For all the hybrid car owners, the topmost concern is the maintenance of their car and to save the fuel. The battery is the most important part of any vehicle and a hybrid car is no exception. It is as important as the transmission of power. So, one must keep the Hybrid Battery in good condition to sustain it for a long time.
Facts about Hybrid Battery Life
Usually, the hybrid batteries are designed to last for the entire lifetime of a vehicle, i.e., 100, 000 miles. When you buy a hybrid car you will get ten years of warranty. Any defect that occurs in the warranty period is always taken care of by the company and it includes replacement as well. In case, it takes place outside of the warranty period then you will need to bear the whole expense of replacement.
Usually, the replacement of the Prius hybrid battery takes a significant amount of money and for any Prius car owner, it will be an affordable option to go for the reconditioned battery instead.
What is battery reconditioning and how does it take place?
The hybrid battery pack is composed of several modules. Usually, the defect occurs in a single cell of the module, not all the parts. Often it happens that one or two of the defective cells create the whole problem and prevent the battery from functioning properly.
As a hybrid car owner when you opt for reconditioning, the defective cells will be replaced with similar modules that have been developed from recycled batteries. So reconditioning refers to the process of removing the faulty units with recycled parts.
This is an affordable alternative which increases the life of the battery apart from saving you from costly replacement. It can extend the Toyota hybrid cars battery life up to four to five years and considering this, reconditioning is an ideal option for hybrid car owners.
Tips To Find a Quality Hybrid Battery Provider
When you think about the reconditioning option, you should look for an established and licensed professional who has been around for a long time. Experience goes a long way when it comes to the replacement of the hybrid battery. You should check their technological equipment, their factory and the amount of professionalism they work with.
One way to check the credibility of a hybrid battery service provider is its reputation in the industry. Look for various customer reviews to know that they stay true to their service. Check if the company is specialized in the Toyota brand of hybrid cars.
It is always noticeable that a good company always gives a competitive price rate to its customers. During the initial consultation, you should clear a few doubts.
- The number of years they have spent in this field of hybrid car battery repairing and replacement
- How much time does it take to recondition the battery?
- Do they produce a refurbished battery or not?
- Do they provide eco-friendly refurbished materials?
You can go for a refurbished battery option as well. However, the condition of your hybrid battery will further determine whether you should go for replacement or rebuilding. Only a quality and honest hybrid battery provider will save you from confusion and will guide you in the right manner.
Concluding Remarks
Reconditioning refers to the process of a method that combines grid charging, discharging, balancing, and cycling. This process is conducted to separate the bad cells from the active cells to replace them and then bring back the battery to a working condition. If your driving average is less than 6000 miles annually and your battery is not more than 7 years old, reconditioning is a great option.
Rebuilding is a replacement process that is done partially or completely and it involves the repairing of bad cells from the entire battery pack. Often the signs and symptoms of reconditioning and refurbishing are the same and hence you need to take the help of a hybrid battery expert to avoid any mistake.