The Toyota Prius features two distinct battery types. The first is a lead-acid (Pb-A) 12V auxiliary battery, which is found in nearly all vehicles. The second battery is a Panasonic Metal Case Prismatic Module developed for hybrid automobiles. This battery is not designed to be charged manually, as it is charged by the onboard generator and regenerative braking. The 12V lead-acid (Pb-A) accessory battery is charged with a battery charger or by jump-starting with another vehicle. Pulling the handle positioned on the bottom left of the steering wheel will open the hood of the Prius. Hook the metal "I" rod on the interior of the hood into the little hole on the side of the hood to keep the hood open.
How To Charge A Prius Battery
- On the upper right side of the engine, remove the plastic cover protecting the battery and the small red plastic cap covering the battery's positive port.
- Connect the positive cable, which often has a white line painted on the rubber, to the positive port of the vehicle that is providing power to the Prius. If utilizing a battery charger, connect it to the Prius's positive port.
- Before attaching the negative cable (all black) to the Prius, ensure that the other end of the wire has not made contact with any other metal, as the cables may already be electrically charged. Note that the negative port on the Prius is any bolt positioned above the battery in the hood's rim. Connect the negative cable of a battery charger to the negative port of the Prius.
- Turn on the car that is charging the Prius and lightly press the accelerator to send enough power to the Prius' battery.
- Turn on the Prius and drive for at least 20 minutes without turning off the engine. This will recharge the battery sufficiently so that it does not die when the engine is turned off. Start the Prius and allow it to charge overnight if using a battery charger.