# Why don't cars have AC electrical plugs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518 "2007-08-05T17:03:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/21 "2007-08-05T20:57:56Z")
[QUOTE=Do Not Taunt] You know, sometimes there are _non-drivers_ in the car, too. [/QUOTE] You mean, like, bodies? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/22 "2007-08-05T21:24:43Z")
[QUOTE=groman] … If you’re really hardcore you can throw in one of [these babies](http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc2150.htm) in your trunk … [/QUOTE] Nope, if your really hardcore you get one of [these](http://www.tailgatorzone.com/features.html)! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/23 "2007-08-05T21:47:41Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] Nope, if your really hardcore you get one of [these](http://www.tailgatorzone.com/features.html)! CMC fnord! [/QUOTE] [Crocodile Dundee] Now _that’s_ a BLENDER! [/CD] ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/24 "2007-08-05T22:57:00Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] When my wife had a Toyota Matrix (not sure what year 04 or 05 I think) it had a 100w 120v AC outlet built right into the dash. [/QUOTE] I have an '06 Toyota Tacoma with an AC plug in the bed. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/25 "2007-08-05T23:47:05Z")
[QUOTE=groman] and my car battery is rated at 100 minute RCM, which I would say is about 40 Ah. Although car batteries aren’t designed for that kind of abuse and that would be the reason you’re advised against charging your RC batteries off your car battery more than 5 times without recharging the latter. [/QUOTE] Alright, that seems reasonable enough. In hindsight it seems a little perplexing that such a big heavy battery would have such a relatively low capacity. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/26 "2007-08-05T23:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=IAmNotSpartacus] The stock transformer simply converts the AC to DC. [/QUOTE] Just to set the record straight. As the word “transformer” is used in the world of electricity, a transformer does no such thing. The ideal transformer changes the voltage and current levels of AC signals or isolates one part of a circuit carrying DC from another that can’t tolerate DC, or both. In the process of changing voltage and current levels transformers also transform impedances. ---
**Author:** ![tiltypig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@tiltypig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiltypig)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/27 "2007-08-06T00:36:05Z")
[QUOTE=I’m Ron Burgundy?] Besides, what are you doing that you need a laptop in the car? Shouldn’t you be driving? [/QUOTE] You ain’t from around here, are ya boy? ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/28 "2007-08-06T03:50:31Z")
Could the answer perhaps be: liability? If Geneous ChrysFor Co produces a vehicle with power supply for your Apply LapBook, and owing to a flaw in the supply toasts your device, you’re going to want Generous ChrysFor Co to buy you a new device. Were I an auto mfr, I’d like nothing to do with the idea. Turning a profit in the auto industry is hard enough, without introducing new areas of liability. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/29 "2007-08-06T12:27:33Z")
Adding support for 110/220V AC causes problems in the areas of regulation, safety, design and repair. The voltage is high enough to be a hazard to anyone who comes in contact with it. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518/30 "2007-08-06T13:42:50Z")
I saw an advert the other day for the new Fiat Punto. Apparently it has a USB port in the glove compartment so you can attach MP3 players directly\*. Whether you can also charge devices this way I don’t know. - And then just say the name of the track or playlist you want, apparently. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-cars-have-ac-electrical-plugs/414518.md?page=1)