Mystery 120 V outlet

Looks to me like the pic shows a browser window with multiple tabs.

The tab on the right (the active one) is the Build Your ... page from the Canadian Toyota site, showing what we see on the screen, the specs for the car, including the 120 volt outlet.

The tab in the middle (not active) would be showing page 631 of the Japanese PDF manual, revealing that the OP looked at the link to that manual that Elektroingenieur gave earlier in the thread.

The inactive tab at the left would be our own very favorite Prius forum.

 

maybe it's toyota nomenclature. i mean, look at what they do with hvac

 

good catch @chapman
Looking again I still didn't see the active tab on the right at first glance.
I saw both the active tab and what manual.toyota.jp/ * looks like (duh) after a bit of investigating.

 

I've been looking at the pics mostly of the PDF manual in the photo a few posts above. It's about time I leaned how to navigate though some of the jp web sites and get at least a little more familiar with the language. Thanks for posting the original question.

 

how odd. is there a 120v outlet on japanese cars? 100 volts, iirc

 

Yep, 100v. There are two outlets inside, and with an adaptor, the charge port can switch to an AC 100v/1500W max outlet.

 

That might even be glaring enough that, if it happened in the some U.S. states and is not quickly corrected when given notice, to be actionable. As in, if a certain buyer needs it and depends on that spec when making the purchase, and Toyota can't make good on it, then the customer might have the legal right to return the product for a full refund, on the grounds that the product was not suitable for its intended (and advertised) purpose.

 

So, did they admit that the official Toyota.ca website and window sticker has misinformation? From the letter, it is not clear.

 

Maybe they would spend a little more time on an inquiry from a consumer advocate or trade journalist.

 

'information that sometimes appears on the internet' that's really funny. Sounds like the person reading your inquiry spent a total of 1 seconds trying to understand what you were saying before picking the 'proper' response template to go out. Is there a way to escalate the inquiry? Maybe threatening to start an arbitration process under Canada's CAMVAP may receive a little more attention to detail.

 

Do you think this external adaptor will work on any other PP ? Or there are some hardware/software changes needed for it to work? It will be convenient to get an 120V external plug for rare occasions when an invertor is too complicated to install ...

 

I can't answer your actual question. But note that the Japanese item will put out only the Japanese domestic standard of 100V, not the 115-120V used elsewhere (... not counting the many places that use 230-240V).

 

My understanding is that the connector works only on Japanese models equipped with specific hardware and software builtin for the functionality. It was one of the emergency solutions for the time of natural disasters that often hit Japan. And I vaguely remember reading that this was an option available in certain models of Prius PHV not on all the trims. The adaptor was sold separately but specifically calls for that functionality working in the trim.

Yeah, it would be nice if it's that easy. But for now, as far as I know, Kia EV6 or Ioniq 5 (and IIRC Ford Lightning when becomes avilable) are the best options available for traction battery providing the power source for other electronics.

 

I've just found an entire thread about this adapter ... Unfortunately it will not work without an DC-AC inverter which is not installed on US PP.

Toyota AC Outlet Supply Accessory (Not charging cable) | PriusChat

 

Looks like you found the answer. Here is the specific web page about the functionality I found on the Toyota site, but it is written in Japanese. Basically, as you said, the car has to be equipped with a DC-AC inverter directly connected to the traction battery. According to the page, the AC100V・1500W outlet functionality is avilable for many Toyota hybrid models (over 20 models) not only for Prius PHV. But with Prius PHV (aka Prime) and Rav4PHV and C+pod, it has an option of using the traction battery in EV mode (no engine coming on) or on HV mode using the adaptor connected to the J1772 port. Strangely, this function is absent from bZ4X according to the site. In other hybrid vehicles, this AC100V・1500W outlet functionality is available only in HV mode from the outlet inside of the car. Prius PHV and Mirai also have an optional V2H DC6000～9000W power supply to an entire house.
トヨタ トヨタの給電 | トヨタ自動車WEBサイト

 

Why is this a mystery?