenever you can. Wherever you can (unless it's a pay spot because they charge more than gas equivalent usually). But if you have cash go ahead and plug in to put less wear and tear on the ICE.

 

the only warning in the o/m is not to leave it fully charged for a long period of time. this is open to personal interpretation. all the best!

 

That's not enough information required to make a proper decision about upgrading....

1.5 hours will provide roughly 75% capacity recharge from the standard 120-volt connection. Knowing that it recharges faster (high kWh rate) at first, then slows down later is important to know.

2.3 hours has been the 100% capacity recharge time for me over the past 2 years. That 3-hour rating is only for locations with sub-standard electrical systems or recharging in extreme heat.

So, I really haven't found the need. Also, I've also been waiting for the 240-volt system prices to come down (which they have quite a bit recently) and offer smart options. Lastly, the ability for 2 rechargers to utilize a single 240-volt line will be available for consumer use; currently at some point, we're seeing them become common for the commercial rechargers now. That's an obvious expense saver for the family with two plug-in vehicles.

 

i have to disagree there john, mine usually takes 3 hours from empty, and we have modern 200 amp, 120v. not really sure why yours charges in 2.3 hours. i do agree you can get 75% rather quickly.

 

Here's my ChargePoint 240v charge graph... 1h40min for a full recharge...


I usually saw about the same 1h30 to 1h40 min charge at home on 240v (241 volts measured under load) too.

 

My PHEV also does a "full" charge (from 0 miles estimate EV range) in about 2.3 hours at 120v. I generally plug in at night and set the charge to start at 3AM and end at 6AM. After a notification that the charging starting at 3AM, I am almost always notified around 5:15AM that the battery has completed charging. I haven't collected any data during daytime charging, however, mostly because these are not typically "full" (from 0 EV range) charges. As far as heat goes, since any heat issue would only occur around here between August and October, I will have to be more vigilant about that this year and see if that has any affect. My conjecture is that it wouldn't, though, unless it's a daytime charge, since overnight temps rarely top 75ºF around here even during times of excessive daytime heat.

 

My home was built in 1983. I wonder if that has something to do with it... Actually, I do think that 2.3 hours is the norm and longer is to cover other circumstances. Too bad we don't have an easy way to determine what differs.

 

agreed, i certainly can't speak for anyone else. i wonder why the spec is 3 hours. my 240 charging is 90 minutes as well. my home is from the early 50's, but we updated all the electrics in '08.

 

The relevant factor is the voltage while charging. The charger pulls a maximum of some number of amps (12A, I think), so the lower the voltage, the longer it takes to charge (watts = volts times amps). If the house has inadequate wiring, there will be voltage drops when pulling a significant load like the charger, and utilities just plain deliver different voltages. If yours delivers on the high end (120V or maybe even a bit higher), the car will charge faster. I can see where Toyota would come up with the 3hr number, since the standard home voltage in Japan is 100V.

 

I have a single line just for the car, 110v in gargage. From empty to full takes 2.25 hours every time from close to empty. .1 to .3 ev left. to full.

 

That's really weird yours is taking so long.

Mine takes about 2.3 hours as well.

 

240v at work with ChargePoint is 90-95 minutes. At home with 120v it is ~2.25 hrs.

Mike

 

huh, why would 120v be less than double the time of 240?

 

Basically, the faster speed has to lower the charging rate sooner. The slower can keep chugging along at it's top-speed for longer, since it has less of an impact on the battery.

 

My house is build in the 1950s... I found out one of the outdoor outlet is on it's own circuit and run a 50 feet 12 gauge extension cord through my kitchen, living room out the front door and charge using the original toyota charger.

I never time it but after about 2.5 hours I go out to the car on the drive way and it's done charging.

 

I don't understand. If there is a dedicated outdoor outlet why do you need to run the extension cord through the house?