Don’t Worry About Your Prius Batteries
So late last night, I get an email from the Big Boss Man, Chris, about the batteries on the Toyota Prius. The conversation goes something like this:
Chris:
“Want to do a factual/opinion piece on this? It’s a question I’ve heard quite a few times.”
Tony:
“You mean changing out the Prius battery question is one you’ve been hearing?”
Chris:
“More like what happens when the batteries stop recharging. Seems like people think they’ll run out within a few years.”
Tony:
“Ah, sure … really? People think that? Damn … ”
Allow me to put your mind at ease … right after the jump.
This whole issue was prompted by a blog post on Toyota’s Open Road Blog. It seems that some people think that the battery pack on a Prius, or any other hybrid for that matter, has a short shelf life. They don’t, but like everything else in the known universe, they DO have a given lifespan.
Normally, batteries are fairly simple devices, especially the simple lead/acid ones, like the kind in your flashlight and Prius. Sure, they will eventually wear out, but the key to maintaining a long life for most simple batteries is to make sure they’re fully charged when you idle them. With the battery in your car, or the batteries in a Prius, this isn’t a problem, because the cars alternator & charging system makes sure the battery is fully charged up when you park the car for the night.
What kills a lead/acid battery is letting it rest when it’s partially charged, or, more normally, letting it sit. That’s why, when you find that Ferrari GTO in the barn for $500, it won’t turn over. The battery has gone flat. You get out the jumper cables, and of course the car will fire up and run, cause it’s firing from the alternator at that point.
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