Here’s How Much It Costs To Charge A Toyota Prius Prime PHEV

The Prius Prime is one of two plug-in hybrid options currently offered by Toyota. The brand markets it as a slightly more premium hybrid option with low running costs and recharging fees. The Prius Prime is not a fully electric car and features a compact battery pack, so its charging costs are significantly lower. However, this comes with a shorter electric range figure. Toyota’s PHEVs use electricity as a supplementary drivetrain for the internal combustion engine, but it can travel short distances on electricity alone.

This makes it an ideal option for frequent extra-urban or urban commuters who venture across highways on the odd occasion. Its low gasoline consumption estimates mean that it’s also an ideal option for long-distance travel, but this will be at the cost of releasing some greenhouse gases.

The Prius Prime can easily be charged at home using a conventional household plug or a professionally installed Level Two wallbox. Electricity rates vary depending on your location. For example, cities like Seattle and St. Louis only charges around 13 cents per kWh, whereas areas like San Diego and San Francisco charge just over 40 cents per kWh. The average cost of electricity in the USA is currently 17 cents.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced Toyota and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver, The EPA, and the US Bureau of Labor And Statistics.

The Toyota Prius Prime Costs $2.50 To Recharge

The Prius Prime features a compact 10.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Its small capacity means that charging rates will be relatively minimal, with a $1.42 recharge fee if you reside in states with lower rates. More costly states will have you paying $4.36. On average, you can expect to pay $1.85 across all American regions. These prices will be slightly lower if you plug the Prime in during off-peak hours, which are typically between 11 pm and 6 am.

Toyota Prius Prime Charging Costs

(Pricing sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor And Statistics)

The Toyota Prius Prime range starts at $32,975, making it just over $5,000 more expensive than the non-PHEV Prius. With this, you get a Level One charging cable for 120-volt outlets. This Prius is rated for Level Two fast charging, but, Toyota doesn’t produce a Level Two charging cable.

Many respected third-party suppliers offer Level Two charging cables and wall-boxes with varying price tags. The XSE Premium trim has access to a revolutionary 185-Watt solar roof option, which Toyota claims will generate six miles of range a day in ideal sunny climate conditions.

The Toyota Prius Prime Takes 11 Hours To Charge

The Toyota Prius Prime accommodates Level One 110-volt or Level Two 220-volt charging systems, which you can find at public stations or install at home. The 10.9 kWh battery’s capacity doesn’t feature Level Three direct current fast charging compatibility. A standard 110-volt system fully recharges the battery in 11 hours. The Level Two system reduces this time to four hours.

Toyota Prius Prime Range And Charging Time

(Specifications sourced from the EPA)

The EPA estimates the Prius Prime SE to cover an estimated 45 miles when running on the electrical system. XSE and XSE Preimum modes feature bigger wheels, which reduce the estimate to 40 miles. The SE’s entire hybrid system covers 645 miles on a full tank of gas and charge, while the more premium trims cover 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 Starts At $32,975

The base Toyota Prius Prime costs $32,975. The XSE costs $36,225, and the Premium tops the range off at $39,670. As mentioned, this ships with a charging cable rated at 120 volts. You can buy a NEMA 14-50 Level Two charger from third-party suppliers for about $300. Level Two wallboxes cost around $700, but you have to spend another $800 to $2,000 for installation, depending on your location. The Prius Prime XSE Premium’s solar roof option costs $610 and replaces the standard glass roof.

Level Two Public Fast Charging

• Level Two fast charging services in the USA typically operate at 240 volts.
• They are commonly found in public charging stations, workplaces, and some residential settings.
• Level Two chargers can replenish electric vehicle batteries at a rate of about 10 to 60 miles of range per hour, depending on the vehicle and charger specifications.
• These chargers use a J1772 connector, which is the standard for Level Two charging in North America.
• Level Two charging is suitable for topping up EV batteries during shorter stops, such as during shopping trips or while at work.
• Level Two charging stations are typically equipped with features like RFID authentication and mobile apps for payment and monitoring.

There are numerous public Level Two charging points located in the USA that you can use to recover the Prius Prime’s battery. These locations have different charging costs that align with regional rates, but with a service premium attached. A few of these services include ChargePoint, EVgo, and Electrify America. Some of these companies offer subscription services in the region of $4 to $8. These grant you access to lower charging rates, smartphone apps, and other handy tools that will make public charging an easier endeavor.

The Toyota Prius Prime Produces 220 Horsepower

Toyota fits the Prius Prime with an Atkinson-cycle, naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine connected to a pair of electric motors that drive the front wheels via an e-CVT. The engine produces 150 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque, while the system output generates 220 horsepower, thanks to the two electric motors. As of the time of this writing, Toyota has not disclosed the combined torque rating, though we do know that the motors generate up to 161 horsepower on their own. The Prius Prime’s electric architecture is rated at 650 volts.

Performance Specifications

(Specifications sourced from Toyota and the EPA)

The Prius Prime also benefits from some great performance figures. The brand claims the Prime will sprint from 0-60 MPH in 6.4 seconds. Independent reviews confirm this to be an accurate enough claim, as they have achieved 6.5 seconds in real-world conditions. If you use the electrical system independently, you can expect to reach 60 MPH from a standstill in around 11.2 seconds.

The Toyota Prius Prime Features An Extensive Battery Warranty

Toyota covers the Prius Prime’s battery pack for 120 months or 150,000 miles, which is much more comprehensive than competing manufacturers. Toyota’s hybrid battery packs generally last for about eight years, but some owners have reported longer lifespans.

Experts say that a battery replacement for a Prius Prime can range between $1,023 to $1,235 if you go through a private workshop. Toyota’s official parts catalog lists the battery at $1,429,89. This excludes its in-house workshop labor charge, which can typically be around $120 an hour. Replacing the Prime’s battery pack can take four to six hours.

The Toyota Prius Prime Comes Standard With Safety Sense 3.0

Toyota fits all Prius Prime trims with an expansive advanced driver assist system package, including blind spot monitoring, hill start assist control, and front cross-traffic alert. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 complements this with adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, steering assist, road sign assist, automatic high beams, and proactive driving assist.

You only get front and rear parking assist with autonomous braking on XSE trims, but it is optionally available on the base SE. Advanced Park is only available for the XSE Premium together with a panoramic view monitor with a 360-degree overhead view.