Toyota Prius Charging Cable
Quick recommendation
Check the badge on the boot before you order, because the Prius name covers three different answers. A plain Toyota Prius hybrid, any generation up to 2022, has no charging socket anywhere on the car. Its battery is filled by the engine and by braking, and no cable will change that. The same goes for the Prius+ seven seater built from 2012 to 2020. Only cars badged Plug-in Hybrid can be charged from the mains, and this is the mistake we see most often.
Once you know you have a Plug-in, the year decides the connector. The first generation Plug-in, sold from 2012 to 2016, uses a Type 1 inlet, so you need a Type 1 to Type 2 cable. The second generation from 2017 to 2022 and the fifth generation from 2024 onwards both moved to Type 2, so those cars take a Type 2 to Type 2 cable. The two are not interchangeable. A Type 2 cable will not physically fit a 2015 Prius Plug-in, and this is worth checking against your V5 rather than guessing.
Charging speeds here are modest, which is normal for a plug-in hybrid with a small battery. The 2012 to 2016 car has a 4.4 kWh pack and accepts 2 kW. Toyota GB quotes 2.0 kW and some sources say 2.2 kW, but either way a 16A cable is more than the car will ever use. The 2017 to 2022 car has 8.8 kWh and accepts 3.3 kW, which Toyota puts at about two hours for a full charge. The 2024 car carries 13.6 kWh usable and Toyota's own brochure again quotes 3.3 kW, at about four hours.
Because every Prius Plug-in is limited by its own onboard charger rather than by the cable, a 16A cable is genuinely enough on all of them. We list the 32A version for the 2024 car for one reason: Toyota's website implies a faster rate than its brochure, we could not reconcile the two, and a 32A cable covers you either way at no risk. There is no benefit in a three phase cable on any Prius. None of these cars has rapid charging, so the cable you buy is the way you charge it.
Our Type 1 to Type 2 and Type 2 to Type 2 cables are IP55 rated, our 3 Pin cables are IP67, and every cable ships with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty and same-day dispatch on working-day orders placed before 2pm.
Toyota Prius Charging Times
Prius Plug-in Hybrid 2012 to 2016, 4.4 kWh, Type 1 inlet
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 to 3 Pin (5m / 10m) | 2 kW, car limited | About 2 hours 30 minutes | Fine here, the car is the bottleneck |
| Type 1 to Type 2 16A (5m / 10m) | 2 kW, car limited | About 2 hours 30 minutes | Buy this one for charge points |
Prius Plug-in Hybrid 2017 to 2022, 8.8 kWh, Type 2 inlet
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 to 3 Pin (5m / 10m) | 2.3 kW | About 3 hours | Useful backup away from home |
| Type 2 to Type 2 16A (5m / 10m) | 3.3 kW, car limited | About 2 hours | Buy this one |
| Type 2 to Type 2 32A (5m / 10m) | 3.3 kW, car limited | About 2 hours | Fits, but no quicker |
Prius Plug-in Hybrid 2024 onwards, 13.6 kWh usable, Type 2 inlet
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 to 3 Pin (5m / 10m) | 2.3 kW | About 5 hours 45 minutes | Backup only |
| Type 2 to Type 2 16A (5m / 10m) | 3.3 kW per Toyota's brochure | About 4 hours | Enough if 3.3 kW is right |
| Type 2 to Type 2 32A (5m / 10m) | Up to 7.4 kW at home, car limited | About 4 hours at 3.3 kW | Buy this one, it covers either figure |
Toyota Prius Charging Cable FAQs
Does the standard Toyota Prius need a charging cable?
No. Every ordinary Prius hybrid built up to 2022, and every Prius+ seven seater from 2012 to 2020, has no charging port at all. The engine and the brakes keep its battery topped up. If you cannot find a flap with a socket behind it, your car is not a plug-in and nothing on this page will fit it.
What cable does a 2015 Prius Plug-in use?
A Type 1 to Type 2 cable. The 2012 to 2016 Plug-in has a five pin Type 1 inlet, so a Type 2 cable will not physically connect. Its 4.4 kWh battery accepts 2 kW, meaning our 16A version supplies more current than the car can take and fills it in roughly two and a half hours.
What cable does a 2017 to 2022 Prius Plug-in use?
A Type 2 to Type 2 cable. Toyota switched connectors for the second generation Plug-in, which carries 8.8 kWh and accepts 3.3 kW, giving about two hours for a full charge. Our 16A version already exceeds what that onboard charger will draw, so it is the sensible buy for this car.
How long does a Prius Plug-in take to charge?
Around two and a half hours for the 4.4 kWh car of 2012 to 2016, about two hours for the 8.8 kWh car of 2017 to 2022, and about four hours for the 13.6 kWh car from 2024. These are Toyota's own figures where quoted. A three pin socket adds roughly an hour on the newer cars.
Is the 32A cable worth it on a Prius Plug-in?
Only on the 2024 car, and then as insurance. Toyota's brochure quotes 3.3 kW while its website implies more, and we could not reconcile the two. A 32A cable removes the question because it will carry up to 7.4 kW at home. On the older Plug-ins the 16A cable is already ahead of the car.
Is 5m or 10m better for a Prius Plug-in?
Five metres is fine if your home unit sits close to where the car parks and the flap faces it. Choose ten metres if you reverse onto the drive, share a charge point with another household, or use workplace bays where you cannot pick your spot. Neither length changes the charging speed.