Here’s How Much It Costs To Charge A Toyota Plug-in Hybrid

Toyota is one of the first manufacturers to embrace electrification with its first-generation Toyota Prius. Since then, it has evolved its hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies to be more efficient, powerful, and cost-effective. Despite this, it has taken a fairly resistant approach to full electrification, because the brand believes global infrastructure is not yet up to the standard of mass usage.

Toyota’s PHEVs only rely on electricity to cover short distances or to act as a supplementary system to the ICE, resulting in low MPGe fuel consumption returns. The brand currently offers two exemplary plug-in hybrid options in the form of the Prius and RAV4 Prime. Both of these cars run on similar hybrid systems, but they both have different drivetrains and battery capacities, and are thus subject to different charging costs.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Toyota and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, EnergySage, EVgo, and the Department of Energy.

How Much It Costs To Charge The Toyota Prius Prime

The Toyota Prius Prime continues the brand’s tradition of offering its stalwart hybrid moniker with a plug-in system. The new-generation model features a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine mated to a compact parallel electric motor. A 10.9 kWh net lithium-ion battery pack provides electrical energy to the system. The Prius Prime is Toyota’s smallest PHEV offering, making it a perfect choice if you want to benefit from the best MPGe returns.

The Prius Prime is an ideal starter EV for those wanting to dive into the new age of mobility, but don’t want to make a complete commitment to deviate from fossil fuels. The Prime relies on both powertrains to work in unison, if you want to benefit from the best fuel consumption returns. You’re only going to experience the benefit of its electrification if you have extremely short commutes. It’s only available as a front-wheel drive model because the additional electrical system takes up too much space for the engineers to run a driveline toward the rear axle.

The Toyota Prius Prime Takes 11 Hours To Charge

You can only charge the Toyota Prius Prime via a Level One 110-volt electrical system or a Level Two 220-volt charging point, which you may locate in public or install at home. The compact battery system means that you won’t be able to make use of Level Three direct current fast charging. A standard 110-volt system fully recharges the battery in 11 hours, but you can use the Level Two system to reduce this time to only four hours.

Toyota Prius Prime Range And Charging Time

(Specifications sourced from the EPA)

The Prius Prime SE covers an estimated 45 miles when running on the electrical system without aid from the ICE. The higher trims feature bigger wheels, which reduce the estimate to 40 miles. The SE’s entire hybrid system works together to drive 645 miles on a full take and charge, and the latter trims 590 miles. The EPA estimates the SE returns 127 MPGe on the combined cycle, but the bigger wheel option worsens this to 114 MPGe.

The Toyota Prius Prime Costs $2.50 To Recharge

Toyota equips the Prius Prime with a compact battery pack, so you won’t be paying a lot to have it replenished. You can expect to pay around $1.31 to recharge in lower-rate states, and $3.05 in areas that charge the most for electricity. On average, you can expect to pay $2.50 across all states. The Toyota Prius Prime range starts at $32,975, making it just over $5,000 more expensive than the non-PHEV Prius.

(Pricing sourced from the EPA)

Toyota includes a Level One charging cable for 120-volt outlets with every Prius Prime sale. Unfortunately, Toyota doesn’t produce a Level Two charging cable, so you’ll have to source one from many of the third-party suppliers currently operating in the U.S. If you’re opting for a flagship XSE Premium trim, Toyota offers a revolutionary 185-Watt solar roof option, which is claimed will recover six miles of range a day in ideal sunny climate conditions.

How Much It Costs To Charge The Toyota RAV4 Prime

The Toyota RAV4 Prime adopts the Prius’s revolutionary drivetrain, and turns up the intensity with an all-wheel drive system, including an additional electric motor, and a bigger 2.5-liter engine. Toyota also ups the usable battery capacity to 14.9 kWh. The RAV4 Prime is a 302-horsepower crossover that boasts great fuel consumption returns, impressive electric range, and versatile daily usability, excelling in urban, highway, and multi-terrain settings.

The RAV4 Prime is Toyota’s premier PHEV crossover option, and one of very few available for you to consider in the American market, making it a unique and attractive option. This is an interesting strategy considering Toyota offers so many HEV crossovers. There are talks that this drivetrain will be extended to the upcoming Crown Signia, considering it sits on the same platform as the RAV4, but Toyota is yet to confirm this.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Takes 12 Hours To Charge

You can expect to wait 12 hours to recharge the RAV4 Prime’s 14.9 kWh battery from empty to full via a Level One household plug point system. Level Two charging is cuts this time down to 2.5 hours. These times are faster than the Prius because Toyota equips the RAV4 Prime with a stronger 6.6 kW onboard charger, as opposed to the Prius Prime’s 3.3 kW system.

