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Charging Upgrade from 120V to 240V?

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sidnieo

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi,
I am new to RAV4s (current Prius owner).... But have a reservation on a Prime XSE, with no Premium Package. I've been told they are longer to come by.

So I am wondering about the ability to upgrade the charging port to 240V. Can it be done and if so, suggestions as to how, where much appreciated.

Also regarding charging, can an extension cord be added to supplied charging cord?

Thanks!
Sid
 
#3 ·
There is no need or way for "adjusting the charging port", all Toyota RAV4 Primes take the J1772 plug as that is what the "port" accepts. The J1772 is found on both the stock 120 volt cable and applicable 240 volt portable and hard wired "chargers". My RAV4 Prime is the XSE with PP and it has the 240 volt 6.6kw/32 amp charger built into it. I believe all new RAV4 Primes have the same. I purchased a brand new Solo 240 Volt EVSE cable (Charger is what it is commonly referred to but its actually a smart cable, the actual charger is built into the RAV) off eBay for $75 shipped free by watching the auctions but any portable/hard wired Charger will do the same as long as its good for 32 amps or more if you want maximum charging capability (as long as its adjustable to 32 amps). I have used my stock 120 volt EVSE Charger that came with my 2024 Prime numerous times before I purchased my Solo. I know Toyota says DO NOT USE AN EXTENSION CORD but as long as you are knowledgeable about amp draw/wire size requirements and all that I am sure the correct size wire for length of cord would be safe using an extension cord with a stock 120 volt Toyota EVSE. Most RV suppliers have the higher rated cords for such usage on RVs if you cant find one locally or on AMAZON, just take good care in selecting one as fires have been caused by using improper extension cords.. Hope this helps!
 
#4 ·
The main reason that Toyota does not recommend an extension cord is because at the 12 amp constant draw when charging, the primary point of heat generation is where the cord is plugged into the wall socket. The Toyota EVSE has a heat sensor built into the 120 volt plug that can shut the EVSE down if too much heat is generated at the connection. With an extension cord, the heat where the extension cord is plugged in is not monitored. Thus, an installation with an extension cord is less safe than plugging directly into the wall socket.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
RAV4PRIMEGIRL said:
There is no need or way for "adjusting the charging port", all Toyota RAV4 Primes take the J1772 plug as that is what the "port" accepts. The J1772 is found on both the stock 120 volt cable and applicable 240 volt portable and hard wired "chargers".
Click to expand...
Thanks very much! I didn't ask and wasn't told that the XSE came with an upgraded charging cord... Will need to ask 🙂 personally, I'm not sure my sales rep is that first in it...
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
wscan said:
The main reason that Toyota does not recommend an extension cord is because at the 12 amp constant draw when charging, the primary point of heat generation is where the cord is plugged into the wall socket. The Toyota EVSE has a heat sensor built into the 120 volt plug that can shut the EVSE down if too much heat is generated at the connection. With an extension cord, the heat where the extension cord is plugged in is not monitored. Thus, an installation with an extension cord is less safe than plugging directly into the wall socket.
Click to expand...
Good to know that! I suppose that might apply to my my new solar generator too 🙂 thanks!!
 
#7 ·
sidnieo said:
Thanks very much! I didn't ask and wasn't told that the xse came with an upgraded charging cord... Will need to ask 🙂 personally, I'm not sure my sales rep is that first in it...
Click to expand...
Not the "charging cord". The cable you get with the car is just for 120V outlets.
The "charger" is built into the car, not the cable.
 
#8 · (Edited)
The EV docs use confusing terms, and the salesmen add to the confusion.

A new RAV4 Prime will have a 6.6KW charger in the vehicle, and it can use up to 240 volt, 32 amp EV wall charger. However, the 120 volt charge cord provided with the vehicle will max out at about 12 amps, and take overnight (8-10 hrs) for a full charge. If you buy a 240 volt home EV charger and plug it into a 240 circuit that handles at least 40 amps, you can then charge at a 32 amp rate.
 
