Anybody receive a 'dual voltage' cable?

It makes sense so one part can be used worldwide. Doubling the voltage likely halves the current, keeping power (wattage) about the same.

 

Most dual voltage power supplies halve the current to keep the output ratings almost the same. The EV charger is a little different in that respect with most of the circuitry internal to the EV.

 

My RAV4 experience using the older Toyota charge cable off-label at 240V, is that it most definitely does double the charge rate. Current doesn't increase, but power doubles.

The slowest official L2 stations I have used are 3 to 3.5 kW. The Toyota 12 Amp EVSE running at 240V works out to 2.9 kW (or un-rounded 2.88), which comes very close to those slower official L2 stations.

 

I don't think the car will let you charge at higher than 12 amps, whether it is 120 or 240.
. Kim

 

Do note that EVSE charge cables are not "power supplies". They are just pass-through devices that add a signal indicating the maximum permitted current. Their only current control would be a relay that disconnects if the charger in the car violates permitted max current.

All the real current control happens in the charger inside the car.

I also have a third-party portable L1/L2 EVSE that allows me to set charge current in integer 1 Amp steps, but its dashboard often shows it topping out a bit less than my setpoint.

It turns out that the EVSE signaling protocol, shared by J1772 and NACS/Tesla, signals in 0.6 amp steps in this range (switching to larger steps in supercharger range). 8 amps isn't a multiple of 0.6, so when I set my EVSE for 8, the car takes the next lower multiple of 0.6, which is 7.8 amps.

 

12 amps at 240V is just 2.9 kW. But the car is labeled as taking 3.3 or 3.5 kW, depending on vintage, so it must be able to take more than 12 amps, at least at this voltage.

I can't answer directly because I don't drive a Prius, but a RAV4 rated for 7 kW. I have seen it run higher than that in a campground where the nominal 240V was actually running at 248V, yet it still took the same current it can pull at 240V.

When I use my older Toyota-supplied EVSE, it is indeed limited to 12 amps, regardless of voltage. That limit is set by the EVSE, not by the car.

 

I am sure that that Toyota Mobile Charger would allow you to use the full power of the internal AC charger. So, that would be about 14.6 A for Gen 5 (3.5 kW) and 13.8 A for Gen 4 (3.3 kW).

 

Clarification:

The 0.6 amps steps are part of the EVSE signaling protocol. But that doesn't necessarily constrain the charger in the car from choosing that figure for other reasons, such as from the Prius / RAV4 user settings on the dash display.

I haven't checked my RAV4's actual current when choosing 8 amps at the dashboard instead of at the portable EVSE controls. That would be an informative exercise, when I get a round tuit.

 

I vaguely seem to remember that using the supplied cable on 240V will charge at 16 amps.
But specifications can change at any time.

 

The Toyota mobile charger that came with my 2024 Prius Prime tops out at 12 amps and 2.9 kW when I use my adapter to supply it with 240 volts. The car itself tops out at about 3.6 kW when connected to a “Charge Point” level 2 charger.

Yes, it works with both 120 and 240 volts.

It looks like the 2026 comes with an improved mobile charger that has connectors for both 120 volt and 240 volt. This is a great improvement over my “hillbilly” connection which I have made as safe as possible - but it doesn’t meet code.

 

No, yours is not the new Toyota Mobile Charger. It is the regular 12-A charger that was also available for Gen 4. The new 32-A Toyota Mobile Charger is the following, sort of like the Tesla Mobile Charger. I doubt it is included with the 2026 Prius PHEV.

Anybody receive a 'dual voltage' cable? | PriusChat