Hybrid Cars

[Bubblehead]

Hybrid cars use batteries and sooner or later the batteries will reach its effective life cycle and will have to be replaced. How much does it cost to replace the batteries (including initial charge) of the Toyota Prius as and example?

Don

[Jared]

That's an interesting question....

[Bubblehead]

>:( >:( >:( >:(

Well, I'm waiting. Perhaps when people find out how much it would cost to replace the batteries, they would think twice before buying one of these hybrids. Undergoing shallow charges all the time, I would venture to say that the capacity of the battery would be below 80% (minimal) in three to four years. I also heard that the battery replacement would cost in excess of two Gs ($2,000.00). That does not take into account the maintenance required by the engine itself. Without a functional battery, the car is absolutely useless.

[Jared]

O basically, it's going to cost just as much, or more than my gasoline truck?

[eno]

Then theres the cost of getting rid of all the nasties in the batteries ..... !!  :( :-/

[nickle]

The 2004 Prius battery was estimated at $5k to replace now.  Should drop to around $1800 in a few years.  System including NiMh battery is warranted by Toyota for 10 years.  Did read a post where Prius owner had misfortune of hi-fi tech drilling a screw into the battery.
Have also read estimates that in the long run, Prius will cost about the same as a conventional powered car to own.  It is an engineering wonder.