Report: Toyota to offer optional, 1,500-watt AC outlet on 2012 Prius in Japan

Shortly after the devastating quake in Japan, Toyota chief executive officer Akio Toyoda received letters indicating that owners of Toyota Estima hybrids used electricity stored in their vehicle’s battery pack to “charge mobile phones or warm up emergency supplies or food.” This action has prompted Toyota to reportedly offer an optional AC outlet on 2012 Prius hybrids sold in Japan, according to Automotive News (sub. req.).

Eventually, Toyota says that an AC outlet will be available on all of its Japanese hybrids. However, due to varying voltages and safety regulations that differ across the world, Toyota will not initially equip exported hybrids with an AC connection. Toyota says the AC outlet has a maximum output of 1,500 watts and claims that on a full tank of gas, the Prius could crank out that level of juice for two days.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]