#10 ·
sidnieo said:
Thanks for the additional clarification. My salesman told me it would cost ~ $700 for 240 capability. But I didn't get this kind of detail at all. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
With just that context, I would guess your salesman was thinking about buying an EVSE (what some people call a charger, although it isn't). That's the box you would install on the wall of your garage, and is similar to the commercial charging stations you see at hotels and other places. It's connected to a 240V line and has its own cable that plugs into your car just like your Toyota cable does. Buying one of those and having an electrician install it would easily cost $700 or more.
Here's one example:
ChargePoint Home Flex
 
#11 ·
multiplier said:
With just that context, I would guess your salesman was thinking about buying an EVSE (what some people call a charger, although it isn't). That's the box you would install on the wall of your garage, and is similar to the commercial charging stations you see at hotels and other places. It's connected to a 240V line and has its own cable that plugs into your car just like your Toyota cable does. Buying one of those and having an electrician install it would easily cost $700 or more.
Here's one example:
ChargePoint Home Flex
Click to expand...
Or selling one of these retail through the parts counter, which I'm sure is $$$$ to carry that OEM label. I didn't know Toyota had this- https://www.toyota.com/content/dam/toyota/brochures/pdf/tcom/Toyota-Mobile-Charger-User-Guide.pdf
 
#12 ·
#13 · (Edited)
sidnieo said:
So I am wondering about the ability to upgrade the charging port to 240V. Can it be done and if so, suggestions as to how, where much appreciated. Also regarding charging, can an extension cord be added to supplied charging cord?
Click to expand...
There is another option and, based on many hundreds (maybe thousands) of toyota PHEV users, it is safe. The idea was developed by prius prime users and there is lots of detailed info about this option on priuschat forums. That said, this solution is not officially approved by toyota. This attachment allows the stock rav4P charging cable/brick to run at 240 volts, and it charges the car in about half of the time (so about 6 hours or less for a full charge). You connect this pigtail to your toyota charging cable and then connect the pigtail to a nema 14-50 (240 volt) outlet. A small downside is that the car charge scheduler that is based on departure time tends to significantly overestimate the charge time (because it thinks the car is getting 120 volts, not 240 volts), so the rav ends up being finished with its charge too early. But that small flaw is easy to compensate for. The scheduler that is based on charge starting time is perfectly fine.

Here is an example (no connection between me and this seller):
or
www.ebay.com

Stock EV charger 240V upgrade Most vehicles charge in 1/2 time EVDOUBLER 1430/50 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Stock EV charger 240V upgrade Most vehicles charge in 1/2 time EVDOUBLER 1430/50 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
 
#14 · (Edited)
If someone wants to go the "dark side" and use a Toyota OEM charger for 240 volts and they have the 3300 watt charger used in base model Primes in 21 22, the internal 3300 watt chargers can only pull 14 amps max and take about 4 hours to charge. A 20 amp Nema 6-20 is entirely adequate for charging the 3300 watt Primes with the large Nema 14-30 or 14-50 Receptacles overkill and usually more far expensive to install. This is usually an issue if the circuit is fed from a small main panel or subpanel as the electrician has to size wiring and equipment for the maximum capacity of the outlet not the actual amount used. In many cases a 240 volt 20 amp circuit can be fed from an existing subpanel while a 30 or 50 amp receptacle will require an upgraded feeder cable for considerably more cost. Keep in mind, it is the internal charger in the Prime that sets the speed or charging. A higher amperage charger will still take the same time as the Prime will only take 3300 watts. Current 2024 Primes reportedly all have 6600 watt chargers and can charge faster if hooked to higher amperage outlet.

I elected not to go to the dark side and bought a 240 volt 20 amp charge cable, they are rare but available to plug into my 240 volt 20 amp outlet fed from a ground and arc fault rated breaker so I am code legal. This type of outlet is used on large air conditioners. Note that it is very rare that welder or dryers are equipped with ground and arc fault protection which is required by current electrical code for wet locations like a garage. The permanently wired "chargers" that use their own cord have the ground and arc fault protection built in and therefore do not need or should not be fed from a ground or arc fault breaker.
 
#15 ·
I may not be remembering correctly, but I think that you needed the Premium Package to get the better charger built in to the Prime (maybe it was XSE vs SE?), but that was changed starting with the 2023 Primes and all recent ones (of any trim level) have the better charger.

