Toyota to Test Vehicle-to-Home Power System

Toyota Motor Corp. says it will begin tests late this year of a two-way recharging system that enables a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle to pump power back into a household circuit.

The so-called V2H system includes an in-vehicle inverter that converts power stored in the vehicle's battery into AC for home use. Toyota says it will test the technology with about 10 specially prepared Prius plug-in sedans as part of its two-year-old Toyota City Low-Carbon Verification Project.

The system is designed to use a vehicle's battery to store low-cost power from solar panels or the grid at night, then automatically feed it into a home during the day. The system also can be switched on manually during a power outage. Toyota figures a Prius plug-in with full tank of gasoline could deliver 10 kW of power enough to run the average Japanese home for four days.

The company's upcoming test also will evaluate a device that allows electrical appliances to be plugged directly into a Prius. Toyota says the system could be used to power an emergency shelter.

Japan's interest in backup power options has been high since last year's earthquake caused regional blackouts. The country's decision to shut down its nuclear power plants in the wake of the disaster continues to create power shortages.