Lifespan of a Hybrid Car Battery

The battery of a hybrid car is what stores the power that allows it to be more fuel-efficient and gentle on the environment than a 100-percent gas-powered engine. So a hybrid owner is understandably concerned that the battery lasts as long as possible. Many manufacturers of hybrid cars guarantee a minimum number of miles or years that their batteries should last, and research continues into improving the lifespan of hybrid batteries as the popularity of hybrid vehicles continues to rise.

Car Manufacturers' Warranties

The hybrid car battery is estimated to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles. Car manufacturers cover their batteries for approximately eight years---in some cases longer. For example, Toyota provides an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on its hybrid car batteries, while Honda offers an eight-year/80,000 mile warranty on the hybrid car batteries it makes.

Southern California Edison Test

In 2008, battery provider Southern California Edison (SCE) announced that it had demonstrated a lithium-ion battery with a 180,000-mile lifespan and minimal deterioration over the space of two and a half years. This was determined by testing the battery in a commercial delivery van, and the battery pack used was only one-sixth of the average battery size used in hybrid vehicles. Because of such results, the U.S. Department of Energy provided SCE with a regular-sized lithium-ion car battery to test it for passenger car use.

Replacement

Another concern about hybrid batteries---in addition to lifespan---is replacement. As hybrid vehicles are still relatively new, replacement batteries are expensive and---outside of dealerships---hard to come by.

Advantage

Hybrid car batteries---in addition to the fuel efficiency and reduced pollution they contribute to cars---have more generous warranties than gasoline car batteries. This is especially helpful when considering that non-hybrid car batteries usually need to be replaced every three or four years.

Future

For now, more used hybrid car batteries are becoming available as a consequence of irreparable damage being done to the rest of the vehicle in accidents. As hybrid vehicles become more widespread and further research is conducted, a hybrid car battery lifespan should be able to be predicted with greater accuracy.

References

• Baldwin, Donovan. "About Hybrid Battery Life Expectancy."
• Blain, Loz. "EV Batteries Demonstrate 180,000-plus Mile Lifespan."
• Kotzakolis, Michalis. "Lifespan of Hybrid Car Batteries."