Toyota RAV4 Prime Range And Charging Time

(Specifications sourced from the EPA)

The EPA estimates the RAV4 Prime covers an impressive 42 miles on a single charge using electrical power, independently. The PHEV system extends this to 600 miles when working with the ICE. The crossover also impressively returns a combined 94 MPGe on the combined fuel consumption circuit, but you can expect it to consume 38 MPG without the hybrid system.

The Toyota RAV4 Prime Costs $3.43 To Recharge

The Toyota RAV4 Prime’s average cost to charge in the U.S. is $3,43. States with cheaper energy costs will set you back a nominal $1.79 per charge, while more expensive states will set you back by about $4.17 every time you plug it in for a charge. Like the Prius Prime, you only get a 120-volt-rated charging cable for household use. The system cannot be charged using a Level Three direct current point, due to its lower-rated electrical system.

(Pricing sourced from the EPA)

The Toyota RAV4 Prime range starts at $43,690. The range only consists of a base SE and flagship XSE, and unlike the Prius, there is no solar roof option to be found in the configurator. If you want to purchase a third party Level Two charging cable compatible with the RAV4 Prime, you should set between $250 and $385 aside.

Understanding Energy Costs In The U.S.

Multiple factors affect energy costs in the U.S. These can include the cost of fuel, power plant operation costs, transmission and distribution, climate conditions, and regulations. The cost of energy can also be higher during summer seasons, because trends reveal that energy is more in demand during this season, thus placing a heavier load on regional grids.

The average cost of electricity in the U.S. currently sits at about 23 cents per kWh. Washington benefits from one of the lowest price rates, at around 12 cents per kWh. California is one of the costlier states, charging as much as 28 cents per kWh.

Level Two Household Charging Systems

Level Two home charging systems are available from many OEM and third-party suppliers, excluding Toyota, which only manufactures Level One charging cables. These prices can range from $365 to $900, depending on what amp output you’re considering. This affects the total system’s charging speed. Installation costs vary between $800 to $2,000, depending on your state of residence.

Level Two Household Charging Units

• Level Two Household Charging Systems in the USA typically operate on a 220-240-volt circuit.
• These chargers replenish a battery much faster than standard Level One chargers.
• Level Two chargers are commonly installed in residential garages or carports for convenient home charging.
• The charging rate of Level Two systems can range from about 10 to 60 miles of range per hour, depending on the vehicle and charger specifications.
• Many electric vehicle manufacturers offer Level Two home charging solutions as optional accessories or bundled with vehicle purchases.
• Installation of Level Two chargers may require professional electrical work to ensure safety and compliance with local building codes.

48 to 50 amps is the highest output you’re going to generate on a household electrical system. More expensive systems even come with a smartphone app that you can use to monitor and control charging outputs and times.

Public Level Two Fast-Charging Costs

Companies including Electrify America and EVgo offer convenient and effective public Level Two fast charging services, located across the most frequently traveled destinations, making electric car ownership a more convenient experience. PHEVs don’t really need public charging systems, unless you’re intent on running on electric energy only. Public Level Two chargers can generate energy at a higher 80 amps, resulting in faster charging times, but more expensive charging rates.

Local Level Two Fast Charging Service

• Public Level Two fast-charging costs in the USA vary depending on the charging network and location.
• Prices are often structured per kWh or per minute of charging time.
• On average, Level Two fast-charging costs range from 28 to 80 cents per kWh.
• Some charging networks offer subscription plans or memberships that provide discounted rates for frequent users.
• Prices may also differ based on the time of day, with some networks offering lower rates during off-peak hours.
• It’s essential for electric vehicle owners to research pricing structures and plan charging accordingly to minimize costs when using public Level Two fast-charging stations.

These energy suppliers base their rates on region and time, so there’s no exact charging rate. It’s still drastically cheaper than Level Three DC Fast Charging rates, which can typically be $1 per kWh. Level Two charging rates range between 28 and 80 cents per kWh, meaning you can expect to pay around $3 to $8.70 to recharge the Prius Prime and $4.17 to $11.92 to recover the RAV4 Prime’s battery.