New smaller lighter NiMH

That's no big deal for an automaker, which is what the comment was in reference to.

Post-Purchase upgrades from automakers is new territory. They're starting with software, in fact.

Seeing battery-packs later on isn't too unreasonable to imagine, especially if they don't want to supply original parts for countless years for warranty coverage. Why not offer upgrades? It sure would raise resell value for the brand.

 

If the new battery's smaller but about the same capacity, maybe it's overtaxed??

 

Its about the same weight, just 1 kg lighter (2.2 lbs) or 2.4% of the pack. My bet is it has similar amounts of active material, but it is packaged smaller to fit in the new better location. Its the lithium one that is significantly lighter, but it has less capacity. Usable SOC and power levels have not been disclosed, or I have missed them. For the gen II and III SOC is 40%-80% (520 wh) and max power is 27 kw (gen III) or 25kw (gen II) depending on air cooling. If these are the same electronics would probably work, but the new battery might have different power levels, SOC, or temperature dependancies. We should know all those things once it is released. My guess is they power has been slightly increased again, but that may be dependant on airflow/fan to cool properly.

 

Nah. A battery pack is more just its cells. It includes the connection between the cells and stacks, the case, and possibly electronics that monitor the packs condition. With the same volts and amps as the previous battery, the cells are likely the same. Which means Toyota came up with a cost effective way to make the rest of the pack smaller. Toyota may feel the cells can be packed closer together without worry about heat now, or the old pack was sturdier in case of rear collisions, or for another reason.

 

good luck to you.

 

I don't see why you'd need a new battery if your old one goes out. Aren't salvage batteries out there, or won't they be out there? Plus, by the time it goes out, if it does before something else, they should be a lot cheaper. A new hybrid battery on an 8 yr old car with 200K miles on it would most likely be an over kill.

 

What do you mean?...because NY certainly is an extended CARB warranty state as far as I know.

 

They did announce 28% increase in power and 10% decrease in volume.

 

Looks like you are the next lucky customer to buy a Gen IV!

 

Strongly believe NY has 10-yrs 150k miles on HV battery.
We don't have 10-yr 100-k miles as a warranty option anywhere: The Federal option is 8-yrs 100k miles.
The only reason CARB warranty might not apply in NY is if the a used car came from non-CARB state, but not many non-CARB states surrounding NY.

Don't pull the trigger!

 

i think ny changed after 2005.

 

if i had your car, i would draw the line when the new prius is available or a great deal on a '15.

 

OK that could be true, but Toyota tends to give assistance anyway especially if you live in a CARB state.

But the key point here is reference to the next gen Prii and it was stated that NY is not extended CARB for the nextgen Prius Gen4 (but NY is extended CARB).

 

right, goldy probably doesn't know about the change since he bought his '05.

 

Some CARB states are still partial ones.

 

CA OR RI ME MA MD NJ VT NY CT should be the extended warranty on batt
PA, DE, WA no extension on batt warranty

Also NY I think joined CARB in 2004 so seems to me the Goldy 2005 should be fully covered if it's a NY vehicle.