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Traction Battery Replacement Experience

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by jolana, Nov 25, 2022.

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  1. jolana

    jolana Junior Member

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    Hi Folks,

    2010 Gen 3

    Yet another post looking for people's experiences replacing their traction battery.

    I don't want to get into playing whack-a-mole. I've no problem swapping out the pack or modules, I just am not interested in the in and out that many folks here have found themselves doing chasing down bad modules. So I'm just going to bite the bullet, and am down to four options: either buy a reconditioned one from Greenbean or Hybrid2go with their warranties and service, or replace all of the modules with new from New Prius Batteries, or go Lithium with NexPower.

    There are pros and cons for all of them as I see it:

    REPLACEMENT SERVICE
    Hybrid2go: $1499
    Pros - Least expensive refurbished pack, lifetime warranty and repairs, installed in my driveway. Owner/Founder seems to have been a PC member for some time and has a good rep with some other members.
    Cons- Refurbished. They have only been in business for a couple of years, expanding from CA into WA, OR, and AZ in 2022. How long is a "lifetime warranty" good for if the company goes out of business? You guessed it.
    There are a couple of threads on the web saying that Hybrid2go is a now out of business poor reputation company having changed it's name and continuing as Hybrid2go. My understanding is different, that the founder of Hybrid2go is a former employee of the previous company and left to start H2g. Hoping someone here can shed some more light?

    Greenbean: $1849
    Pros: Same mobile installation, and lifetime warranty. Have been in business for a number of years, nationwide.
    Cons - Refurbished The most expensive replacement "service" by a good margin. Unknown rep for service.

    MODULE REPLACEMENT WITH NEW

    New Prius Batteries $1789 delivered.
    Pros: All new NIMH batteries, cylindrical cells, 14 instead of 28 modules. 2yr, 25K mile warranty. Comes with new bus bars, nuts, wiring harness, etc.
    Cons: I swap out the modules. I don't know a lot about the company or the reliability of the cells, reviews and testimonials are scarce. Unknown customer service reputation if support is needed.

    NexPower: $2185 delivered
    Pros: Brand new Lithium modules, 4x the power, half the weight. Lots of rave reviews, a fair number of PC members have made the conversion.
    Cons: Cost (still several hundreds of dollars cheaper than buying an OEM from Toyota and still having to do my own install).
    I swap out the modules myself.
    I get a little nervous when I see lots of happy reviews and very few if any negative ones. Unknown if the modules come with any hardware.
    Unknown customer service reputation if support is needed.

    So people, what are your experiences with any of these companies, their products, service, and warranty response?

    Recommendations? Lessons learned?

    Thanks to all!
     
    #1 jolana, Nov 25, 2022
    bisco likes this.
  2. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    Have you considered a new HV battery from a Toyota dealer? These have a three-year warranty, if installed by the dealer, or one-year warranty, if installed elsewhere or in a commercial, fleet, or livery vehicle.

    I’d also be far more confident that a Toyota battery would meet all relevant engineering specifications for durability and safety, including requirements that are proprietary to Toyota and its suppliers and may not have been considered by the aftermarket suppliers you mentioned.
     
    #2 Elektroingenieur, Nov 26, 2022
  3. jolana

    jolana Junior Member

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    Actually I have. I've not seen a price below $2895 for a factory unit, not including shipping costs.

    Ridiculous.

    However, for all the reasons you've cited, that was my original first preference, until I made a few phone calls. For many reasons, lithium shortage, supply chain issues, corporate greed, whatever, the price is out of reach or reason.
     
    #3 jolana, Nov 26, 2022
  4. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    I have used the lithium HV battery for 2 years.

    There is no better choice.

    You can check my profile for the link and others.
     
    #4 AzusaPrius, Nov 26, 2022
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    My Toyoda battery was 1467 and change out door at Apex NC just 10 months ago Rick Hendrick.. so I no understand the rebuild prices . I paid a gen3 rebuild 700 dollars from hybrid doctor in VA 6 months ago working fine still .* Know see the 1400 plus rebuild prices here in SE USA yet .but I no looking either . I expect down not up ..
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Nov 26, 2022
  6. Albert Barbuto

    Albert Barbuto Member

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    Another option: Gen 4 modules from a wreck. I purchased a two year old pack, and switched over the modules. Cost was $1000.
     
    #6 Albert Barbuto, Nov 26, 2022
    V Sport Wagon and douglasjre like this.
  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    How many miles were on the wreck so basically you bought a rack of cells from a gen 4 for a grand . But got the whole silver case . And when you did this the gen4 battery that you bought when you cracked open the case to remove everything and put it in whatever you're putting it in all the bus bars and nuts looked like what? Just curious trying to see how fast the frosting and the corrosion actually start? In my 12 or 13-year-old battery it was very light and not terribly bad but the battery was failing miserably and I don't think it was because of the corrosion on the bus bars and or nuts that was visible. On our gen 3 2013 which is quite a bit newer than the Gen 2 the frosting and corrosion was about two times as bad in a dryer less used car really strange.
     
    #7 Tombukt2, Nov 26, 2022
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    another negative of refurbished is downtime waiting for repair, or arguments that the battery is not the problem.
    new prius batteries is almost out of business, i would stay away.

    lithium has been good so far.

    as mentioned above, it's worth calling around for price and availability of oem.

    all the best!
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 26, 2022
  9. bk2049

    bk2049 Junior Member

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    AzusaPrius- I know next to nothing about these batteries. Is the installation of this one more difficult than installing an OEM or a junkyard battery? I know of a mechanic that installs Dorman and will install others but will this take him more hours to do?
     
    #9 bk2049, May 25, 2023
  10. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    This is basically the same install as an OEM battery and lighter so it will be easy for him to pick up and move around.
     
    #10 AzusaPrius, May 25, 2023
    bk2049 likes this.
  11. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    New Prius Batteries $1789 delivered

    What did u decide to do? How did it work out for you?
     
    #11 douglasjre, May 26, 2023
  12. comatoes

    comatoes #GreenLife

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    Can you let me know the name of the va person?
     
    #12 comatoes, Oct 25, 2023
  13. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Hybrid doctor Alexandria VA have wrapped Prius that drive around with their logo on it You can Google hybrid doctor Fairfax Alexandria VA area He's a South American guy with a whole crew of guys in a little metal building next to a garage they are open and working The Secretary answers the phone very quickly
     
    #13 Tombukt2, Oct 26, 2023
  14. douglasjre

    douglasjre Senior Member

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    VA=Virginia?
     
    #14 douglasjre, Oct 27, 2023
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