How Long Does It Take to Charge a 2023 Toyota Prius Prime?
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime was completely redesigned with a new look, powertrain, and charging features. I drove the car around for a week and was insanely impressed with its fuel efficiency. Much of that efficiency is attributed to the car’s improved battery life and electric range. However, when the range is depleted, you’ll have to plug in the car and recharge it. But how long does it take to recharge?
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime doesn’t take long to charge
According to Toyota, the 2023 Prius Prime can be fully charged in 11 hours when using a 120-volt household plug and around four hours when using a 240-volt charge. The higher charge can be found in the wild via level 2 chargers at various grocery stores, libraries, or other public areas.
Prius owners with access to their garage at home can have a level 2 charger installed in their home for relatively cheap. However, those living in apartments or other dwellings can use various apps like PlugShare to find the closest public charger to them.
That’s what I had to do during my time with the Toyota Prius Prime. My favorite go-to spot is a public library where I can plug the car in and get work done. The car charges for free, and I don’t need to buy a $5 latte to ward off any guilty feelings that come with sitting at a coffee shop.
How long does it take to fully charge the Toyota Prius Prime on a level 2 charger?
Toyota is not lying about the charging times for the Prius Prime. I depleted the car’s charge after a day of driving and needed to plug it in to take full advantage of its plug-in hybrid capabilities. I went to my usual sport at the library, and after plugging the Prius Prime XSE Premium tester in, the car’s instrument panel said it would take around four hours for it to charge fully.
Fortunately, I could take my time perusing books I wouldn’t borrow and, more importantly, getting work done. I recommend this method to anyone who doesn’t want to spend money while waiting for a charge.
Otherwise, charging the car at home with a household charger could work if it’s plugged in overnight. Since I live in an apartment without access to a household plug, I couldn’t test this method.
It’s also worth noting the Toyota Prius Prime’s charge port doesn’t allow for DC fast charging.
When all else fails, the Solar Charging Roof can provide some extra power
One of the best options for the Toyota Prius Prime is the Solar Charging Roof. It’s an extra $610, but it’s worth it because it looks cool and it works. Toyota says the solar panel charges the battery when the car is parked and power accessories like the air conditioning when the car is in motion.
While charging the car, I unfortunately parked under a tree, so the solar panel couldn’t work its magic. However, the dedicated “power generated” page on the instrument panel said the solar panel added 0.1 miles to the battery since the car was switched off.
It’s not much, but I’ll take it. As you can imagine, it would likely take weeks for the car to fully charge via the roof panel alone. It would also likely need to be parked in a desert for the most sun exposure.
Regardless, it doesn’t take long to charge a 2023 Toyota Prius Prime whether you have access to a level 2 charger or not. However, I recommend checking out the different charger location apps to find the best spot near you.
