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The Great Hybrid Battery Debate

669 messages,  Last post on Apr 06, 2009 at 2:32 PM

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What is this discussion about? Hybrid Cars


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#107 of 669
Re: Anyone had to buy a hybrid battery yet? [gagrice] by larsb
Nov 22, 2004 (1:47 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Nov 22, 2004 10:55 am)

more than 100,000 hybrids sold thus far by Toyota, they were saying a few months ago that they had NEVER replaced an entire batterry pack system.
 
That ZERO may have since changed, but it's not happening in massive numbers you can be sure, or it would be all over these forums.
#108 of 669
Re: Anyone had to buy a hybrid battery yet? [larsb] by gagrice
Nov 22, 2004 (2:33 pm)
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Replying to: larsb (Nov 22, 2004 1:47 pm)

I wonder how big of a job it will be to replace a cell. Have you seen one of the packs open? According to that article the Civic HCH uses the Panasonic batteries along with the Prius and Insight. I doubt they are drop in units. They may have spade clips to interconnect the cells. Then a change would be fairly easy. You would have to be able to test each cell to determine which was not holding a charge.
 
You are right that we have not seen people complaining about battery failures. If they are like lead acid batteries they go bad about a month after the warranty date. :=)
#109 of 669
by electrictroy
Nov 23, 2004 (7:42 am)
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YOU DON'T NEED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY.
 
Sorry to shout, but it seems to be the only way to get people's attention. The battery in a hybrid only uses ~30% of the capacity, so as to avoid causing internal damage, and therefore extend battery life = engine life.
 
You won't have a problem replacing the battery, because you won't need to.
 
Troy
#110 of 669
Re: [electrictroy] by falconone
Nov 23, 2004 (10:26 am)
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Replying to: electrictroy (Nov 23, 2004 7:42 am)

IF a pack has to be replaced it will be about the time that gary is pushing up daisies. Get over it already! The battery is a NON issue.
#111 of 669
Re: [electrictroy] by stevedebi
Nov 24, 2004 (12:30 pm)
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Replying to: electrictroy (Nov 23, 2004 7:42 am)

"Sorry to shout, but it seems to be the only way to get people's attention. The battery in a hybrid only uses ~30% of the capacity, so as to avoid causing internal damage, and therefore extend battery life = engine life.
 
You won't have a problem replacing the battery, because you won't need to."
 
Hmmm, have any studies to support that statement? Specifically, ones that use the batteries in the same manner as the Hybrids? Just because they aren't drained like camera batteries doesn't mean they won't fail eventually, which is what you are saying.
#112 of 669
Re: [stevedebi] by falconone
Nov 24, 2004 (1:49 pm)
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Replying to: stevedebi (Nov 24, 2004 12:30 pm)

I guess he supports his statement by what has been shown in the field to date. I myself have not heard of any failures. I guess it's just a waiting game now.
#113 of 669
by electrictroy
Nov 24, 2004 (2:21 pm)
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In the lab - Toyota tested Prius to 200,000 miles with no degradation of the battery.
 
In the field - Insights/Priuses exist with over 200,000 miles (see ebay for some examples).
 
Expert opinion - I'm an electrical engineer. I've read all the research I could find, and it shows that a battery will last indefinitely, as long as it's held within 30-70% of capacity. This cycle avoids the under-and-overcharging that kills batteries & extends life indefinitely.
 
.
 
Now I admit that if you abuse your car (example: drag racing) it will kill the battery. But such abuse will also kill the engine. And the transmission. And the suspension.
 
I don't think anyone here would abuse their car in that fashion. For us, the battery/engine/et cetera will last well past 200,000 miles.
 
In fact, I expect the battery will last longer than the engine will.
#114 of 669
Re: [electrictroy] by stevedebi
Nov 26, 2004 (11:49 am)
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Replying to: electrictroy (Nov 24, 2004 2:21 pm)

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but as to your examples:
 
"In the lab - Toyota tested Prius to 200,000 miles with no degradation of the battery."

I'd like to see some independent studies, rather than from the manufacturor.

"In the field - Insights/Priuses exist with over 200,000 miles (see ebay for some examples)."

 
We do not know the state of the batteries in the Ebay Priuses.
 
Hopefully, your independent analysis will prove true for the Hybrid implementation.
#115 of 669
Re: [electrictroy] by gagrice
Nov 26, 2004 (12:47 pm)
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Replying to: electrictroy (Nov 24, 2004 2:21 pm)

In the field - Insights/Priuses exist with over 200,000 miles (see ebay for some examples).
 
I have tracked Prius and Jetta TDIs on My Ebay for the last 6 months. The only Prius I have seen offered with 100k plus miles is a 2002 that they have a $4250 high bid on. Of the 60 or so used Prius I have tracked only one sold. The rest were "reserve not met" That one was a 2002 that they sold for $11,994. Only a fool would buy one for blue book with a 100k miles and no warranty. There have been a few that were "salvage title" sales in the $6k to $10k range. I have only read about one cab in Vancouver BC that had over 100k miles. Toyota bought it back. I would like to see some proof of the battery longevity of 200k miles. As long as you dump your Prius while it still has warranty I think you are safe.
#116 of 669
Batteries are the deterent to high resale by gagrice
Nov 26, 2004 (1:29 pm)
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In the field - Insights/Priuses exist with over 200,000 miles (see ebay for some examples).
 
I think you meant to say check out the 3 Jetta TDIs with over 200k miles. A 1999 with 238k miles is up to $4511. A 1992 Jetta TDI with 259K miles at $1585. I doubt you ever see a hybrid with 259k miles still running good. If the batteries don't crap out all the other wizardry will die and not be worth the price to fix it. At this point the battery debate is hypothetical becasue NO ONE has driven a hybrid over 200K miles. At least not that has gotten into our hybrid forum. I could be wrong and will admit it when the evidence is exposed.

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