Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Toyota, AutoblogGreen Exclusive
PICTURE: EDF, Toyota Prius plug-in charging station
We just told you about the EDF, Toyota agreement on plug-in car trials. Check out these new pictures of the charging station in action. This system includes charging and invoicing. It's also "compatible with a new generation of public charging stations, which aim to make electric power more accessible on public roads and car parks and to reduce the cost to the customer."
Gallery: EDF Prius charging station
[Source: Green Car Congress, EDF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
theseeker 4:04PM (9/05/2007)
Are they talking about the plug configuration used by the Tesla Roadster? I hope that a standard plug can be accepted at least by the time the Whitestar comes out, I'd hate to see another connector war. :/
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Kardax 4:23PM (9/05/2007)
It's definitely not the Tesla connector.
Right now, nobody's shipping large volumes of EVs, but if two or more companies start within a few years of each other (for example Tesla, Toyota, and GM), a connector war is basically inevitable.
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Lascelles Linton 4:51PM (9/05/2007)
Kardax, If you looking closely at the cable, I think it's a regular house hold plug at one end. They PR says it's "compatible." I think EV1 did the same thing. There may only be plug war with high speed plugs. Then again, what's stopping someone from developing an adapter? It's all electricity anyway.
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iDevin 7:22PM (9/05/2007)
That looks like the standard Japanese EV plug that Toyota's been using for ages. There's a closeup picture of the plug but I can't find it right now. Here's a picture of an early RAV4 EV prototype with this type of connector. http://pluginamerica.com/gallery/RAV4EV/evrav41
Also, this is the same connector they were using on the Japanese demonstration videos.
I wish Tesla had gone with the magnecharge style connector that the EV1 and RAV4EV used. They've already tested fast charging with those connectors and they're in plenty of public places in California. There's even a magnecharge paddle in the parking lot at my office in Santa Monica. Either way, we need to have standardized chargers very soon.
At least it looks like Tesla will get to decide part of what that standard is since they've been given grants by the state to develop public chargers.
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Domenick 8:07PM (9/05/2007)
Coming soon to a street near you. Parking meter 2.0
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Joseph 4:49PM (9/06/2007)
I can't tell if the connector plugs into a regular electrical socket or not, but there are two things that Toyota is doing that's gonna scare off future PHEV customers.
First of all, can they make this Prius any more frilly? It looks terrible.
Second, the connector is end that plugs into the car looks very strange...
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Joseph 6:31PM (10/05/2007)
The Plug-In Prius is the most exciting technology available to us today. I'm so excited about it. I couldn't care less about fuel cell vehicles and I hate hearing about the promise of some day. Make/build plug in Hybrids now, sell them now, and the world will change overnight. I can't wait, and I won't. I'm having my prius converted to plug in by EDrive systems or HyMotion. Today. And when someone builds a Plug-In Prius/ or Hybrid, I'll buy it preferably from the factory, rather than an add on conversion. Lets go toyota,what happen to Moving Forward. Stop talking about plug-in technology and get the damn cars on the road for purchase.
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Heyman Nationwide 5:53PM (11/10/2007)
I just bought a 2008 Prius. It has a round "knock out" on its front bumper. There's only on of those located on the drivers side of the car. I'm wondering if Toyota is going to sell a conversion kit in the future? I read today that Toyota is going to make an electric Prius in the near future. Now, if Toyota boast of the "intelligence system" on the Prius? I'm sure Toyota is holding out on us Prius owners...
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Lascelles Linton 6:28PM (11/10/2007)
Heyman Nationwide, Interesting idea but the battery is in the back.
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Chris M 7:19PM (11/10/2007)
The "Magnechargers" were convenient and waterproof, but it had a few problems - it was expensive, which limited the number of chargers available, it was less efficient than plugs, there were two different paddle sizes (compatability issues!) and had some maintenance and reliability issues.
Direct contact plugs can be made safe and rainproof, are highly efficient, and are much cheaper, thus more charging stations will be available. Now, if we could only get all EV/PHEV makers and power companies to cooperate in setting plug standards...
It would be nice to have a universal standard for public charger connection, though I suspect in some cases an adapter will be needed.
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