Prius Prime Package Details - Plus, Premium, & Advanced

Ah, I see. Thanks for the info!

 

really dude.

 

So no factory optional packages like Hondas?

 

Since AC charging is accomplished by the onboard charger, it seems silly to need a separate EVSE to accomplish the faster level 2 charging. Why not have the EVSE just installed on the car? Is that what Tesla did?

For the above conversion, are the cables upgraded, or is it limited to 240v/15amp?

 

Here in Europe where we are at 220 V AC, charging the Prime using the standard cord from a household socket on a 16A security, the charging intensity will be limited to 10 A and a full charge will take 3h45'. Using a Wallbox, charging will use a thicker cord allowing for 16A, and the time will be 2h20'. All using the 3.3 kW on-board charger.

Jan

 

I'm asking why even have the wall box to do charging at 16 amps when there is no technical reason I am aware of for it to be onboard with the charger.

The portable charge cord that comes with a Tesla actually requires an adapter to be attach in order to be plugged in. In North America, it comes with the adapter for use in our basic home outlet and one for plugging into the 50 amp outlet used by RVs, and is the default plug for plug in EVSEs. From Tesla's site, a person can buy an adapter for plugging into the clothes dryer outlet and a couple of other plug types. While Tesla sells wall box EVSEs there, these aren't technically different from the portable one.

 

no, they don't change the cable, but charging time is the same as L2, 90 minutes.

 

can it draw over 15 amps then?

 

maybe, i don't know the details, but a bunch of pip owners have done it, and swear by them. he does leaf evse too. his screen name was peer, but i don't remember the company. after he built a plug in prius, and had no trouble, compared to everyone else, he went leaf when the came out. i'm sure his threads are still here.

edit: his company is evseupgrade.com it says max 12 amps, more than double the charging speed.

 

Are these fancy headlights going to be dealer-replaceable only? I couldn't believe how much it cost to have a headlight replaced on my 2004 Prius, and these look like they would cost even more.

 

I changed my 04's myself. easy. Bulbs were a bit expensive though. These new ones are LEDs, they shouldnt ever need to be changed.

 

The reason is security.
On top of the power lines between the EVSE and the car's charger there is also a communication (low voltage) line. Charging will start only after all parameters set forth by SAE J1772 protocol are met.
Among other parameters EVSE tells the car charger the voltage that will be used and its current rating of the line used. Car computer then will force charging current which will be the lower of the two: charger rating or EVSE rating.
(Hope I understood your question correctly).

 

I think I just arrived at the answer.
I know about the communication going on. Is the EVSE hard coded to the volt and amp limit it was designed for? Take the portable EVSE cord that comes with the car. It is designed for 12 or maybe 15 amps max. If plugged into a 40 amp outlet with an adapter, can it 'see' that another 25 amps is available, or is it blind to it? An onboard EVSE would have to be able to see up to what the onboard charger can handle, which probably means higher cost than the typical portable one that comes with the car.

Then it likely couldn't tell if the charge cord was an improperly made one with too low of a wire gauge, which could lead to damage and fire.

 

My portable EVSE (not toyota atock) is:
Automatically detect and switch to the line voltage (115 or 230).
Is programable to 6-25 amps in 1 amp steps.
Right now it is programed to 15 amps but the car charger is limiting to 10 amps charge (charger rating)
When I am charging from an unknown suspective socket I am changing the EVSE to 8 amps and even less.

 

Is there an optional trailer coupling?

Jan