How to Charge a Prius Battery
This article was co-authored by Duston Maynes and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Institute of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Automobile Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA’s 50 Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Group’s 52 Names Leading the Way in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere.
There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 78,988 times.
If you’ve got a Prius, you may be wondering how to keep your hybrid vehicle charged. Or, you may be a seasoned Prius owner whose car suddenly won’t start. In either case, it helps to know how to charge your Prius. Toyota’s line of Priuses have two batteries—the primary main battery that powers the engine and an auxiliary 12-volt battery responsible for starting the vehicle. While the auxiliary battery charges itself every time you brake, you can accidentally drain it by leaving your lights on. In this article, we’ll explain how to jump the auxiliary battery on a dead Prius, and how to keep your Plug-In Prius fully charged.
Method 1 of 2: Jumping a Dead Auxiliary Battery- If you can’t figure out how to open the trunk without the electric button on the outside, there’s a lever on the interior of your vehicle near the base of the trunk’s latch.
- If you’re in a tight spot, you can jumpstart the Prius’ main battery like you’d jumpstart any car. However, the auxiliary battery is designed to start your vehicle, so it’s generally considered ideal to charge the 12-volt if your Prius won’t start.
Attach the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal on your engine. Lift the jointed red terminal cap on the rear edge of the battery to expose the positive terminal. Clamp the red positive lead to the positive terminal. [3] X Expert Source
- To jump the auxiliary battery, you will need another vehicle or a remote battery charger.
- You can use traditional jumper cables for this. There is nothing unique about the auxiliary battery that requires special equipment.
- If you don’t already have a battery charger, you can pick one up online or at any automotive store for around $50-100.
Attach the black cable to the charger or running car’s negative terminal. Plug the black cable lead into the negative port on your charger. If you’re using another vehicle to jumpstart your car, clamp the negative lead to the negative terminal on the running vehicle’s battery. [6] X Research source
Ground your vehicle by connecting the negative clamp to metal. [7] X Expert Source- This will prevent an open circuit, which may spark when you begin charging and potentially damage your vehicle.
- If your remote charger has customizable amperage settings, select 12 volts and 2 amps. Charging more than 2.5-3 amps may damage the circuit. [10] X Research source
- If your vehicle isn’t starting after 2-3 attempts, check your cable leads. You may have accidentally connected one of the leads to an incorrect terminal.
- If your connections are solid and the vehicle still isn’t starting, you may have a faulty battery. Contact a dealership or mechanic near you to get a replacement.
Disconnect your cables in the reverse order you connected them. Remove the negative lead on your Prius first, followed by negative lead on the charger or other vehicle. Then, remove the positive lead on the other vehicle or charger, and finish by taking the positive lead off of your Prius. Put the cover back on your battery and close the hood or trunk. [13] X Research source
- Try to make it a point to drive your vehicle for at least 20-30 minutes at a time once or twice per week.
- Many Priuses do not have charging ports. Those vehicles can only be charged using the kinetic energy from your brakes.
- If you don’t still have the original charging cable that came with your Prius, you can purchase a replacement from a dealership or online. [16] X Research source
- The charging port itself will almost always be on the left side of the panel, with the cap holder on the right side.
- The charging head is the larger handle-like end of the charging cable, opposite the plug end.
- You should feel a click once the cable is in all the way.
Press the trigger on the back of the charger to start charging. A small green light will appear at the bottom of the charging panel to let you know the battery is charging. If the light doesn’t come on, take the charger out and reconnect it. [19] X Research source
- On newer Prius models, such as the Prius Prime, you can check your charging progress by looking at the 3 blinking blue lights on the passenger side of the dashboard. When all 3 lights are steadily illuminated, your vehicle is done charging. [21] X Research source
- The Multi-Information Display (MID) on the inside of the car also shows your current charging status, including an estimate of how much time is left until your battery is fully charged.
- To reduce the amount of time you spend charging your Prius, consider upgrading to a 9 level 2 charger setup at home. [22] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
- It's a good idea to keep your Prius Plug-In charged whenever you're not driving it to ensure you’re always driving with as much hybrid power as possible. This will cut fuel costs and harmful emissions.
Community Q&A
How do you charge the main battery? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff AnswerThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
wikiHow Staff Editor Staff AnswerYou don't charge the main battery on the non-plug-in models. The auxiliary battery is responsible for starting the Prius, so you jump the smaller battery if your car is dead. If you have a plug-in Prius, you charge the main battery by simply plugging the charger in!
