Battery lifespan may not be at the front of a hybrid buyer's mind as they bask in eco-satisfaction and new car smell. But for the person combing the Web for a deal on a second-hand hybrid - or the person whose hybrid is getting on in years - the question of battery life could be a pressing one. I asked Jody Victor to give us some insight into this question.
Jody Victor: No battery lasts forever, even advanced rechargeables like those in hybrid cars. After a certain amount of electron traffic in and out of its cells, a battery loses its ability to hold enough charge and is ready for recycling. We still have to ask - How long will it last? At this moment there is no perfect answer - they still don't know for sure. But the first hybrid on the road, the Honda Insight will reach its 10th birthday in 2009. Despite early fears about battery failure, Honda's hybrids have held up well.
The first vote of confidence comes from the automakers themselves. Toyota claims that its hybrid battery is designed to last "the life of the car." For instance, the life of the Prius is defined as 180,000 miles, and the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery is expected to stay perky at least that long. honda and Toyota both offer warranties on their batteries.
For hybrid drivers who plan on buying a new car before hitting six-digit mileage, battery longevity won't pose much of a problem. But for those in it for the long haul or looking for a nicely aged bargain, battery longevity is certainly something to be aware of.
Both Honda and Toyota will sell you a new hybrid battery, but these advanced nickel packs aren't cheap. Swapping out your Prius battery with a fresh one from the factory will cost around $4,000 with the delivery fee and installation. But there is also a growing trade in used batteries which the automakers are encouraging.
As with any new technology, hybrid cars still have question marks hovering around themHow will new battery technologies such as lithium-ion chemistry, and new battery/electric configurations such as plug-in hybrids, hold up? and how eill all those batteries by recycled as they fall out of service? Only time will tell.
Thanks, Jody! A lot to think about.