As for 240 charger cables, assuming you have the correct 240 outlet available, you can pay from about $100 to $600 for the device: they vary in cable quality/length, max Amps, and whether or not they can connect to an App. We paid $350 for one that can put out up to 40A (we may buy an EV as the second vehicle soon); we used the App to set it to the 32A max of the RAV4 for now. The app also lets us program it for charging at different times and turn it on/off remotely, offering more options than the built in unit.

The dealer wanted to sell us a $650 ChargePoint unit too, but our JuiceBox 40 (bought from Amazon on a $350 sale) was already on the way.
 
#17 ·
Templeton said:
Can you share a link to what this is? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Amazon.com: BESENERGY Level 1+2 EV Charger 15A 110V-220V Portable J1772 Charger 20ft NEMA 5-15 EV Charging Cable Compatible with All EV Cars : Automotive

The one I bought is no longer listed on amazon. I found this one pretty quick. The 240 volt version is the NEMA 6-20 option.

Not sure on current code, but in the past, typical Romex cable was rated for up to 240 volts. This meant that a new cable did not need to be pulled between a service panel and the outlet as long as it was 12-2 cable. Pulling a new wire is usually a big part of the cost. The wire would be swapped from a 120 volt breaker to 240 volt dual pole breaker and the outlet would be swapped to the NEMA 6-20.
 
#18 ·
peakbagger said:
Amazon.com: BESENERGY Level 1+2 EV Charger 15A 110V-220V Portable J1772 Charger 20ft NEMA 5-15 EV Charging Cable Compatible with All EV Cars : Automotive

The one I bought is no longer listed on amazon. I found this one pretty quick. The 240 volt version is the NEMA 6-20 option.

Not sure on current code, but in the past, typical Romex cable was rated for up to 240 volts. This meant that a new cable did not need to be pulled between a service panel and the outlet as long as it was 12-2 cable. Pulling a new wire is usually a big part of the cost. The wire would be swapped from a 120 volt breaker to 240 volt dual pole breaker and the outlet would be swapped to the NEMA 6-20.
Click to expand...
Thanks. But is there a version of one of these that can plug right into a nema 240 volt outlet?

Image
 
#19 · (Edited)
peakbagger said:
Amazon.com: BESENERGY Level 1+2 EV Charger 15A 110V-220V Portable J1772 Charger 20ft NEMA 5-15 EV Charging Cable Compatible with All EV Cars : Automotive

The one I bought is no longer listed on amazon. I found this one pretty quick. The 240 volt version is the NEMA 6-20 option.

Not sure on current code, but in the past, typical Romex cable was rated for up to 240 volts. This meant that a new cable did not need to be pulled between a service panel and the outlet as long as it was 12-2 cable. Pulling a new wire is usually a big part of the cost. The wire would be swapped from a 120 volt breaker to 240 volt dual pole breaker and the outlet would be swapped to the NEMA 6-20.
Click to expand...
Shall I call the Fire Department now? 12-2 is rated for 20 AMP MAX. Using the 20% rule the max you should draw on a circuit wired with 12-2 is 16 amps. Wire size determines the amperage the wire can handle. I have a 240 line to a JuiceBox 40. It is wired through conduit with 6 wire (romex is not run through conduit). 6 wire is rated for between 55 and 75 amps depending on the insulation. I wouldn't even run 12-2 for a 16 amp CONSTANT DRAW circuit. The problem with charging an electric vehicle, and in this case the Rav4 Prime is treated as an electric vehicle, is that the circuit is drawing the same high amperage for most of the time it takes to charge the vehicle. 12-2 will handle 16 amps but that should be the absolute max and I prefer overkill. Also, I believe the stock Toyota cord that comes with the Rav4 Prime is limited to 12 amps 120 or 240 volts. When. in doubt consult a qualified electrician!
 
#20 ·
sidnieo said:
Thanks for the additional clarification. My salesman told me it would cost ~ $700 for 240 capability. But I didn't get this kind of detail at all. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
It depends on your household and availabilty of local rebates.

Here is my recommendation:
1. Install a dedicated 50A 240V circuit to the desired location where you park the R4P with a NEMA 14-50 outlet
2. Obtain the ChargePoint Homeflex EVSE.

My overall cost was $2700 ($2000 electrical work and $700 EVSE). Local rebate provided $2000 for electrical work and $400 for EVSE. Thus, net cost was about $300.
 
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wscan
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