Video: Our Prius Plug-In Test Drive By Design News! But nothing new! Design News - Captain Hybrid - Video: Our Prius Plug-In Test Drive
Ford did studies and found the best location to be the Front Drivers side. Most people drive into the parking space head first so having the charge port at the front means that the charge cables at public chargers will reach. Noel
I still vote for the passenger side rear quarter panel, same as Mike. It suits me better on the rear of the car on the right side...
Having seen few chargers, it would seem if they put the recharged port in the rear, they'd need to back up to recharge as the cable wouldn't have easily reached that far away. Then there is the issue of when other cars are parking to close and might hit the recharger cable connector. Both of these problems go away if the recharge port on the Prius is somewhere near the front on the car.
Simple, that would cost more money and make them net less of a profit on what they want to ask for the vehicle.
Wouldn't that be cool if they could use a charger like some phones and other devices use where the device just sits on a proximity charger with no wire connection? Imagine pulling into a parking spot with your cordless rechargeable Prii :rockon: Mike
It already exists in labs. The problem with it is, you lose %10 of the power. Which sounds fine, unless YOU are paying for it. Its not really a big stretch to plug in the J-1772 connector for a %10 savings.
It seems inefficient to put it on the opposite side of the driver's door. Especially since plugging it in is a daily activity compared to filling up on gas. I understand it makes sense for you b/c you backup into your garage, but that seems generally inefficient too. Backing up is harder than going forward, so it stands to drive forward into a confining parking space and backing out into the open lane. It also makes loading/unloading in a parking lot harder. The one exception where it is more efficient that I can think of is loading/unloading in a garage. Are there other reasons to backup into a garage/parking space?
I back into slots so I can pull out and have full visibility of what's around the car. Backing out into a street or parking lot makes it hard to see the clown that is flying thru the lot or down the street not paying attention Mike
If I live in California where there are many options for pluggin in away from home I would probably want it on the drivers side/front but living in an area where I will pretty much be stuck only charging at home I want it where it works for me. Any other time I can plug in it's nothing for me to back up to the spot and charge via the rear if that's where they do in fact put it, we don't know yet. And I do not know why I do it, but I just prefer doing it. I guess same as Mike, I'd rather back in since it is so easy to do and have an easier time pulling out of my spots.
I guess everyone has a different opinion on this issue. I have the LEAF and I really like the front mounted plug. It keeps the charging cable out of the way and less chance to trip on it. My concern with the side is that you could more easily trip over the cord, or another car could bang their door into it when opening up their doors (this applies more when out at a public charging station somewhere). The only downside to the front mounted plug is if you do back into the parking spot alot. Then the cable has to reach much farther. I guess the side mount is a middle compromise, but I think think it gets in the way more. Another question.. for us US owners. If it's on the drivers side and you happen to be parked on the street, you have to have the plug dangling out into traffic. Seems that that passenger side (or front) would be better for that reason (I'm sure there are some who don't have driveways and want to try to make a plug-in car work for them).
I ran across this link today: http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1366&doc_id=232328& It has a video of the car. You can see the charging port. It would be intresting to know Toyota's logic for the location.
I'm disappointed the lower front design is different and IMO not as "sporty" as the original Gen III's. I like the thicker, lower front better.
I think Prberg is right although I would have liked it in the left front quarter panel since I pull into the garage head first. But Chargers are going to be available on the streets, and likely will be installed next to Parking meters, hence on the right side, front or rear panel, except if you park on the left side of a one-way street.
Danny, I also recommend Dianne from Carson toyota. My family has purchased a 2010 Prius from Carson and were treated very well. Also thanks to you the prius chat site has proved to an invaluable tool. Thank you very much, Priuslovers.
I bought my 2005 from Diane and have registered with her for the purchase of the PHV. I too can recommend her.