How Long Does A Hybrid Battery Last ?

Hybrid vehicles have been making waves in the automotive industry for decades. Many motorists are yet to switch to hybrid cars, not because of their reliability but because they have great concerns regarding the durability of the battery and replacement cost.

Even consumers who want to buy used hybrid vehicles are also considering the longevity of the battery. So, if you’re asking, ‘How long does a hybrid battery last?’ sit down and take a cup of coffee. We’ll answer that in subsequent paragraphs and also explain how to maintain hybrid batteries.

How Long Does A Hybrid Battery Last?

One of the benefits of switching from ICE vehicles to hybrid vehicles is that it’ll save you thousands of dollars each year. It’ll halt constant visits to gas stations.

You’ll only spend half the amount of money on gas compared to your neighbors with ICE-powered vehicles. Though, you’ll have to pay something either to repair or replace the hybrid battery.

Hybrid batteries consist of several individual cells. Like every other battery, they have a shelf life, which means they will eventually lose power capacity. So, how long does a hybrid battery last in a car, anyway?

Most hybrid vehicle manufacturers give 80,000 to 100,000 miles or eight to ten years warranty on their hybrid batteries. Whichever comes first. Most consumers have also reported that with the right basic maintenance on the battery, it’ll last up to 150,000 miles. Few others have stated that it goes beyond 150,000 miles.

So, if you were asking how long does a Toyota hybrid battery last or how long does a Lexus hybrid battery last, both manufacturers give 800,000 to 100,000 miles.

“What Can Affect Your Hybrid Battery’s Life?”

Like many system components of a car, several factors affect a hybrid battery’s lifespan. How frequently you charge, your service routine, where you live, and even how you drive affect the life of your hybrid battery.

Lack of maintenance

Every vehicle needs regularly scheduled maintenance to keep running smoothly. The electric motor and the internal combustion engine in your hybrid vehicle are somewhat interdependent to run perfectly. So, if anything goes wrong with one, it’ll affect the optimal operation of the other.

Therefore, always check the battery state during every vehicle service and other maintenance. If any of the individual cells in the battery are bad, condition the battery to prolong its lifespan. To ignore checking the health of the battery at service intervals may shorten the life of the battery.

Not following the manufacturer’s charging guidelines.

The way you charge the battery plays a big role here. Always follow the manufacturer’s charging guidelines to maximize the lifespan of the battery.

The manufacturer’s instructions represent the manufacturer in print. Additionally, do not allow your battery to run down flat and do not charge it fully from zero. Avoid driving on an extremely low battery.

Extreme temperatures

Extreme weather conditions and fluctuations can be detrimental to the battery. Hybrid and electric car batteries are engineered to work within a specific range of temperatures. Traveling in extreme weather conditions for extended periods can be a catastrophe to the battery. Check this article if you’re asking how long the electric vehicle battery last.

Although, in hot weather conditions, an auxiliary hybrid battery fan helps to cool the battery module. Therefore, keep the auxiliary fan clean to have adequate cool air blowing in.

How To Increase The Lifespan Of Hybrid Car Battery

At this point, you won’t be asking, ‘how long does a hybrid battery last in Toyota and other vehicle models?’ Indeed, these batteries last long enough. But do you want to make them last even longer?

Hybrid vehicles run on both electric motors and internal combustion engines. Both the electric motor and the internal combustion engines have to work in direct proportion for a hybrid vehicle to function as a fine-tuned machine. Poor internal combustion engine performance will put a load on the hybrid battery and drain it much faster.

Also, when the internal combustion engine components are functioning properly, the driver will have confidence in the wheel and not worry about vehicle maintenance. And if you ignore system components maintenance, the hybrid battery will try to compensate. This will drain the battery’s power. Follow these measures to extend the lifespan of your hybrid battery.

Regular maintenance

Always carry out regularly scheduled maintenance on your hybrid vehicle. Hybrid vehicles are strong. Toyota Prius, for instance, can run 180,000 kilometers without displaying any issues. But if you ignore regularly going for service maintenance, you’re ruining the hybrid battery.

Once you elapse the 80,000 miles warranty period, take the vehicle to the dealership to diagnose the battery. After that, keep inspecting the battery every 12 months.

Keep the auxiliary fan clean.

The auxiliary fan blows cool air to the battery to keep it cool, but over time, it becomes dirty and needs periodic cleaning.

As the fan blows cool air to the battery pack modules, it collects dust, which will block the air ducts and reduce the efficiency of the fan. Keeping the auxiliary fan clean will increase the lifespan of the hybrid car battery.

