A hybrid battery replacement typically costs between $2,000 and $8,000. In the end, the cost may differ based on the service center or even the manufacturer’s model.
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How much does a Toyota hybrid battery replacement cost?
You will adore the strong blend of power and fuel efficiency that the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offers drivers. Toyota will offer car purchasers an amazing warranty scheme that will cover hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) like the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai in the unlikely case of a battery malfunction thanks to the state-of-the-art hybrid technology found inside. You will receive a 10-year/150,000-mile Enhanced Hybrid Battery Warranty from the date of first use when you buy a Toyota hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or FCEV for model year 2020. The current 8-year/100,000-mile Toyota Hybrid Battery Guarantee will be replaced with the expanded warranty.
What Does It Cost to Repair or Replace a Hybrid Battery?
The two battery typesLithium-ion and Nickel-Metal Hydridethat power the electric motor, which is a key part of the hybrid powertrain, will be found in Toyota hybrid entrants. The hybrid battery pack in your Toyota Prius is a crucial component of Toyota hybrid powertrains and is built to last, but it is expensive to replace and can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000 when you buy a new battery. The cost to replace a used Toyota hybrid battery can range from $1,500 to $3,500. Please note that problems are uncommon because these hybrid batteries are built to endure the lifetime of the vehicle.
How long will a Toyota hybrid’s batteries last?
The majority of hybrid car manufacturers claim that a battery pack will typically last 80,000 to 100,000 kilometers. Toyota went one step further prior to 2020 by providing a warranty that covered its hybrid batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first.
What is the price of a Toyota Prius hybrid battery?
The Prius battery is no exception to the rule that hybrid and electric car batteries are more expensive than gas-powered automobile batteries. A new Toyota Prius battery can run you anywhere from $2,200 to $4,100.
Remember that even a used Prius battery costs roughly $1,500 when calculating the cost. You’ll be looking at a substantially bigger bill once labor costs and additional charges from your mechanic are taken into account. To maintain the lowest pricing possible:
- Comparative-shop for batteries. It’s unlikely that the first battery you come across will be the lowest choice.
- Obtain price quotes from mechanics. Prius frequently need specialist work, but every mechanic will charge labor in their own way. A different store might have a better offer for you.
- Think about switching to a different model. A new Prius can run for years without any problems, but you will need to pay the difference in price between it and your old one.
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Do hybrid batteries cost a lot?
Battery failure is a universal truth. During presentations, laptops can shut down, and during an emergency, cell phone calls can be disconnected. It appears that you may now include autos on that oh-so-modern list of concerns. As petrol costs increase and the environment deteriorates, hybrid and electric automobiles, which use huge arrays of batteries as a power source, are becoming more and more common in showrooms throughout the world.
Naturally, a potential purchaser of a hybrid or electric vehicle may have a few concerns in mind given (presumably) past experience, such as “Will their batteries fail like my cell phone?” Moreover, “How much will it cost to replace one?”
Let’s gladly dispel a persistent myth first before we respond to those questions. You don’t need to worry about your automobile dying in the middle of a drive because hybrid batteries are only extremely distant cousins to those used in laptops and cell phones. A replacement hybrid car battery can cost anywhere between $1,000 and more than $6,000, depending on the year and type of the vehicle, and without factoring labor expenses from a dealership or an independent mechanic.
Even though it may seem like a significant outlay, automakers are committed to lowering costs. Why would they act in that way? In essence, vehicle makers want their products to be successful. The majority of hybrid car batteries are built to endure the lifespan of the vehicle because performance failures are detrimental to that success. Automakers meticulously monitor each battery’s charge, temperature, and life since they are fully aware that any problems could hinder the development of the still-evolving hybrid industry.
Having said that, the groundwork has been laid for a breakthrough in hybrid automobile battery technology. The bulk of batteries have been produced using the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) formula for the past ten years, but the lithium-ion battery, a recent addition to the technical scene, may overtake NiMH in the years to come. There will probably be a cost associated with the switch from NiMH to lithium-ion, both in terms of money and experimentation. But at the end of the day, these inquiries continue: How much would a hybrid battery replacement cost right now? What will the price be in the future?
Does changing the hybrid battery make sense?
As far as we can tell, hybrid batteries start to pose a problem when they are between 10 and 15 years old and between 120,000 and 150,000 kilometers old. Yes, some business entrepreneurs will succeed far more than that. Batteries have reportedly been known to endure well over 200,000 miles.
Can a hybrid be used without its battery?
Hybrid cars combine standard automobile technology with that of electric cars. In addition to using fuel and a 12-volt lead-acid battery, a hybrid car also draws power from an electric battery. The transition between power sources can be made by the vehicle without the driver even being aware of it.
