Worth it to replace your hybrid’s battery?
Worth it to replace the battery?
Dead battery equals worthless hybrid?
After more than 200,000 miles, the battery on Donna’s 2002 Toyota Prius died. Should she replace the battery? Convert the Prius into a plug-in hybrid? Junk it?
Unfortunately, most plug-in conversion packages were designed for the second generation Prius and after, so converting Donna’s Prius into a plug-in Prius poses extra problems. Likewise, even if Donna’s Prius qualified for a conversion, such as one from Hymotion, costs could easily top $10,000. Furthermore, Donna would still need to replace her NiMH battery pack as well.
If, on the other hand, Donna chooses to simply replace her battery pack, her dealer is going to charge her $3500 for parts and labor.
What would you do?
I don’t think so if the battery is completely dead, but that’s a pretty rare circumstance. Hybrids have gone hundreds of thousands of miles on the same battery pack, and if it’s an old hybrid why buy a new battery? You can find batteries at salvage lots from hybrids that have been an accidents, but the battery is still in perfect shape and the costs are quite economical.
In terms of conventional hybrids, not plug-ins, the battery just really hasn’t been an issue. There have been some glitches here and there, but only in a very small percentage of cases. In terms of plug-ins, we’ll have to wait a while for the real world data to tell that story.
I have the same question too, could the hybrid car remain running on gas when its battery dies? I’m planning to become a hybrid owner myself, so would like to learn more about how the car actually works.
What do you mean, not working, Buick?
The conversions work, they are just expensive, just as plug-in vehicles are. If the battery costs come down, then conversions might become cost-effectively viable.
It is clear that conversion from hybrid to plug-in is not working then it is better to replace the batteries.
I have the same question, can i use it for gas only just in case the battery dies in the next few years. I have a ‘07 Camry so far it works ok I am just being prepared
Laura-
You might be able to recycle some life into your battery. I have a few contacts for you, but I’m not sure i can find them before the LA Auto Show on Wednesday. If you don’t hear anything from me in a week, reply to this comment.
COULD SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME ?
I have one of the oldest hybrids in town, a 2003 Civic that I bought in 2002. Battery at 147,000 miles now needs replacement. I am not eager to either pay the $4,000 or get a new car. I will look into junkyard batteries and rebuilds. Thanks for the hot tips. I would however like to know if I could just not replace the battery and drive as a gas-only car for reduced mileage. That way I can delay my next car purchase by a few years. Engine great. Only problem is have to replace catalytic by next emissions test because the cheap 2009 one I bought at Midas died.
PLEASE HELP ME KEEP MY CAR.
Thanks,
Laura
Cleveland, OH
Failed? As in failed under warranty? Such duds are just shy of non-existent.
Ultimately, the NiMH battery pack in the Prius has been extremely reliable and older Prius hybrids have accrued 100’s of thousands of miles, etc. without needing a replacement. After a fairly long life, I have heard of some failures – after warranty – but only a few. A more typical scenario would be some degradation in performance, but not enough to lead to failure.
Do you have any numbers compiled of how may Prius batteries have failed to this day?
great point on re-involt.
Another option is to rebuild it. Reinvolt can rebuild the HV battery pack.
The car may only be worth $7k, but a new one is $25K. Depreciation on a new car is high enough that if this is included in the cost of battery replacement, the payback is not as long. The other question is that after fixing, you still have an old car.
lhcbc-
well, at 200,000 miles is KBB suggesting that the battery is new, or that the battery is still working great for a battery with 200,000 miles on it? at 200000 miles there is going to be cell degradation in the battery even if it still functioning well.
certainly, it’s hard to say you get your costs back, but if she drives another 100,000 miles with the new battery, then its not a bad choice. that’s less than a year of new car payments for a new prius.
L Sase-
Have you done this before? I know of a person whom goes across the country grabbing every Honda NiMH back he can find at a considerable discount, so that’s a very good idea. The major problem would be the mechanical work. The dealer probably would balk at using a used battery.
It would depend on the value of the car. KBB suggests the retail value on a 2002 Prius in excellent shape with 200000 miles is only worth barely over $7000. It certainly isn’t worth the conversion fee. Pragmatically it isn’t worth the $3500 battery replacement fee, either.
You may consider purchasing used batteries form a salvage yard. Sometime they get wrecked cars in that the batteries were not damaged and still good. you may get 100k or so and only spend a few hundred.
That’s what Donna is planning to do as well. She loves the car and thinks its worth $3500 to get a new battery.
I guess it all comes down to if she has the money to convert it AND buy the battery, or just buy the battery. And in the long run will she make back the investment? The battery on my Civic Hybrid is no longer a strong as it once was and I know it will need replacing. I would still opt for just the battery replacement.