Conduct a hybrid battery test.

Some automotive garages electric and hybrid battery test services to find weak cells. They can revive these cells and make them 97% strength of the original capacity.

By doing so, you can restore a weak battery without digging a hole in your pocket. This will only be possible if you detect and replace the weak cells on time.

How Do You Know When Your Hybrid Battery Needs To Be Replaced?

Whatever reason you’re switching to hybrid, whether it is to get more miles per gallon or for the benefits of the environment, it’s important to note that the efficiency of the vehicle depends on the battery.

These batteries last a minimum of 80,000 miles or eight years. However, Toyota claims that with proper maintenance, the battery will last the life of the car. Like every vehicle component, the hybrid battery can develop a fault. Hence, it’s important to know when your hybrid battery needs replacement.

Fewer miles per gallon

As an experienced and cost-effective driver, you should always keep an eye on your mileage. If you notice that you’re visiting gas stations more constantly than normal, check your hybrid battery life.

It could mean the engine is running more on the internal combustion engine. What could be the cost? It shows the battery is not charged to full capacity or not retaining electrical power as it used to.

State of charge

The vehicle projects a state of charge on the driver information screen. If you observe a significant display of the state-of-charge fluctuations on the information screen while driving, it shows there is an imminent problem.

The significant fluctuation means you have a failing hybrid battery or issues with the charging systems. Whatever the reasons are, visit your dealership to track the cause and fix it as soon as possible.

Charging problems

Every good battery should discharge at a predictable and steady rate. In any case, several factors affect the charging system of the battery, which plays a significant role in the overall health of the battery. If the charging system is undercharging or overcharging the battery, or the battery has a parasitic drain, it’ll decrease the lifespan of the battery.

Mechanical issues like bent pins, damaged wiring, and corrosion can be detrimental to the battery. If you charge the battery fully overnight and you notice a slow start in the morning, you have a charging system problem or a failing battery.

Erratic engine performance

If your internal combustion engine runs erratically, it shows your hybrid battery is dying. This is because the hybrid battery and the ICE work in direct proportion. An issue with one will affect the other.

If the internal combustion engine works more than it should or stalls randomly, consult a certified mechanic. However, several things can cause erratic idling. But, it is also a sign of a dying battery.

Strange noise

Constant noise from the auxiliary fan shows that the fan is running longer than it should. This happens when the battery is running hot and the fan tries to compensate by working steadily to cool it.

A hot hybrid battery indicates battery issues, which is not good for the nearby system components. Track the culprit and fix it as soon as possible before things get worse.

Whether the vehicle displays a warning light on the driver information screen or you observe the above signs, seek professional help.

“Why Do Toyota Hybrid Batteries Last So Long?”

In the last decade, consumer reports conducted a test on 2001 Toyota Prius and identical 2002 Toyota Prius hybrid batteries. The 2002 Toyota Prius has covered over 200,000 miles, and the 2001 Toyota Prius has only 2,000 miles. The test confirms a little degradation in fuel economy and acceleration on the 2002 Prius hybrid battery with over 200,000 miles.

Consumer reports were amazed to discover that the high-mileage car still drives like a new vehicle. Aside from that, the vehicle is still running on the original transmission, engine, and even shock absorbers. This proves how strong Toyota hybrid batteries can be. So, if you were asking how long does the hybrid battery last in Prius, the test here should give you a clue.

The truth behind the longevity of the Toyota hybrid batteries is that they feature an efficient nickel-metal battery pack. They have a computer-controlled charge controller and battery management computer system that maintains an 80/20 battery rule.

This means the battery management computer system ensures the battery doesn’t charge above 80% and doesn’t go below 20%. These battery computer management systems improve the battery’s thermal management control, lifetime life, and overall battery recycling life.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace Hybrid Battery?

Hybrid battery replacement cost varies greatly. This is because manufacturers have their specific battery models. This makes it difficult to say one price for all hybrid car models. Another reason is that manufacturers use different materials in hybrid battery production.

For example, Toyota uses nickel-metal hydride in its battery production. Other vehicle models may use sealed lead acid (SLA) in battery production. However, many vehicles use lithium-ion batteries.

Having considered all these, hybrid batteries cost around $1,000 to $6,000. You’ll also pay additional fees for conditioning and testing. Conditioning, testing, and other battery replacement parts can cost $1,500. A rule of thumb; getting a new battery will usually cost more than getting a used one.

Of course, don’t forget labor. The above price is for the battery itself. The labor charge should be around $800 to $1,000 or even more. Sometimes, you may end up paying more bucks for replacement costs than the actual battery price.

