My Toyota dealer is selling refurbished traction batteries

Reminds me of a refurb printer I bought: looked like it had been Inspected, reconditioned and repacked at factory, everything very neat and organized!

 

interesting that they give a 4 month charge estimate,

 

Tj,
I assume your doing the install yourself. Your going to have to take the cover off to put everything together. Can you take a picture of the modules from the top? I'd like to see the S/N on the modules. From picture 181805 the modules look like the older style but it's hard to tell.

I'd like to think that Toyota is using new modules in these -84 packs but I suspect that they are not. I buy new Toyota batteries quiet often and they don't come with charge expiration dates. That sounds like something Toyota would need to do if they were using older modules.

Dorman has similar issues with their rebuilt batteries - when you put a matched set of modules together in a rebuilt pack they will have small variations in self discharge. This doesn't pose a problem as long as they are put in service within a certain time period. If you wait to long the imbalance becomes to much. IIRC Dorman batteries have a 6 month shelf life before they have to go back and get re balanced.

I'm picking up a new pack from Toyota tomorrow, I'll post some pictures of the modules so that we can compare them.

Matt

 

Sorry, KBI?

 

Mendel,
I think your correct, KBI - Kinsbursky Brothers Inc. is a core recycling company that got into hybrid and EV battery refurbishing last year.

About xEV Strategies - Kinsbursky Brothers Inc.

From their website:

Battery Refurbishment - KBI has the ability to refurbish failing batteries, by identifying and replacing individual components not functioning properly. In cases where a battery cannot be refurbished, individual components can be reclaimed for reuse in fully reconstructed batteries.

 

If as originally defined...and that is that the product being offered is NEW battery cells in an OLD battery case could one argue that it's not so much a case of Toyota selling "refurbished" HV batteries, as it is Toyota recycling old cases?

If you accept buying the recycled battery case...you are rewarded with a reduction in price.

But IMO that scenario, is not really truly buying a "refurbished" battery as much as simply accepting a used battery case.

 

Thanks Tj,
If you can get a S/N off of the last module that could be helpful.
These are some pictures of a new pack that I had from last year.

 

if they aren't all new modules, it wouldn't be worth the savings.

 

https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2016/09/112274_96603_Module_Identification.png

 

Thanks for posting the S/N's Tj. 4th digit-H indicates a 2006 manufacturing year. If they were new they should have been Q or R modules.

Matt

 

Ok question solved, refurbished is used modules with what looks to be new bus bars and case

 

If that's the case dealership is lying. Or to be kind: just deluded?

Anyways, fingers crossed it's a well balanced and tested refurb pack.

 

have you tried to find a new one for $2,200.?