One of the biggest questions about hybrids is “How long does a Hybrid Battery Last and what are the replacements costs, many questions originate from consumers being unfamiliar with the battery technology in hybrid vehicles.  People don’t usually go around asking; “how long will the engine in my car last”  because we just assume that engines are built to last the duration of the life of the car.

The problem with hybrid batteries is that they have only been around for 10 years-11 if you consider Japan’s first Prius.  No one really knows for sure how long hybrid batteries will last, but we do know that so far they are holding up very well.  The first Prius was developed in 2000-2001 model year and so far the hybrid systems are NOT failing.

Here in the U.S. the warranty on the hybrid battery covers 8 years or 100,000 miles. In a California-emission state, the hybrid battery pack in a 2004-current Prius is further covered under the CA emissions warranty for 10 years/150,000 miles. If for some reason you do need to replace the hybrid battery out of warranty, your Toyota dealer should offer you a $200 rebate on it, to ensure that it gets properly recycled.

Used Prius hybrid battery packs (from wrecked vehicles) have been selling for less than $1000 on eBay.

The price for new Prius hybrid batteries has recently come down. They used to be priced at $2985, but now for the 2001-2003 model year it is $2299 and the 2004-current model year is $2588.

The Prius battery has been designed to maximize battery life by keeping the battery at an optimum charge level – never fully draining it and never fully recharging it. There is lab data showing longevity of the battery with the equivalent of 180,000 miles having no deterioration. Since the car went on sale in 2000, Toyota has not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.

When you are ready to purchase your Toyota hybrid, visit your local Toyota Dealer, Spirit Toyota in St. Louis.