People who’ve never driven hybrid vehicles tend to believe that hybrid car batteries don’t last very long. But hybrid car batteries are more powerful than you might think. They’re made to be more powerful because hybrid vehicles require more electrical power than conventional vehicles.
The main benefit of a hybrid car battery is that you don’t need to consume as much gasoline. If you normally drive on slower moving roads, then power from your hybrid car battery is consumed instead. The battery supplies power to the electric motor which, in turn, provides power to the wheels underneath the vehicle.
The average cost of a new hybrid car battery is between $2,000 and $3,000. Compare this to the $100 to $200 cost of a conventional car battery, and you’ll notice the difference in cost quite clearly. Although, if you’re lucky, you could probably find a used or refurbished hybrid car battery for about $500.
But again, the hybrid car battery produces more power than a conventional car battery. That is why hybrid car batteries are very expensive to replace. For this reason, you’ll want to get as much life out of them as possible.
Average Lifespan
The average lifespan of a hybrid car battery is between 80,000 and 100,000 miles. Some consumers have reportedly claimed their hybrid car batteries had lasted longer than 150,000 miles. It really depends on how well you take care of your vehicle and several other factors. But if you keep your hybrid car for 5 to 10 years, then you’ll probably never need to worry about replacing the battery.
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Lifespan Factors
Below are the 5 main factors which affect the average lifespan of a hybrid car battery.
1) Warranties
Make sure there is a warranty included when you purchase your hybrid car. In most cases, the warranty will apply to the hybrid car battery and ensure its functionality for a certain number of miles or years. If it is a warranty on a new hybrid car battery, then it should last for at least 80,000 miles. If you don’t have a warranty included, there is no telling when your hybrid car battery is going to die. It’ll likely be sooner rather than later.
2) Amount of Driving
The more driving you do in your hybrid car, the more your battery will suffer wear and tear. A hybrid car battery does get recharged after you drive the hybrid vehicle, but that doesn’t mean it’ll recharge forever. Eventually, you won’t be able to recharge your hybrid car battery anymore. If the battery cannot recharge, then it won’t produce power for the motor.
3) Battery Condition
Be extra cautious if you’re buying a used hybrid car battery. You can expect the lifespan of a used hybrid car battery to be 50% shorter than a new battery’s lifespan. The same concept applies when purchasing a used hybrid vehicle too because it likely has a used battery in it as well.
4) Battery Charging
You need to keep the battery power level between 20% and 80%. Do not recharge the battery to 100% because the power gets used up faster that way. But don’t let the power level drop to less than 20% because the battery could end up damaged from it.
5) Driving Behavior
To extend the lifespan of your hybrid car battery, it is better to take off gradually from a stop rather than step hard on the gas pedal. Stepping on the gas pedal or brake pedal too aggressively could damage the battery.
Remember that hybrid vehicles use electric motors and internal combustion engines. When you drive past a certain speed, the engine activates. The car battery won’t need to generate as much power until you drop below a certain speed. Normally, the car battery generates power when you take off and then disengages when you drive faster. But if you try to drive too fast too quickly, it’ll put a lot of stress on the battery.