Regenerative braking is a technique for recharging an electric battery. When the driver applies the brakes, energy is generated that is used to recharge the electric battery. The remarkable energy efficiency of a hybrid car is achieved by seamless transitions between electric and gas power. Hybrid automobiles are 20 to 35 percent more fuel-efficient than conventional vehicles since they use petrol only occasionally. Additionally, by lowering emissions, a hybrid car is less harmful to the environment.
The short lifespan of a hybrid battery is one of its flaws. According to Bumblebee Batteries, the majority of hybrid batteries come with an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty, while some do not last that long. Because the hybrid battery is essential to the operation of a hybrid car, owners must regularly make costly investments in new hybrid batteries.
Thankfully, hybrid technology is constantly developing. Compared to older batteries, modern batteries are more durable. As more independent producers enter the market, drivers will have more choices when it comes time to replace their batteries. These third-party hybrid batteries are frequently less expensive than those offered by a dealership.
According to HybridGeek, hybrid batteries have two electrodes submerged in an electrolyte solution. According to Hybrid Cars, a polymer coating separates these electrodes and avoids short-circuiting. When the equipment, in this case a hybrid car, is turned on, the electrodes are bridged. It’s important to remember that the battery in a hybrid automobile is actually a battery pack made up of numerous cells that combine to produce the significant charge required to power the vehicle.
A positive electrode and a negative electrode are located in each battery cell. The positively charged electrode releases ions that travel to the negatively charged electrode. The positive ions there accept the electrons that the negative electrode has surrendered. An electrical charge is produced by this intricate process.
The hybrid vehicle’s electric range is determined by the energy it produces in its battery. The battery’s available power at any given time controls the vehicle’s acceleration.
What are the drawbacks of a hybrid vehicle?
Hybrids are less heavily built, more financially advantageous, and have a greater resale value. They also charge themselves through regenerative braking. Although they have drawbacks, their benefits sometimes outweigh them.
Eco-friendly: Because hybrids have both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, they utilize less fossil fuel and emit less greenhouse gases as a result. Additionally, they get better gas mileage than regular cars do.
Financial advantages: Tax credits and incentives for hybrid vehicle owners and buyers have been implemented by numerous governments throughout the world. Additionally, they are not subject to environmental fees.
Higher resale value: People are becoming more inclined to switch to hybrids as they become weary of gas price swings and care about the environment. As a result, these automobiles’ resale value keeps rising.
Lighter cars: Because hybrids are made of lightweight materials, they use less energy to operate. Their lighter weight and smaller engines also aid in energy conservation.
Regenerative braking: Hybrid vehicles use a mechanism known as regenerative braking that allows the battery to somewhat recharge whenever the driver applies the brakes. The method extends the amount of time between manual recharges for the driver.
Less power: Hybrid vehicles combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine, with the gasoline engine acting as the primary source of power. As a result, neither the gasoline engine nor the electric motor operate as effectively as they do in standard gasoline or electric cars. But regular drivers who often navigate the city do just fine with hybrid vehicles.
Hybrids are generally more expensive to purchase than regular vehicles at first.
Higher operating costs: Due to their engine and the constant advancement of technology, it may be difficult to locate a technician with the necessary skills. Additionally, they might charge you a little bit more for upkeep and repairs. Moreover, replacing the battery has the highest running cost.
Poor handling: Compared to normal vehicles, hybrids have additional machinery, which adds weight and lowers fuel economy. In order to save weight, hybrid car makers had to create smaller engines and batteries. However, the vehicle’s power and body and suspension support are reduced as a result.
Risk of electrocution: Because hybrid batteries have a high voltage, there is a higher chance that accident victims and first responders will be electrocuted.
A hybrid vehicle combines an electric motor with a gas or diesel engine. When the car is moving at a slower pace, the electric motor drives the wheels. As the speed of the car increases, the gas engine takes over. The batteries are also charged by the motor, and each time the driver applies the brakes, regenerative braking charges the batteries.
Is buying a hybrid car worthwhile?
We’re getting this one fundamental query more frequently: Is a hybrid worth it? as more hybrid cars hit the market and prices slowly decline.
Although there are numerous factors to consider before making the decision to spend more money on a hybrid car, for the majority of drivers, cost is the primary consideration. In order for you to determine whether a hybrid vehicle makes sense for the way you drive, we’ll go over some fundamental hybrid arithmetic here.
It’s important to keep in mind that the answer to the question is not straightforward until we run some calculations. The value of lowering carbon dioxide emissions and the satisfaction you have from doing so, the sort of power generation in your area, or the cradle-to-grave emissions for a vehicle and its lithium-ion battery might all be taken into account. You may even attempt to place a value on the pleasure of driving an electric vehicle that accelerates instantly or the added comfort of getting into a vehicle that has been preheated by mains power.
