Is it worth investing in a good L2 charging hookup?

>> know that Toyota doesn't take full advantage of the amperage charging units can do today

I am sure there will be a good reason for not utilizing maximum potential who knows where the bottleneck is - internal wiring, battery heat dissipation rate, battery recharge rate safe limit. If they saw a future need to support increased recharge rate and could have supported it, I am sure Toyota would have done that.

PIP Gen2 might charge in a different way but I cannot think of a way more efficient than straight a wire - if that is what you are referring to. They could offer wireless charging which could be good in everyday practical use than connecting.

 

They won't, or shouldn't, take away the plug. That would just mean the PPI couldn't use public charging.

Faster charging all depends on how much EV range to next one gets.

 

Like the new Samsung Galaxy S6, it's reasonable to see the induction module being included as a base offering, then you choose whether to purchase the wireless charger.

They wouldn't exclude the wired connection.

 

I installed a L2 at work where I need a faster charge but I find the L1 charger adequate at home where 95% of my charging is while I am sleeping.

 

That's called effective greenwashing, when consumers misunderstand or assume intent. In reality, Toyota is against the one-size-fits-all approach.

People don't realize there is need for variety. Not everyone uses their vehicle the same way. Diversity is required. The old-school single-choice business-model is no longer effective.

This mindset of all-the-same is becoming a really big problem.

 

It won't.
They won't.

As pointed out above, Toyota has to be comparable with public charging.

As far as L2 charging is concerned?
It depends on what you mean by "worth it."

Chargers are going for about $500, and some people can DIY the install.
The "worth-it" bar will be lower for them.
Other people were asking this question three years ago when L2 chargers were a lot more expensive, and some live in oppressed states that make it harder for people to DIY the L2 install.
The bar for them is different.

Five years from now, L2 charging will be significantly cheaper, so the buy-in cost will be lower.
If you're driving a 10-mile PHEV now, it may pay to wait for that reduction, or maybe not depending on how often you buy cars, houses, etc.

Me?
I just bought my last house....and I can charge at work....and I have a 3-mile commute.

If I had a Volt?
I'd go L2 at current (no pun intended) prices.
If I had a Pip?
Probably not.

YMMV

 

do you find yourself leaving without a full charge at times because you realized you had to go somewhere and didn't have 3 hours?

 

that's what i like about the L2. i don't like leaving the battery full, but my wife and i tend to come and go at a moments notice. (especially her) so i plug in for half an hour when i get home, or first thing in the morning, then we can get a 90-100% charge in 30-40 minutes.

she uses it whenever going within ev range, instead of the hycam. saves the warm up penalty of the hybrid on short trips.

 

We have L2 for our Leaf and it will reach our future PIP, so I'd use it, but since 110V will fill the PIP in around 2 hours, I'd probably not go L2 just for that car.

 

For L2 charging, J1772 is the standard connector. All current plug in vehicles use this plug type. You have no choice but to purchase this in the U.S.

As for charging speed, I think it's safe to to say that a 16 amp charging station is all you need for the next PiP or Volt. The new PiP won't charge any faster than old. All current plug ins with a gas engine except for the BMW i3 have onboard 3.3 kW chargers. It costs more money for faster chargers and there's no need when charge time is short on a PHEV.

I you want to future proof, you can get 32 amp charging stations to max out at 7.7 kW on board chargers that are installed on all BEV's except Tesla.

My advice? Don't buy an L2. Charging stations have dropped in price by 50% since I purchased my PiP, 2 years ago. I expect it to continue to drop. If you want to buy an L2 charging station anyway get at least 32 amp, otherwise wait. The next PiP won't use the faster charge but if you get a BEV, it will. If you can afford a Tesla that charges even faster then you wouldn't have posted the question because you are rich.

 

The next Volt is getting a slightly larger charger that mostly just lets the bigger battery charge in about the same time as the current Volt.
Toyota may do the same if the battery size increases on the Prius PHV. It can already be charged under two hours with level 2, but there is no need to charge faster, and add to the price. It has an ICE for the times you simply can't wait for a charge.

 

as does volt.

 

And why the next gen Volt wouldn't be charging any faster.

 

exactly.