[StatCoder]

Not that there is any reason to think about generators, these days, but is anyone considering how they could use their hybrid to serve as a backup electricity generator? I'm intrigued by the ability to leave a hybrid vehicle on, use the battery for electricity, and the engine will only run when the battery needs to be charged. This means the vehicle can be left on indefinitely for vehicle climate control or to provide electricity without worrying about completely discharging the battery or wasting fuel with prolonged idling of the engine. How long a full tank will last probably depends on the amount of electricity being drawn, however, driving off to fill the tank at 35 mpg should be as good as any way of getting gas.

The two 120V AC outlets (Limited/Platinum) or using an external inverter can be used to power most appliances (1500W) possibly including your home refrigerator/freezer. For comparison, a light-duty camping or tailgating generator is often 1500W and most RV inverters seem to be 3000W.

2020 Highlander (100W)

2020 Highlander Hybrid Limited or Platinum (1500W)

Appliance Est. Watts

• Cell Phone 24
• CD Player 40
• VCR 50
• Satellite Dish 75
• Printer 75
• Laptop 60-90
• iPod 120
• PS2/XBox 125
• 25″ TV 175
• CPAP 200
• Jig Saw 350
• Computer & Monitor 400
• Blender 400
• Refrigerator 500
• 1/2″ Drill 700
• Vacuum Cleaner 750
• Coffee Maker 800
• Iron 1000
• Sub Pump 1000
• Space Heater 1000
• 40″ Fan1100
• Toaster 1200
• Circular Saw 1250
• Microwave 1250

 

[JosieMae]

Yes. The hybrid is a generator on wheels which is why I'm purchasing. Or trying to. 🙄

 

[StatCoder]

Yes. The hybrid is a generator on wheels which is why I'm purchasing. Or trying to.

The 1500W outlet seems to be a great feature for camping or tailgating that isn’t touted very much in comparison to the gas engine Highlander. Everyone is considers the higher towing capacity but not too many talk about the ability to run an extension cord to the vehicle and plug-in an electric stove, portable heater, TV, music, etc.

The 3rd Gen Hybrid does not have a higher-capacity inverter according to the Quick Reference Guide so this is something new for the 4th Gen Hybrid. Looking at the various Toyota hybrid model manuals, I can’t seem to find any other Toyota that has this feature. The new RAV4 Hybrid doesn’t have a 120V outlet.

2019 Highlander Hybrid (100W)

 

[lloyd123]

This may work but you could be causing damage to your Hybrid-Encabulator

Edit - This was a feeble attempt at humor but doesn't seem to play in the post.

To view go the Weber Auto youtube site and search for Hybrid-Encabulator

WeberAuto

Welcome to the WeberAuto Channel at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, U.S.A. The purpose of this channel is to help prepare the next generation of servi...

www.youtube.com

 

[Bob Peloquin]

I would imagine that the 1500 Watt inverter in the left rear corner of the 2020 HyHi is simply a 12 volt to 120 volt pure sine inverter that runs off the nearby (like inches) 12 volt battery.

I have a 2019 and I run a 2000 Watt NaturePower pure sine inverter when camping if I need 120 volt power. The inverter/converter under the hood is capable of keeping the small (50 aH) 12 volt battery charged and of running all the 12 volt lights, motors and infotainment system as well as the various computers. The fuse between the inverter/converter and the battery looks like it's 150 amps which would mean it can provide upwards of 2000 Watts at 14.6 volts (slightly less when it drops back to 13.6 when fully charged).

I would wager that this is exactly what Toyota did with the built-in 1500 Watt inverter. If you need 1500 Watts continuously I'd suggest turning off the center console screen and the heating/air conditioning system to conserve the 12 volts for use by the inverter, then leave the vehicle in the READY condition (On).

Last September we had a warm spell (high 80's/low 90's) and while camping at the Hershey PA RV show it got too darned hot for sleeping without air conditioning. I went to Camping World bought the 2000 Watt inverter and temporarily wired it to the battery with 4 gauge battery cables (that's all I could find) and it ran my little [email protected] teardrop trailer's 5000 BTU window air conditioner all night while only starting the Highlander's engine for 5 minutes every 15-20 minutes all night. So it appears to have plenty of amps available from the inverter/converter and MG1.

 

[StatCoder]

I have very little knowledge of electricity but would like to better understand how this works. Prius owners have been doing this mod for a long time.

As I understand it, there is a DC-to-DC converter that steps down the large high-voltage traction battery (the one that drives the wheels) to the small 12V battery that runs the accessories. When you hook up an inverter to the 12V battery terminals and draw a lot of current it slowly discharges the traction battery. After some time - perhaps 30 minutes - the ICE will automatically start and recharge the traction battery for, say 5 minutes, shut down, and repeat. The 12V battery never actually discharges.

I'm reading fuel consumption estimates of about 0.25 gallons per hour under load which would be something like 68 hours from a full 17.1 gallon tank. I would love to see someone (hopefully, not me) post a real-world example, at some point, of using the 120V outlet and an extension cord to keep their refrigerator on during a prolonged power outage.

