Prius+first responders+ electrocution ????

Without getting into the exact science of the Pruis HV battery & the possibilities that could be detrimental to First Responders, Toyota DOES provide a booklet called "Prius Emergency Response Guide". It is available at any Toyota dealership, Part Number: 00400-ERG02-0U. This manual explains ALL of the systems that first responders can encounter, and how to deal with them. It may not be important to the responders what the "actual" voltage of the HV (high voltage) battery (307 VDC), but how to AVOID getting shocked or electrocuted if they cut into the wrong area.
Fortunatly, Toyota takes great pains to IDENTIFY all of the HV wires, they are all BRIGHT ORANGE. Toyota also provides a big removable plug/master disconnect at the driver side of the battery connection that will remove all of the HV battery voltage from said orange wires.
Pull this plug, the HV battery voltage is eliminated from the wiring harness.
THIS is the MOST IMPORTANT THING that a First Responder needs to know:
Pull the master disconnect.

Hope this helps.

...

First responders tend to do things like cut off the roof through the pillars
and pry open the doors. None of the high voltage wiring passes through
these locations.

Service techs, OTOH, are more likely to get across the high voltage wires as
they work on those parts. If they don't follow safety precautions (Like not
touching the brightly colored wires when the batteries are connected, duh.)
they could get into trouble.

More like ~30,000 between the coil/sparkplugs and ground I'd
say...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

It's more than just "several amps". There's a lot of electrical power in there.

Assuming a 2003 or newer model, the Prius can **** down 50kw on the electric drive motor at peak running output. That would be 100 amps at 500 volts. Easily enough to fry you both ways. However, that's on the inverter to motor circuit, which isn't likely to be live after a crash unless the throttle is stuck wide open. Could be, but not very likely.

However the hybrid battery lines running to the back are very likely to be live unless the fusible link blew in the crash. That runs around 200 volts DC, and is fused at 200 amps. The battery pack has enough capacity (1.3kwh) that it could, theoretically, feed that 200 amp load for almost 2 minutes straight. That's also enough to make you quite crispy.

Either one could also vaporize a metal tool cutting into the lines. (at 50kw, you're at the power of a small arc furnace for melting steel)

There is a danger to the shop techs that work on them
as well. One of the required tools we needed to acquire
was 'high voltage linemen's gloves.' ;)

mike bunt

What's the highest voltage present in a Prius?
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

2004 = 500 VDC.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Conase wrote:

A friend of mine who is a fireman/EMT had to attend a class on dealing
with Prius/Insight/Hybrid issues.

around 50,000 between the coil and spark plugs!

Another Tom <thamilt_


Yes, but the plug voltage duration is milliseconds long. The 500V would be
continuous until a breaker/fuse/fusible link blew.

--
TeGGeR??

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Thanks...that's certainly enough to fry your biscuits...It's
likely several amps is it?...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)