When my current traction battery dies, what happens? Can I still drive it or does it not work? Also, when it does die, is there an option to use LiIon battery (or something better) packs instead of the NiCad tech now that is being used now.
The transmission will not work without a functioning battery pack. Perhaps in 10-15 years, when you battery need replacing, there will be better/more options.
Another thing, your Battery Pack, given it is a 2010 Prius (BTW, this is the Prius v (wagon) forum) is using a Nickel Metal Hydride, not Nickel Cadmium, as stated here Toyota Prius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia NiCad is rarely used in most of the cars to my knowledge, only mostly used in shavers, some home cordless phones and older technologies.
No mass market hybrid vehicles sold in the US from from any of the major automakers have ever used NiCads, AFAIK.
One the battery, you are correct - It was late. I knew that but brain farted there. Do they even still make NiCad batteries anymore? Thanks for the info everyone. To me it would make sense - when it does eventually die, use a better tech to replace it. Right now, the LiIon batteries have a higher power density and just heard they had a break thru to increase this power/density by 40% or something of that nature. Heck, at the typical 7% power density increase annually they usually can increase it by, I could be replacing it with a battery in the near future and making it a EV?!?!!? Jk... Maybe not...
Breakthroughs are reported all the time but rarely make it to market. Further, A123 Systems is dying because they refuse to sell directly to the public. Their primary technology breakthrough happened almost 15 years ago. It would be difficult to replace the NiMH pack with Lithium, since the electronics are highly optimized for a 168 cell NiMH battery. It may be a tough DIY project, or someone in the aftermarket will step in with a drop-in replacement.
When I last read up on it, NiMH and LiON batteries did not charge with the same strategy. So more than the battery would need replaced. Nickel Lithium-ion battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ReInvolt (Taylor Auto - Remanufactured Hybrid Vehicle Battery Packs) in NC is developing LiOn replacement batteries for Hybrids. [FONT=Courier New, Courier, monospace][FONT=Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif]"** We are working on a lithium replacement for the Honda Civic Hybrid battery pack. We expect this to be available by the 2nd quarter of 2012** This battery is undergoing final cold weather testing at this time. We are looking for several high mileage 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrids for testing our new lithium battery. If you have a non-working or high mileage Civic hybrid that you would like to donate to hybrid research, please contact David for more information at [email protected] and be a part of the future of hybrid technology. We plan to offer a powerful Lithium replacement battery pack for 2001-2009 Prius by late 2012. If you are interested in this product, email us at [email protected].[/FONT][/FONT]" Their Gen2 Prius (2004-2009) version should also be suitable for a Gen3 Prius (2010+). No pricing information is available yet, but notice the word "powerful" (meaning higher amp-hour capacity). JeffD
Doesn't the Prius Plug-in Use a lithium traction battery? If so, I wonder how much trouble it would be to do a swap.
I think they're still made. I bought some NiCads in the past year or so to replace the NiCads in a power failure light that had gone bad. I wasn't about to put something in that was a totally different battery chemistry than what it was designed for. IIRC, I've seen solar powered (charged) exterior lights that on the box stated there were NiCads inside.
NiMh and NiCad batteries have very similar charge/discharge properties and the same charging system can do either. NiCads tend to have a lower series resistance than NiMh but that doesn't affect charging at reasonable currents. JeffD
I believe ReInvolt is about a year behind schedule with their HCH Lithium replacement. The HCH is a POS because pack space is extremely limited. A replacement pack pretty much has to be an exact match for the OEM case form factor. It is very difficult to source affordable lithium cells with the correct charge/discharge capabilities that will fit. Meanwhile, Ron and Mike with hybrid-battery-repair.com and 99mpg.com developed the BetterBattery replacement with NiMH cylindrical cells, for $2K.
