Has anyone questioned the replacement of the "drive' battery? I wondering how long it will last, and what the cost of replacement would be. Also, I'd like to know how the Prius performs on 'hilly' roads.
I have yet to take delivery on my Prius, but I read somewhere that the replacement cost of is around $4,800. Not sure how long they last. Stan
Here is what Toyota sais about this subject: How long does the Prius battery last and what is the replacement cost? The Prius battery (and the battery-power management system) has been designed to maximize battery life. In part this is done by keeping the battery at an optimum charge level - never fully draining it and never fully recharging it. As a result, the Prius battery leads a pretty easy life. We have lab data showing the equivalent of 180,000 miles with no deterioration and expect it to last the life of the vehicle. We also expect battery technology to continue to improve: the second-generation model battery is 15% smaller, 25% lighter, and has 35% more specific power than the first. This is true of price as well. Between the 2003 and 2004 models, service battery costs came down 36% and we expect them to continue to drop so that by the time replacements may be needed it won't be a much of an issue. Since the car went on sale in 2000, Toyota has not replaced a single battery for wear and tear. From:http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id=20040623
Info from this forum indicates only 40% of capacity of the drive battery is used, between 30-70%. I remember reading $2,000 for new from Toyota and $800 for used from junkyard.
I wish I could find a definitive answer as to what the battery costs. I've seen numerous differing quotes. Last week I was listening to a radio show about cars when a caller asked the "expert" about our favorite car. He said that Toyota loses money on every one and the battery costs $6000. No one challenged him on this. I still don't know what the real answer is.
The current Prius battery consists of a group of modules see: http://www.peve.panasonic.co.jp/catalog/e_kaku.html The Prius uses a NiMH prismatic design battery. The cells shown on the Panasonic site are packaged in series arrays inside a larger container that is called the battery pack. When they are all connected together in series they generate about 300 volts. This modular design allows replacement of a module rather than changing the entire battery, drastically reducing the the replacement cost.
Sorry, but the battery pack is not designed to have individual modules replaced. The pack is replaced as a unit. If it fails after the 8yr/100K warranty and you want to replace a failed module yourself, then sure, go give it a try. If it is that old though, you probably want to replace the pack. Toyota still gives you $200 back for a spent pack. I haven't been able to find a source and price for the battery pack either. May want to check with your dealer's parts department. Another source for a battery is from a salvaged G2.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"99128)</div> Dan, It's been a long time, but I remember hearing early on, from what seemed to be reliable sources, that individual modules 'could' be replaced. Now, that said, I can think of only a very few specific situations where that would be a good option...Newish battery where a single module failed or got damaged for instance. If you know for certain otherwise I'd like to know what and where you learned it from.
When the '04 Prius was launched in Europe, Toyota were telling the press the battery cost about $1,000 Euros. But since then the demand for the Panasonic units has increased dramatically (as production can barely keep up with demand) so that may be why the quoted value has appeared to rise since then. They need every battery they can get to make a new Prius!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Schu!\";p=\"98601)</div> The cost of the battery is irrelevant at this point, unless you are a very high milage driver. The battery is warrenteed for 8 years or 100,000 miles. In 5 to 8 years from now, as more hybrids are built and the manufacturing process is refined, the cost will go down. At least for my cars, the primary maintenance cost has been for brakes. Since a large portion of your breaking power comes from the generator rather than the brakes, I figure the money I save in brake repairs will make a good dent in the cost of replacing the battery, should I ever need to do it.
Wow. Maybe it's because of what jtmhog said hehe. Yeah, if it's $3k now, it'll come down in >8 yrs unless there's some new expensive battery that gets invented.
Evan, you won't find a dealer replacing a module, they will replace the pack, collect $200 from toyota, and make you pass go. Now I do remember someone mentioning that they found a plug and/or kit to replace the alkaline in a module, but the perponderance of evidence is on you.
