Hybrid vehicles have two motors. One is a gasoline-powered combustion motor, and the other is an electric motor. The electric motor must be accompanied by a big powerful rechargeable battery in order to function. This battery can take only so many charges before it stops working, however, so its life span is an important issue for those who are interested in owning a hybrid.
Function
Because hybrid vehicles use electricity as a source of power, the battery must be able to store electricity for future use. Most hybrid batteries are lithium ion or nickel metal hydride. This is the same type of technology that has also been used to great effect in laptops, cell phones and other rechargeable devices.
Life Span
One common claim by manufacturers is that their batteries will last for the full life of the hybrid. Toyota's own tests have revealed that the battery in their vehicles can last up to 180,000 miles. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average vehicle was driven 11,400 miles in 1994. If Toyota's tests hold true, then the battery would last nearly 16 years in an average vehicle.
Failure Rate
The failure rate of hybrid batteries is quite small. Only one percent of batteries in a first-generation Toyota Prius failed. The batteries in a second-generation Prius, according to Gary Smith, who is the national service technology manager for Toyota, only fail at a rate of one in 40,000.
Replacements
All hybrid vehicles now come with a battery warranty. The Honda Insight, for instance, has a warranty of 10 years and 150,000 miles on the battery. However, Toyota claims that they have never had to replace a battery in the Prius because of wear and tear. Although there is rarely a need to buy a replacement battery, the cost of one has fallen dramatically over the past decade. A replacement might once have cost as much as $7,000. Danny Cooper, the founder of PriusChat.com, says, in 2010, that used batteries can be bought for $500.
Recycling
Once the battery has been used up, its metal parts can be recycled and used again. Nine states have passed laws that ban rechargeable batteries from landfills, but only New York and California have mandated manufacturer take-back programs. Toyota, however, puts a phone number on each battery and pays $200 for proper collection.
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