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Chinese Ni-MH Battery cell replacements-any experience with these copies?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Bruce Cameron, Jun 26, 2015.

  1. Riaan

    Riaan New Member

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    This is an old thread but has anyone actually tried the Yebo power modules, are they new and do they work & last?
    2005/6/7 cars are really beginning to fail now on the battery front and I own 2 of these. One has already failed, had to pay $1900 to get a new core from Toyota. The other one beginning to fail now and instead of replacing the whole thing Id like to put in a couple of new cells, looks like I have 2 bad ones.
     
  2. TKKM

    TKKM New Member

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    Did you end up purchasing any of those batteries from Yabo Power in China?
     
  3. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    well, that's just beginning. is suspect battery failures will peak in 2019, there will be a massive shortage, and some 3rd party solutions should be available by then.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. TKKM

    TKKM New Member

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  5. TKKM

    TKKM New Member

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    Had you seen on Alibaba from Shenzhen Ceba Co., Ltd the aftermarket modules that fit gen II and gen III





    But the price is to high as last month Toyota in Australia has dropped there price for gen II and gen III to AUD 2050.00 after return of core





    I have purchased a few new modules from Yabo Power modules to build a 30 series Prius battery pack and compared them to the originals. I also have a new 30 series and the Yabo Power modules don’t come up to the same rated amp hours under the same condition for both packs and the Yabo Power modules very in voltage on discharge around the 7 volts mark, even after I have balances the pack.

    Has anyone found any other modules that will fit these Prius battery packs? Someone said to me they are purchased from Mexico
     
    #25 TKKM, May 5, 2016
    Last edited: May 5, 2016
  6. strawbrad

    strawbrad http://minnesotahybridbatteries.com

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    Do you know how to read the date code from the module serial numbers? The first two digits are the day of the month. The third digit is month. X, Y, and Z are used for Oct, Nov, and Dec. The forth digit is the year. F 2004, G 2005, H 2006, I 2007, ect.

    Do the Yabo modules use the same date code system as the originals? Are they dated as new modules?

    Brad
     
  7. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Yabo modules released to consumers is a relatively new thing.
    The modules will not be very old regardless, so not sure why the date matters for now.
    As a rebuilder it is hard to compete with the price of OEM modules when you consider buying and installing a whole pack for customers. The risk associated with warranty work is high. Working with any overseas supplier when it comes to activating a warranty can be a real challenge.
    I commend Yabo for the effort they put forth. Including working with US rebuilders to test the modules. I enjoy their sales people. It took a lot of work and R&D to get things to this point. And properly shipping and getting these through customs can be a challenge.
    But for now, most customers are still purchasing batteries from US suppliers.
    For now, if you want a few modules to play with for fun it may make sense to buy them. But you can't just drop one of these new modules into a tired old pack and expect them all to play nicely together.
     
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  8. TKKM

    TKKM New Member

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    Yabo modules are like is


    P006HUM512260019

    P006HUM always the same ( part number)

    5 is year 2015

    12 is the month

    26 is the date

    0019 serial number
     
  9. strawbrad

    strawbrad http://minnesotahybridbatteries.com

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    Thanks to both Eric and TKKM. I have seen many Alibaba and ebay listings for "New" modules that clearly show old serial numbers. You guys have established that Yabo is not playing that game,

    Brad
     
  10. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Just (still) curious if anyone has actually bought 28+ of these and put them in a Prius pack. Would be kind of interesting...
     
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  11. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    They have been purchased and put in packs.
    Perform...differently... than Toyota OEM pack.
    I don't see how you could mix them with used modules or with new OEM modules.
     
  12. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Definitely couldn't mix them with old or OEM Toyota modules, it would just accelerate damage to all the cells.

    But the Prius doesn't seem very picky about the battery and was just wondering about real world test cases with these modules. For a few hundred less than a certified OEM pack, I don't think it is worth it. But it might be to some people.

    Now that the 2016 has moved on from the previous gen pack design (I think) does this mean that the 2004-2015 MY battery modules will be like the 2001-2003 MY modules, and all "new" packs come from modules sitting on a shelf for a few years? I wonder...
     
  13. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Toyota OEM modules are rock solid.
    These overseaes-made modules have not proven themselves.
    If there ever was a problem with them, trying to redeem a warranty on an overseas-made product that doesn't have representation here in the US is very difficult.
    There are tests done on these modules by several reputable rebuilders and at this point none of us are moving to change over to these modules. I don't expect to see any of those tests made public.

    If someone else wants to second guess our decision, go for it. Spend the money and post your results.
    Feel free to contact me privately if you want to compare your data on these modules.
     
    jeff652 likes this.
  14. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Indeed.

    Nobody has taken a leap yet. There are very good quality things available in China and lots of crap too. These specific modules actually appear to be rejects from another product line and more intended for uses where internal cell resistance and cell to cell matching is not important. I.e., not the Prius environment.

    Making NiMH batteries is super common, there has to be some other company making good quality cells other than Panasonic.

    Good luck with any warranty, even a US company in the US. I don't even look at warranties when I shop. Unless you are a large volume customer, you don't matter to most places. But I do actually do lots of business in China and many of my products are produced over there. I have never had a problem correcting a quality issue. But it is understandable, most Americans can't or don't want to "do it the Chinese way" which is nothing like the Western way.

    There's no reason to obviously. Rebuilders are already on the low end of the price spectrum for a replacement pack, why gamble with a new cell and sell it cheaper. You gain nothing because there are no proven other methods. It makes no business sense for companies like yourself to try or want to try these cheaper cells unless they could be used and proved better or equal with proof so that it lowers your cost and the base cost can be kept the same.

    Nothing wrong with that, it is how business works. But eventually someone has to try it and actually see what they do in the real world. The cells in the link at the beginning of this post do not seem like good candidates for Prius replacement use. But I am sure there exists a battery out there somewhere that does fit the bill...
     
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  15. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    They have been tested in the real world.
    By several reputable rebuilders.
    These same rebuilders are not making a changeover to the overseas modules.

    I, and other rebuilders have plenty of business experience working with buying batteries from overseas suppliers.
    For example sticks that fit in Honda hybrids.
    I can't even count how many hundreds of those I have purchased.
    But for now, based on the real world tests, I am not purchasing the modules that fit Toyota.
     
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  16. MTL_hihy

    MTL_hihy Active Member

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    Eric, how much are the Honda sticks you buy on average?
    Just curious since I have another project coming up I might be able to use them for.
     
  17. omer

    omer New Member

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    Hi everyone. Need to know whether respected rebuilders have tested these yabo modules or not cause I was thinking of getting them imported?
     
  18. TKKM

    TKKM New Member

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    Hi Omer I have been dealing with their batteries and I have had a lot fail. They go open circuit. I’m still waiting on their response to my emails before I release all the information. They have not offer me anything no replacements or money back. They only repled to my emails twice in a month.
    Things where good until they got their money
    I wouldn't purchase them.
     
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  19. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    Better solutions are already available. One option is maintaining the battery (like you do for the rest of the car) so it lats the life of the vehicle. We have thousands of customers already doing this.
     
  20. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    I'll stick with my earlier response two posts above yours...

    They have been tested in the real world.
    By several reputable rebuilders.
    These same rebuilders are not making a changeover to the overseas modules.