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How much will your electric bill go up? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff AnswerThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
wikiHow Staff Editor Staff AnswerIt changes a little bit depending on where you live, but the national average cost for charging a hybrid or electric vehicle is 12 cents per kilowatt. This comes out to roughly $23 for every full charge. However, you don't have to buy gas nearly as often with a hybrid vehicle, so it is almost always cheaper to pay for electricity than to pay for gas.
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Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. AdvertisementIf you live in a state with California emission laws, you can get a free replacement battery if yours dies so long as the car is less than 10 years old and you’ve driven less than 150,000 miles (240,000 km). If you don’t live in a state with California emission laws, it’s 8 years or 100,000 miles (160,000 km).
Invest in a spare compatible charging cable and keep it in your vehicle at all times in case your original manufacturer-supplied cable becomes lost or damaged.
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- ↑https://youtu.be/88nsTN4gRKA?t=23
- ↑ Duston Maynes. Automotive Repair Specialist. Expert Interview
- ↑https://youtu.be/oOY8wSZ--TY?t=20
- ↑https://youtu.be/oOY8wSZ--TY?t=24
- ↑https://youtu.be/oOY8wSZ--TY?t=31
- ↑ Duston Maynes. Automotive Repair Specialist. Expert Interview
- ↑https://youtu.be/oOY8wSZ--TY?t=37
- ↑https://youtu.be/oOY8wSZ--TY?t=50
- ↑https://youtu.be/xir2w5W6cFU?t=348
- ↑ Duston Maynes. Automotive Repair Specialist. Expert Interview
- ↑https://youtu.be/oOY8wSZ--TY?t=63
- ↑https://youtu.be/oOY8wSZ--TY?t=77
- ↑https://www.toyotapartsandservice.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2018-4_CP-a1.pdf
- ↑https://youtu.be/W5b1QLm0lsk?t=16
- ↑https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1093540_plug-in-electric-cars-how-to-buy-a-second-charging-cable
- ↑https://youtu.be/5YjXGnxanRQ?t=25
- ↑https://youtu.be/W5b1QLm0lsk?t=44
- ↑https://youtu.be/W5b1QLm0lsk?t=44
- ↑https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-introduces-2012-prius-plug-in-hybrid/
- ↑https://youtu.be/W5b1QLm0lsk?t=54
- ↑https://www.consumerreports.org/hybrids-evs/whats-the-right-electric-car-charger-for-your-home/
- ↑https://youtu.be/W5b1QLm0lsk?t=100
About This Article
Co-authored by: Automotive Repair SpecialistThis article was co-authored by Duston Maynes and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Institute of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Automobile Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA’s 50 Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Group’s 52 Names Leading the Way in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere. This article has been viewed 78,988 times.
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Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Automotive Repair Specialist 10 votes - 34% Click a star to vote 34% of people told us that this article helped them. Co-authors: 6 Updated: February 10, 2025 Views: 78,988 "It described the location of battery and method of recharging accurately." Quizzes & Games How Good Are My Survival Instincts Quiz Can You Spot The False Climate Claims Quiz Am I Smart Quiz How Lucky Am I Quiz You Might Also Like Start a Toyota Prius (US) Charge a Car Battery Charge a Dead Car Battery Step-By-Step Hook Up a Battery Charger Trending Articles Am I a Baddie or Preppy Quiz Tell if Your Boyfriend Is Gay What Is My Most Toxic Personality Trait? Am I Worthy of Being Loved Quiz Trending Articles Do I Have Rizz Quiz Am I Emo Quiz Which Cartoon Do I Belong In? Which Anime Do I Belong In? Take the Quiz Everyone Is Talking About Am I Chopped Quiz How Rare Is My Birthday Quiz What Is My Mental Age Quiz Am I Gay Quiz You've Seen These All Over Your Feed 10+ Scary Phone Numbers to Call What Every Domain Expansion Hand Sign Means In Jujutsu Kaisen The Ultimate List of Truth or Drink Questions 360 of the Best Borg Names for Your Next Party: Unique, Historical & More Featured Videos Get Fresh or Dried Blood out of Jeans 25 Tips for Keeping a Woman Interested in You Choose the Best Braces Colors for You A Step-by-Step Guide for Successfully Making a Fire Hot Takes 🔥 🔥 🔥 Do You Agree With These Spicy Hot Takes? Do You Agree with These Popular Hot Takes? Do You Agree with These Crazy Hot Takes? Do You Agree with These Music Hot Takes? Your Daily Dose of Fun! Does She Like Me Quiz What Is My Fursona Quiz When Will I Get My First Period Quiz Which Anime Dere Type Am I Quiz- Categories
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