To keep things straightforward, though, we’ll concentrate on the price difference between a comparable ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicle and a hybrid, and determine how long it will take to make up the difference in fuel savings.
Your driving habits
A few numbers will be necessary for this. The first is an estimate of how much of your driving is done in cities versus on highways. City driving is regarded as stop-and-go traffic for testing purposes, with an average speed of 34 km/h and a top speed of 90 km/h. Highway driving is defined as traveling at speeds between 78 and 97 km/h on interstates and rural roads. According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the ratio of gasoline consumption is 55 percent city and 45 percent highway. The division between your city and highway may be significantly different. When driving in cities, hybrids typically give the greatest fuel savings.
The cost of gasoline where you reside is the second important factor to know. According to Statistics Canada, the average price of regular gas in Edmonton as of January 2019 is $0.92/litre. In Vancouver, a litre costs $1.34. In Toronto, a litre costs $1.02.
How many kilometers you drive annually is the last figure you’ll need to know. It will take much longer to repay the additional expense of a hybrid vehicle if you travel 10,000 less miles per year than if you drive 25,000 more.
Types of hybrids
Hybrids are not created equally. Some people use electricity far more than others. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) have larger battery packs that can be recharged from an electrical outlet in comparison to mild hybrids that can charge on their own. PHEVs produce no tailpipe emissions when operating exclusively on electricity. Your driving style has a significant impact on the annual operating cost of plug-in vehicles. A PHEV makes sense if you primarily do short trips (3050 km) and have access to overnight charging.
The calculation
Take the difference in purchase price and divide it by the difference in annual fuel cost to determine whether a hybrid is cost-effective. That will tell you how many years of driving it will take to make up for the higher initial cost of a hybrid.
In other words: Years to recover hybrid cost = Purchase Price Delta / Annual Cost Delta.
A helpful tool for evaluating vehicles is the online “fuel consumption ratings search tool” from NRCan.
We’ll make the same assumptions as NRCan for the examples below: 20,000 miles per year, 55 percent city, ordinary gas at $1.02 per litre, and electricity at $0.13 per kWh.
Toyota Rav4
Costing $32,090, the 2019 Toyota Rav4 hybrid AWD. Costs for a standard Rav4 AWD are $30,690. The difference in buying price is $1,400. Fuel costs for the hybrid will be $1,224 annually, while those for the standard Rav4 will be $1,693. The difference in cost per year is $469.
Continue with us? As a result, 1,400/469 = 2.99 years. After that, owning a hybrid will be less expensive.
Honda Accord
Costs for the 2019 Accord Hybrid Touring are $41,876 plus $1,020 in year fuel costs. The Touring grade without a hybrid costs $37,876 and $1,550 annually. To make up the gap in this example, it would take around 7.5 years. It would take 5.8 years if you reside in Vancouver, where the cost of gas is $1.32 a litre.
You’ll recover the additional cost of the hybrid in 1.2 years when compared to the Accord 2.0 Touring, which costs $40,876 and features a thirstier 2.0-litre engine.
Kia Niro and the trouble with estimating PHEV cost
Fuel expenditures for the standard Kia Niro hybrid are $938 per year. The annual maintenance fee for the front-wheel drive Kia Sportage SUV is $1,877. After only a few months, the Niro hybrid will become more affordable because the difference in purchase price is only $200.
The Niro is also offered as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which has annual gas and energy expenses of $33,965 and $753/year. Compare that to a similarly equipped Niro hybrid’s $29,695 and $979 yearly cost. You won’t make back the additional expense until you drive the PHEV for more than 17 years. That may sound terrible for a PHEV, but it can be deceptive. Depending on how you drive, the NRCan annual cost estimate that we are providing here may be drastically off. You might quickly recoup the investment if you generally make short journeys and run down the battery before starting the gas engine. Or, if you never plug the PHEV in, you might never recoup the additional expense. Remember that the NRCan estimate uses an assumed power price of $0.13 per kWh, but if you charge overnight, as most people do, the price in Ontario is now $0.065 per kWh, which is half that amount. The employment of different PHEVs’ gas and electric motors creates comparative challenges, which further complicates problems. But we’re now getting really lost in the weeds.
Is it worth it?
There isn’t a firm rule in this situation, so I apologize if you didn’t want to perform all that arithmetic. As you can see, the time it takes for any hybrid to make up for the extra cost depends greatly on your driving habits, the cost of petrol where you reside, and how far you go. From brand to brand and model to model, there are huge differences in the extra pricing for hybrids. If you reside in British Columbia or Quebec, the government provides sizeable discounts on PHEVs, which frequently tips the cost equation in favor of greener options. However, conducting your research could end up saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the course of your next vehicle.