I doubt that this is a mod that most people, even here, would do for fear of violating the transferrable warranties of the hybrid system (8 years) and battery (10 years) so having the installed feature is probably the only way to go for most.

 

[Bob Peloquin]

Unless Toyota can PROVE that the accessory inverter installed by the end-user was the direct cause of damage to the vehicle, they would have to honor the warranty. That's part of what the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Improvement Act says. In other words, don't worry about it. If you draw so much power that the fusible link blows, then you know you've used too much. The 12 volt battery, even though it's only 50 amp-hours, supplies the surge current while the inverter-converter in the hybrid system keeps pumping in amps to recharge it. The inverter-converter is water-cooled by its own electric pump and small section of the radiator (which also cools the motors and gears in the 'transmission') and is designed to produce plenty of power for the 12 volt systems. With the headlights on, the voltage is 14.6 volts - with the headlights off, it drops back to 13.6 volts when the battery has been recharged. I bet Toyota would try to deny a warranty claim if, for example, you had hybrid system problems - but they'd have to prove it was the inverter that caused it.

 

[StatCoder]

Attached are the User Manual pages pertaining to the 120VAC 1500W power outlet. There's some useful information including:

• enabling the outlets with the "AC 120V" switch after powering on the ignition to "READY"
• potential local regulations against idling
• circuit breaker preventing surge and how to reset
• if the battery is too hot or too cold it won't initially operate
• not using cooking or heating devices while driving like coffee makers or ones that generate steam.

So much for pancakes and sausage on the griddle and a pot of fresh brewed coffee while making highway time.

There's no mention of any problems that can occur with prolonged idling and no warning about using the power outlets for a extended period of time, presumably, because the engine is only starting up periodically. There's nothing that says you can't do this all day. The hybrid battery even has its own cooling system.

 

[DPK01]

This past weekend, my vehicle powered down completely after idling for exactly one hour. I don't know if that was a fluke or if that is an intended function. But running it all night continuously to generate power might not be an option.

 

[Bob Peloquin]

That doesn't sound normal. Both my 2016 Rav4 hybrid and my 2019 Highlander will run until I shut them off.

 

[JosieMae]

Toyota added the automatic shut-off safety feature for 2020.

 

[lloyd123]

You can disable the shut off feature by locking the the doors either with the inside door lock switch or with the mechanical key.

EDIT - Of course if the doors/hatch are locked you'll need to run the extension cord out an open window as the doors and hatch will have to be shut.

 

[StatCoder]

Low voltage vs high voltage electrical system explained. I figure I might as well learn as much as I can about hybrids while I'm waiting for mine to be built one of these days. This guy is a great teacher.

 

[motor-hybrid]

So, wonder if one can buy the part and connect it on an xle model?

 

[HybridSpooner]

Which part are you referring too?


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[StatCoder]

If you just want to be able to power some appliances or use the hybrid as a backup generator then you just need an inexpensive inverter to clip on to the 12V battery in the cargo area or the 12V charging/jumping terminal under the hood.

However, if you’re looking to install a 1500W outlet then the stock installation has a switch in the front and some fuses, presumably to prevent parasitic drain on the battery when the inverter isn’t in use. It doesn’t seem that it would be worth the hassle to install the inverter, outlet(s) and power switch at the dash given how easy it is to attach an inverter as needed. You do have to expose the 12V battery or open the hood, though, and connect the cables to the terminals as needed.

 

[StatCoder]

US Category - Backup Power For Days Without The Generator Hassle

cargenerator.com

 

[motor-hybrid]

Thanks for the link. They are not give them away I see. CarGenerator All Weather 1500w for $1,050 shipped. Too bad there is not a pass through from suv to outside. If there was one could leave the device locked inside for safe keeping while in use.

hum, there site says below...
WILL IT DRAIN MY BATTERY?
Nope. Not even one tiny bit… Once your motor is running, your battery isn’t even necessary in the equation (true fact, ask your mechanic). Power for the car’s electrical system (or your house or RV) actually comes from the alternator. Batteries are there just to start the car and get the motor running, so your battery won’t even notice CarGenerator being attached.

So will this use the hybrid battery pack ‘power’ or instead will it make the engine run all the time and not use the hybrid battery pack I wonder.

 

[StatCoder]

The above applies to normal gas-engine cars.

In a hybrid, the electrical power from the high-voltage traction battery is stepped-down to around 14V by the car's DC to DC converter to charge the 12V battery and power the electrical system like the headlights. If the inverter is on or connected and drawing electricity then it powers that. Once the high-voltage traction battery runs down enough then the engine automatically starts and charges it for a number of minutes and then stops. How often this happens will depend on how much power is being drawn by the inverter and the size of the high-voltage battery in the hybrid. It's the same process that happens if you are parked in a hybrid with the AC on.

 

[HybridSpooner]

Does the inverter come standard on all hybrid models? I have a limited that I got a few weeks ago, it works great. I’ve used my car for social distancing to do my work . Had no problem running it multiple hours and being on conference calls with my laptop, etc. This vehicle is excellent so far!


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