Low mileage driver. Will that harm a Prius?

No - there are plenty here who drive that sort of distance, or much less. Someone posted that they just replaced their 2010 yesterday with only 90,000miles - yet another sold a Gen 4 with about that number of miles after something like 1½ - 2yrs.

At the moment, I'm doing about 9500 miles a year, partly because Mum is in Aged Care involving more driving for visiting her than I'll anticipate when that situation ceases - I'm guessing it will drop to 7500miles a year then.

 

The hybrid battery is unlikely to last 17 years, so budget to replace it down the road. Age is just as much an enemy to it as is total miles.

Otherwise,I believe the statement you saw is just a personal opinion that is not shared by all. I believe the remainder of the car will be no worse off than any normal non-hybrid. Low annual miles won't hurt anything, but the battery ageing issue won't economically let you go to the 29 years that my spouse's daily driver (Acura Integra, typical annual miles first half of its life, low since) has reached, as repeated battery replacements will be uneconomical.

 

The most important thing with any vehicle is that it has time to throughly warm up. This ensures full battery charging and being fully warmed allows any collected moisture condensation to evaporate. I only average about 5,000 miles per year, but each trip is usually around 25 miles so plenty of time to warm up and dry out. It’s the cars that are only driven a couple of miles at a time that I’d worry about.

 

Looking at overall costs of running a PRIUS vs a similar sized hatchback (eg Corolla/Focus)

• Fuel costs will be about ½, maybe even better savings
• Brake repairs will be insignificant, likely not to do anything other than change brake-fluid in 17 yrs - vs many non-hybrids are only getting 30-40,000miles before fairly significant $$$;
• Gearbox - it doesn't have one (well, a planetary gearset driven by 2 electric and one petrol motor, but no gearbox as such). I've known some conventional autos, Dual Clutches or CVTs die before 100,000km costing many thousands;
• Engine - generally PRIUS engines will last the life of the car - partly because it's not stressed, initial take-off is by electric motor, and it will stop-start up to 40% of the time;

PRIUS Battery - compared with these potential savings - would be an insignificant cost relatively - they're not particularly expensive, much less than what you would have saved in fuel and brakes alone. Many last the life of the car, but 17 years is possibly stretching it.

In 17 years - I'm not convinced that our driving situations won't have undergone considerable change - with the coming of autonomous vehicles, the march of alternative fuels & EVs could mean that our 2018 cars mightn't be as useful as we hoped.

 

If the Prius is left unused for long periods of time the 12 volt battery would likely have a shorter than normal life since it is not a deep discharge battery. Many people who let their Prius sit idle use a battery tender to keep it charged. I know that is what @Mendel Leisk does.

 

Psst! Mendel had a Gen 3.

 

The same principle applies. He uses the Gen 3 jump points under the hood. We can connect directly to the battery.

 

Yeah, but there's only the Mickey Mouse battery in his trunk. Erm, that sound really weird!

 

low miles won't hurt it, but it won't extend the battery life. years appear to be more important from what we've seen here, but also heat, which you don't have like the south.

if you're looking to save money over a gasser, you probably won't over 17 years, unless gas prices sky rocket.
if you're looking for reliability, it won't be any better than a corolla or such.
8,000 miles x 17 years = 136,000 miles. buy the prius for reduced pollution and dependence on oil, or just get another gasser.
all the best!

 

just a thought, if you have a state tax credit, you might want to look at a prime, they can come out fairly inexpensively compared to similar cars, and i understand you have low electron rates.

 

Not sure - it's easy to set up a spreadsheet and put the figures for a PRIUS and some other non-Hybrid. I did - about 3 years it more than broke even, 5 years was heaps cheaper. I didn't try 17 years. The unknown is trade-in value in 3/5/17 years time.

 

but you are in australia. at $2.50/g here (currently) i don't see the payback.

 

Maybe - but if he were to make a spreadsheet, he'll know for sure. There are other issues - I love how I rarely need to visit a fuel depot. Plus, it's a bit more environmentally friendly. A good drive, and a very practical car, which is very well equipped.

 

agreed.

 

Pearl just turned over 100,000 km (2007). Pearl S is at 38,000 km (2012). Neither has had traction battery problems. Some people worry too much.
Both cars have had 12V battery replacements - Pearl is on her third. Pearl S is on her second. Both use a "Battery Tender" when not driven (most of the winter). 12V batteries last between 3 and 7 years depending on many factors. Traction batteries are supposed to last "the life of the car", whatever that means. A few do fail early.

 

Our 2010 has around 74,000 kms, converts to around 46,000 miles. Plus it sat at the dealership when brand new, for about 15 months, with around 15 kms on the odometer. No problems with the hybrid battery, appears to be behaving completely normally. I do keep a the 12 volt on a smart charger a lot though, the car often sits idle 2~3 days.

 

I own one because it gets good mileage, is about the right size for our needs, and because it has a gasoline engine and two electric motors. Most people make do with one gasoline engine or one (or two) electric motors, but I've got it all!

As alanclarkeau says, there are maintenance and reliability benefits, and it's also nice how quiet it is, too. That never gets old. And trying to maximize mileage without slowing anyone else down is a fun game on road trips. (Actually, I'm much more likely to pass you than you are to pass me.)

 

no question, i observe the posted speed limits.

 

When the traction batteries give out, can you still drive a Prius on the ICE without the traction batteries like a regular car?