If you own a popular or common hybrid vehicle, then the battery price and replacement cost will be relatively cheaper than some rare hybrid models.

Service charge

Replacing a hybrid car battery is quite different from replacing your regular 12-volt battery. Here, the mechanics need to be trained for this task and have special tools for the replacement. It also takes more time to replace hybrid batteries.

For instance, replacing a hybrid battery on Toyota Corolla can take 3 hours, while replacing the hybrid battery on a Toyota Camry takes 5 hours or more. This illustration shows that it’s quite challenging to say the exact amount for hybrid battery replacement. Get on the phone with your mechanic to know the replacement cost.

The prices listed in the above table may vary depending on where you’re purchasing the hybrid battery from. However, it should be close to these prices.

We try as much as possible to provide you with accurate information on these prices. We extract the prices from the best hybrid batteries, an online hybrid battery seller.

FAQs:

Q: Is it worth replacing a hybrid battery?

If you own a hybrid vehicle, chances are you have a lingering dreadful thought about when the battery will run out. It’s quite understandable. I can relate to that because getting a hybrid battery replacement is a significant investment.

This investment is needed if you want to continue enjoying the full potential of your hybrid car. Therefore, it’s worth it to replace a dead or weak hybrid battery.

Q: Do hybrid batteries last 20 years?

Most vehicle manufacturers claim an average of 80,000 to 100,000 miles or 8 to 10 years on their hybrid batteries. This doesn’t mean that it is only what the battery will cover, but the warranty coverage period.

It is relatively common to hear of hybrid batteries to last 150,000 to 200,000 miles, or 15 to 20 years, with good maintenance. Proper maintenance is a game-changer in the life of hybrid batteries.

Q: Can you still drive a hybrid without the battery?

If you want to know if you can still drive your hybrid car without the battery, the answer depends on which battery you’re talking about.

If it is the 12-volt battery you’re talking about, if it runs out of juice and the hybrid battery is functioning, you can drive your hybrid vehicle. If it is a hybrid battery that is dead, you can not drive the vehicle with it.

Q: Do hybrid engines last longer?

Hybrid vehicles have been existing since the 1900s. Now, they’ve become popular and common in society. Hybrid vehicles run with two different power sources: the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. This gives it a double-edged life.

Hybrid manufacturers boast a long-time warranty. The fact that automakers boast of these vehicles means they should last long. Of course, they last long. The engines also last longer since they run on two engines.

Q: What are the disadvantages of a hybrid car?

Having seen the reasons why you need a hybrid car, it’s important to note that you have demerits as well. However, what you call a disadvantage may not be an issue to someone else. Let’s explore them.

Performance: When manufacturers prioritize fuel economy over fun and engagement, spirited drivers will count themselves out of the game.

Price: Manufacturers go the extra mile in researching and implementing hybrid technologies. Therefore, automakers add extra cost for the electric motor and hybrid battery, making hybrid vehicles costlier than traditional vehicles of the same models.

Fewer options: Hybrid vehicles are built for specific parameters for a group of persons. Unfortunately, this means that there are fewer trim features and motorists will have fewer options to buy.

However, hybrid trucks and cars are saturating the automotive market. This could mean the availability of more varieties of hybrid trim features.

Batteries die: Motorists will continue to have grave concerns and ask how long does a hybrid battery last in Kia Optima and other vehicle models until batteries can be efficiently and cost-effectively recycled.

Difficult to fix: In some parts of the world, there are only a few mechanics who can efficiently fix hybrid vehicles. Hybrid cars need a trained mechanic on hybrid technologies to repair faults. This makes it difficult for an average mechanic to fix.

Mining and rare-earth metals: Hybrid vehicles offer both merits and demerits to the environment. Indeed, hybrids produce fewer emissions and greenhouse gases. Since the materials used in manufacturing hybrids are mined from the earth, they are unsafe to the earth and its workers.

Q: Is it worth getting a hybrid?

There are several reasons to get a hybrid pickup, SUV, or car compared to a traditional car. They’ll provide less emission to the atmosphere, offer more range out of the gas tank, and in some cases, perform better than gas-only vehicles. Another reason is that it saves you money in the long run.

Final words

At this juncture, you can efficiently answer, ‘How long does a hybrid battery last?’ The most intriguing part, you know how to get the full potential and extend your battery life.

If you’re a DIY and want to carry out the first-time repair on your hybrid car, do not do it yourself. You need experience with hybrid technologies to work on such cars unless you want to work on suspension components or other parts that don’t relate to the hybrid systems.