1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Over-stressed HV battery?

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by hybridtwins, Jun 4, 2009.

  1. hybridtwins

    hybridtwins Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2009
    202
    19
    0
    Location:
    Van Nuys, CA
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Not long after my wife got her 2002 Prius, she had the misfortune of running out of gas, and drove the car for about a mile on battery only.

    Will this shorten the life of the HV battery? The car currently has about 46k on it.
     
  2. EZW1

    EZW1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2008
    722
    80
    7
    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Doubt it. The car has safeguards in it. As a matter of fact, when the battery gauge reads 2 purple bars, the battery itself is only down to 60% charge. I drive mine all the time on electric only until the elctronics forces the engine on and I often will drive for 2-3 miles when I reach this point. I think you're fine.
     
  3. ddepasse

    ddepasse New Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2009
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    colorado
    Model:
    II
    i plan to garage my 2010 prius in phoenix for about 3 months(no driving at all) during the summer. will this be hard on the hv battery?
     
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If you do not disable the smart key system you may have trouble with your 12v battery. Not sure how the 2010s work but on the 2004-2009s leaving the car idle for 3 months would kill the 12v battery if the SKS was not disabled.
     
  5. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    No, but you'll have to protect the 12V.
     
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,482
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Whether or not SKS is disabled, the 12V battery will likely be dead after 3 months of storage. It would be better to either disconnect the 12V battery before you store the car, or else hook up a battery tender.

    The traction battery should be OK after that period of time.
     
  7. ddepasse

    ddepasse New Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2009
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    colorado
    Model:
    II
    yes, i forgot to mention that i plan to disconnect the ground(black) wire on the 12v battery. but i am concerned that the hv battery may be damaged for such a long period of sitting in high heat.
     
  8. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2004
    9,156
    3,562
    0
    Location:
    Kunming Yunnan China
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    I imagine that a garage in Phoenix would be less than 45 oC inside. This is reputed to be about the maximum safe temperature for NiMH during charge and discharge.

    This question has also come up when Prius is being repainted, because some paint shops put the car inside a large oven to bake the paint at a higher temperature. In that case the NiMH could certainly reach unsafe temperature.