How Long Can a Hybrid Car Battery Last?

Hybrid cars have been popular in the past decade, and their sales will not be slowing down any time soon. That being said, many older Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, and Hyundai Ioniq models are currently entering the tokunbo car market. 

While they can all present a good deal, there might be some issues regarding their hybrid battery. If you’re looking to buy a used hybrid car, you might wonder just how long the battery will last. 

Below, this article looks into what you should know about hybrid car batteries.

When Will the Hybrid Car Battery Fail?

Hybrid car batteries are made up of a group of individual battery cells, and just like any other battery, they have a shelf life and will eventually lose power. Fortunately, all hybrid cars come with a hybrid battery warranty of 8 to 10 years and up to 100,000 miles. If you buy a hybrid car with fewer than 100,000 miles, you can rest assured that the manufacturer will cover it. However, many hybrid car batteries have lasted longer than 100,000.

What Happens if a Hybrid Car Battery is Out of Warranty?

If you get a great deal on a hybrid car with more than 100,000 miles and is therefore out of warranty, you might have to buy a new battery eventually. Note that the battery is usually expensive to purchase and replace. Another option is to replace the hybrid battery yourself, and while that might sound like a lot of tasks, there are plenty of helpful videos on YouTube to get you through the process. 

Why Do Hybrid Car Batteries Last So Long?

While 100,000 miles might not sound like a lot, since most drivers intend to keep their cars “forever,” it actually takes a long time to reach that milestone. A car would need to be driven an average of 20,000 miles a year for five years to get there. However, the average annual mileage for most drivers is closer to 10,000 miles per year. 

So a hybrid car battery should last around 8 to 10 years, depending on where and how the car is driven during that time. The reason that hybrid car batteries last so long – unlike cell phone and laptop batteries, per se – isn’t just due to their size. 

According to a report from the Christian Science Monitor, a hybrid car battery is typically only charged up to 80 per cent when it shows that it’s “full,” and when it’s empty, it’s usually only down to 20 per cent. This inherent “under-taxing” of the hybrid battery actually prolongs its life of it; unlike our phones and laptops, we like to over-charge all the time.

When Will I Know That the Car Needs a New Battery?

There are indicator lights that will tell you if the car needs a new hybrid battery, and you will notice a decrease in power and fuel economy. While replacing the hybrid battery in a higher-mileage hybrid car might sound like too much work, it’s still worth the stress, as even a refurbished battery should last another 80,000 miles or more.