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Does it harm the hybrid battery to not be driven for a few months?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Rsvlprius, May 6, 2015.

  1. Rsvlprius

    Rsvlprius Junior Member

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    I have always wondered this as we put a battery tender on the 12v battery when taking a long RV trip but do nothing for the hybrid battery.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The HV battery holds up quite well. Just make sure it's fully charge (6 blue bars or higher) before you leave. It should be fine when you come back.
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Our car sat when new for about 15 months. The 12 volt was (understandably) dead, but the hybrid battery has been champion, so far.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no worries.
     
  5. hybridbatt

    hybridbatt Junior Member

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    Don't do that too often, although yours has held up well it is definitely not a good thing to do, i would advise that you get a friend or relative to start & run it for at least 10 mins a week just too keep all good
     
  6. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    That actually is not a good idea.......as 10 minutes might not be enough to recover the 12 V up to full charge and the HV battery doesn't need it.

    The 12 V needs to be nearly full and kept that way. A battery "tender" is best for that.

    The HV battery needs no special attention, because of different chemistry, and as long as the charge level is within the "normal" operating range you don't need to worry about that either.
     
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Are you suggesting it'll lose charge in a week? Are you in the business of rebuilding batteries?
     
  8. hybridbatt

    hybridbatt Junior Member

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    No I am not suggesting anything like that - its prolonged periods, I have personally seen the effect in a Gen2 Prius that had been off the road for 6 months

    The charge level of the HV Battery can & will drop out of that normal range over time as all batteries no matter what chemistry have a self -discharge rate so much depends on its inner state at the time it was last used. The battery tender is a good idea for the Lead acid 12V but has no effect whatsoever on the HV Battery if the vehicle is not running. The 12v is their to run the ECU's & ancillaries & is charged by a dc to dc converter fed from the HV battery but the converter is only engaged when the vehicle is in actual use
     
    bisco likes this.
  9. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    OK so maybe in addition to a tender for the 12 V, one should start the car periodically to keep the HV from going completely dead........but once every 6 weeks or so should be plenty for that; certainly NOT once a week.

    If you don't let the gas engine come completely up to operating temperature, excess moisture tends to accumulate in the crankcase, intake manifold and the exhaust system.
     
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The Toyota advice regarding the traction battery for stored vehicles is to make the vehicle READY for 30 minutes, every two months. This gives the gasoline engine an opportunity to bring up the traction battery charge by spinning MG1. That produces high voltage three-phase AC which the inverter converts to high voltage DC, used to charge the battery.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if that's the case, why does it stay at 2 purple in stop and go?
     
    #11 bisco, May 8, 2015
    Last edited: May 10, 2015
  12. hybridbatt

    hybridbatt Junior Member

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    As I said depends on the inner state of the HV battery pack at the time of last use
     
  13. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Really......honestly........???
    Brain not in gear this morning yet ??? :)

    It is because you are USING some of that charge as well as putting some into the battery.
    That does not happen when you are in PARK.