Toyota has been at the core of the hybrid care market for many years. Toyota actually produced one of the world’s first hybrid cards, the Toyota Prius.
This hybrid car was first introduced to the car market 20 years ago. However, a lot of drivers are still hesitant to invest in a hybrid vehicle due to concerns over how long the battery power lasts and the costs of replacing the battery itself.
These concerns also apply to those who are seeking to buy a used car, as many hybrid vehicles are sold as used vehicles.
For this reason, I will outline the length of time that an average battery lasts in a Toyota hybrid vehicle, and the measures that you can take in order to prolong the life of the battery.
Toyota currently sells up to eight hybrid cards in its model lineup. These vehicles include the Corolla, Camry, Avalon sedans, the Sienna minivan, Highlander, Venza SUVs, the RAV4, and the Prius.
All of these cars offer Toyota’s reliability stamp alongside excellent fuel proficiency. However, you will be wondering what the life span of the batteries in these vehicles actually is?
The majority of vehicle manufactures that focus on hybrid cars have stated that an average hybrid battery pack will last for up to 100,000 miles.
Before 2020, Toyota also used to offer a warranty that covered hybrid batteries for up to eight years. This warranty was extended to 10 years thereafter.
This warranty is brilliant news for those who wish to invest in a Toyota Prius, or for those who wish to keep their hybrid vehicle for a long period of time.
In addition, this provides security and confidence to prospective buyers who are unsure about the battery life of these vehicles.
The average American car owner will drive approximately 10,000 miles per annum and will keep the same vehicle for 6-12 years. Indeed, some who own a Toyota Prius have reported that their battery can last for up to 200,000 miles.
This means that you could still have 100,000 miles of life left in your battery when you have reached the average lifespan.
Why Do Toyota Hybrid Batteries Last For Such A Long Period Of Time?
Approximately ten years ago, the Consumer Report compared battery tests on a Toyota Prius (2002) that had driven 200,000 miles with a model from the previous year that had 2000 miles on it.
Both of these vehicles had been tested for ten years previously. The results indicated that there was little corrosion or degradation within both of the battery’s performances.
They were also surprised to discover that the higher-mileage car still drove in a similar fashion to the newer model. That is a strong testament to the overall resilience, security and high quality of a Toyota vehicle.
One of the main reasons why a Toyota hybrid battery will last for such a long period of time is because these vehicles include an efficient battery pack that consists of nickel-based metal.
There is also a battery management system and a controller contained within that ensures that the charge does not exceed 80% or fall below 20%.
This computer-controlled system enhances the overall lifespan of the battery, as well as promoting thermal management aspects.
What Can Impact On A Hybrid Battery’s Lifespan?
There are many factors and components that can impact the lifespan of a hybrid battery.
The way that you drive plays an important part, alongside your overall maintenance routine and the method that you use to charge the battery. The climate that you live in can also have an effect.
It is important to ensure that you are engaging in regular maintenance checks in order to enhance the performance of your hybrid vehicle. This is because the electric motor and gas engine are dependent on one another in order to operate the vehicle smoothly.
If one of these is not working well, it will have a negative impact on the other. During service intervals and maintenance, you should test the power of your battery.
If you discover that there are weak battery cells, then you should recondition the battery In order to prolong its life span. If you fail to do so, you may shorten the battery’s lifespan by proxy.
Adopting an efficient charging routine is also crucial in order to enhance the lifespan of your hybrid battery pack. In this sense, it is crucial to follow all of the guidelines issued by your manufacturer.
It is also highly advised that you do not allow your battery to run down and that you fully charge it whenever it is running low. Avoiding a lot of short top-ups or driving on a low car battery will enhance the lifespan of the battery itself.
You should also bear in mind that fluctuations in temperature will have a negative impact on your car’s battery. This is because it is designed to optimize within a specific range of temperatures.
If you are driving your vehicle in extreme conditions for long periods of time, this will result in the battery becoming damaged.
Therefore, it may not be advised to purchase a hybrid vehicle like a Toyota Prius if you live in an environment that experiences extreme weather conditions.
In hotter climates, an auxiliary battery system will help to ensure that the battery pack remains cool.
Thus, as part of your maintenance, you should also ensure that you are cleaning the auxiliary fan on a regular basis to ensure that air remains flowing effectively.
What Are The Main Symptoms Of A Dying Battery?
There are many signs that your battery may be dying. These include the following symptoms:
A poor fuel economy. If you notice that you are experiencing a poor fuel economy, then your battery may not be working very well.
Rapid depletion. If your battery does not hold charge for longer periods of time, then it could indicate that you need to replace it.
Battery failing to kick in. If your battery does not start in the way that it used to, it may need replacing.
Irregular electrical fluctuations. If you are experiencing irregular electrical fluctuations, then you may need to check your battery and/or replace it where required.
Is Your Battery Balanced Enough?
Hybrid batteries can experience issues for numerous other reasons. Issues may occur whenever individual cells become out of balance with other battery cells. For instance, a standard 20-series Toyota Prius contains 28 individual cells.
The capacity of the battery will break down over longer periods of time and this occurs whenever some individual cells drop their power to 1500 mAh whilst other cells may remain at 5000 mAh.
If this occurs, then you should replace the unbalanced cells with more balanced cells.
Are You Servicing Your Hybrid?
It is important to note that hybrid vehicles include two alternate power systems that work in direct conduction with one another.
This includes the electric battery and a petrol-based engine. If your engine is experiencing issues, then this will also negatively impact upon the battery and you will consume far more fuel than is required.
As your fuel mileage increases, the hybrid battery needs to work harder than it would if your engine was doing a good job. This inherently results in your battery wearing down far quicker if you fail to service your car’s engine on a regular basis.
If you own a Toyota Prius, these vehicles are usually good mechanically and you may be less likely to get it serviced on a regular basis.
However, this could result in the battery wearing down far quicker than if you were to schedule your car for regular maintenance checks.
If you use your vehicle for work purposes, then you should ensure that you service your vehicle every 5000 miles to ensure that your battery does not become worn.
Conclusion
To conclude, the battery life of a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle will typically last for up to 100,000 miles. However, it has been proven that the lifespan of batteries within these vehicles can last for up to 200,000 miles!
The amount of time that your battery lasts for depends on how you drive and how often you perform maintenance checks on your vehicle.
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