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Canadian Driver. Lithium vs Nickel battery in cold weather

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Shamalamabingbong, Feb 13, 2020.

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  1. Shamalamabingbong

    Shamalamabingbong New Member

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    I had my eyes on a 2016 prius two eco due to its higher fuel economy. However, I have been reading conflicting information as to whether the lithium batteries have a longer lifespan or not in comparison to the Nickle hybrid batteries. Also, I have read that Lithium does nod perform as well in the cold: is this a valid concern for the prius owner? Am I better off just getting a Trim with a Nickle battery as it is winter 9 months out of the year?
    thank you.
     
    #1 Shamalamabingbong, Feb 13, 2020
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The Prius Eco isn’t available in Canada and is/was a US-specific trim level.

    Right now, the base model (2016-2019) used NiMH. Touring and Technology trim levels used Li-Ion batteries.

    Originally, the 2016 model year base was available nationally but the Touring and Technology were limited to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver metro areas. Those trim levels were made available nationwide for 2017 as they added a battery heater to the Li-Ion models.

    As for longevity, it’s still up in the air as they’ve been introduced to Canada for the first time in 2016. (2011-2015 Prius Plug-In used a Li-Ion battery but I suspect it’s a different type of Li-ion battery.)

    It’s a Toyota so I’d give them the benefit of the doubt that it will be just a reliable as their NiMH battery.

    Their NiMH battery is better suited to colder temperatures (I’m thinking -20°C and below). For 2020, AWD is available (and they come with NiMH batteries) so if that’s appealing to you, you may want to purchase a new Prius instead. AWD is available in base and Technology trim levels.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Feb 13, 2020
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  3. Shamalamabingbong

    Shamalamabingbong New Member

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    I found a couple of prius two eco's in montreal, they are 2016 though. If they were not originally introduced in Canada, maybe they are not suited for the Canadian weather. The 2017 has the battery heater though. Ill see what I can find. and thank you for that calrity
     
    #3 Shamalamabingbong, Feb 13, 2020
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Toyota only put nimh in the awd model, I think that tells you everything you need to know
     
    #4 bisco, Feb 13, 2020
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Ohh? They must’ve been US imports. Note that early 2016 models didn’t have the metric/imperial conversion available for some reason. Toyota added it some time later in 2016.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Feb 13, 2020
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  6. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    C'mon, really? You are just reinforcing negative stereotypes of Canada.;) Anyone west of the Rockies would certainly take offence at that statement (I still consider B.C. my true home), but I've been to Montreal in April and early October and it has been quite pleasant weather-wise. 6 months of winter is still a stretch. Perhaps you want to enjoy the spring and fall without all those tourists clogging the streets.;)
     
    #6 davecook89t, Feb 13, 2020
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  7. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Reading comprehension much??
    There was no North American AWD in 2016 - 2019.
     
    #7 Prodigyplace, Feb 13, 2020
  8. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    A more proper wording might be the AWD is only available with the NiMH. I don't think @bisco was saying no other trims have it.
     
    #8 davecook89t, Feb 13, 2020
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  9. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    That would depend on just what parts of Canada you mean, a lot of the population has the very same weather as big portions of the U.S.

    If you find those 2016 Eco's in Canada, do look first at the speedometers (not odometers) to make sure they are reading in km/hr, not mph. If wrong, and not adjustable, that would indicate improper imports that somehow leaked through the bureaucracy, and could signal future legal problems.
     
    #9 fuzzy1, Feb 13, 2020
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  10. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    We only get the NiMH battery here in the UK, no Lithium.
     
    #10 kithmo, Feb 13, 2020
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I have lived in a part of the US with long winters.

    From Wikipedia:
    January is normally the coldest month of the year, with a daily average temperature of 25.1 °F or −3.8 °C. There are an average of 24 days that do not top freezing, 198 nights with freezing lows, and 12 nights with sub-0 °F (−17.8 °C) lows; the growing season here is short, as the average window for freezing temperatures is September 10 through June 9. Annual snowfall averages 41.5 inches or 1.05 meters. The lowest on record is −43 °F or −41.7 °C on January 21, 1937. Elko, Nevada - Wikipedia

    This says nothing about the US as a whole but 'it is winter 9 months out of the year' does describe Elko, Nevada. (Nevada means snow covered) It could be worse, I could have lived in Ely. Ely, Nevada - Wikipedia

    When I flew in my bride to get married, I had warned her that it had snowed on the last day of school the three previous years, but being from Mississippi she did not take me seriously, she woke up on her honeymoon on June 9, 2002 with it 29F and snowing. She was not amused.
     
    #11 JimboPalmer, Feb 13, 2020
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  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    So, has she been frozen in place all this time? ;):p:oops::oops:
     
    #12 Prodigyplace, Feb 13, 2020
  13. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #13 JimboPalmer, Feb 13, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2020
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  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    The plot thickens... You left her behind??? :cautious::eek::rolleyes:o_O:oops:
     
    #14 Prodigyplace, Feb 13, 2020
  15. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    She flew in, married me, and flew out. I drove to Mississippi with all my worldly possessions, and married her again on the 15th in MS. This Saturday is the 212th anniversary of her wedding. (in months)
     
    #15 JimboPalmer, Feb 13, 2020
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  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    Congrats!
     
    #16 Prodigyplace, Feb 13, 2020
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I didn’t say there was. But NiMH battery models were available from 2016-2018. (Should’ve been 2016-2018, not 2016-2019 as I’ve said).
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Feb 14, 2020
  18. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    My comment was directed toward Bisco. I possibly misunderstood him.
     
    #18 Prodigyplace, Feb 14, 2020
  19. Shamalamabingbong

    Shamalamabingbong New Member

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    I admit, it. I am in NL where snowmageddon happened recently. the whitewalkers won't leave. I would be down for an awd-e but that is beyond my means atm.
     
    #19 Shamalamabingbong, Feb 14, 2020
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  20. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    Ok, Newfoundland may actually get 9 months of winter, lol. Hopefully you enjoy winter sports.:)
     
    #20 davecook89t, Feb 14, 2020
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