1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

What has been your experience with your hybrid battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by chadwickt27, Jul 3, 2018.

  1. chadwickt27

    chadwickt27 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2016
    7
    3
    0
    Location:
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I'm an enthusiast and consider this community to be the people's authority on all things Prius. I'm looking to hear your thoughts and feelings on your hybrid battery through the years. Has it given your grief? Are you apprehensive about what's to come? Held it's efficiency well though the years? Tell me your experiences and thoughts.

    --Chad T.
     
  2. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2011
    691
    267
    0
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    The hybrid battery lasts a long time.

    It has not given us any grief.

    I only wish that our household solar-system battery-bank worked as well as the battery in our priuses.
     
    breakfast likes this.
  3. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Had my Gen 2 for ten years, never any problems with the battery or the car to speak of. Best car I ever owned so I bought another one.

    I have high hopes for my new one, it is so much more refined than my old one and does everything better.
     
    chadwickt27 likes this.
  4. Wayne

    Wayne Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2005
    723
    27
    0
    Location:
    Fort Wayne, IN
    My 2005 gen 2 hybrid battery died at 13 years. I replaced it with a Toyota-installed OEM unit. I figure my car will be a quarter-century old before I have to worry about it again, and although it is low-milage now, I'm sure I won't be changing it again.

    As far as cost goes, it was $2,700 complete (parts, tax, & installation). My electronic mileage log also calculated how much I saved with every tankful over the small SUV I was originally going to buy, and over 82,000 miles I had saved $7,000 in gasoline. So I consider it cost-effective. :)

    My first tankful after the swap was 59.6 MPG (507 miles-201 hwy/306 city). Could have gone 700 miles!
     
    breakfast, Grit and chadwickt27 like this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i sell mine before the warranty is up.
     
    chadwickt27 likes this.
  6. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    850
    538
    23
    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    deleted - apologies, I don't have a Gen 3. :)
     
  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I bought our 2010 brand new in August of 2009 and has had no issues in those almost 9 years and 182 k miles:).

    I do maintain our hv battery pack using the Prolong equipment, and I have notice that it rejuvenates the pack ;).

    Preventative maintenance helps avoid expensive repairs in the future (y).
     
    RMB, chadwickt27 and Grit like this.
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Mine has held up on it's end. It's 97,000 miles and dr prius haven't shown anything negative except with when soc was 85% downhill south the grapevine in CA. The farthest voltage difference from a pack to another pack was .20 volts. I don't plan to buy any prolong equipment yet, maybe not at all. Just have an HV emergency fund on standby just in case but I park in a concrete parking structure when I work so when it's 105 outside, its only 85 degrees inside so this battery should last for a while.
     
    RMB, chadwickt27 and Raytheeagle like this.
  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Your investment into the Prolong setup would be much less as @SFO amd I could split costs woth you:).

    Major cost would be the harness, but we’ve done the install before;).

    Just one option to consider (y).
     
    Grit likes this.
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Don't save the battery in any way until after your warranty ends. I got my battery replaced when my car was at 149000 miles.
     
    RMB and Raytheeagle like this.
  11. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    +1;).

    I did not put the Prolong harness on until 149 k miles. But once out of warranty, it’s fair game to avoid cost:).

    I’ve been very pleased with my after warranty investment (y).
     
    JC91006 likes this.
  12. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    5,131
    1,338
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Did you use the Prolong for any reason other than preventative maintenance? I have 135k miles and my warranty expired at 100k miles.

    I have not had a single problem and I see no issues withTechstream. I am debating whether to purchase a Prolong device since I plan to keep the car for another year or so.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Preventative reasons only;).

    But a side benefit of having the equipment is that I share it with another member and have used it to help rebuild two Gen2 packs:).

    So I feel that the equipment is a great tool to have for a Prius you want to have for a good while;).

    Happy 4th(y).
     
    jdcollins5 and JC91006 like this.
  14. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    There should be a new medical diagnosis, anxiety from imminent battery failure. Comes every 10 years if you own an electric/hybrid car.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Just buying extra harnesses from prolong?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    @SFO bought a spare Gen2 ;).

    They seem to be the biggest opportunity so far:whistle:.

    That stays with the Techstream laptop and Prolong equipment we share:).

    Maybe we’ll get a Gen3 harness and be set(y).
     
    JC91006 likes this.
  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    With a known treatment: Prolong(y).
     
    JC91006 likes this.
  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    With the prices of new batteries now and possibly lower next year, Prolong will be a tough sell in the near future. New battery is the cure, Prolong just brings back anxiety in a couple years
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The struggle in my mind is that investing $2k and upwards into a car that has north of 10 years on it or hundreds of thousands of miles where other things will fail or a risk.

    I’d rather roll the dice on a smaller investment, then if a larger repair surfaces, cut bait and move on.

    If I invested in a new battery, the temptation to continue on might be great whereas the shared investment I have in the Prolong is much lower and more functional (ability to share, make some side $$$, Repair the pack for a fraction of the cost, etc).

    IMO, the DIYer is served well with the Prolong equipment and even if you have a failed pack, bring it back and have a useable Prius again with low continued cost of ownership.

    Happy 4th(y).
     
    RMB and jdcollins5 like this.
  20. Jeff Selles

    Jeff Selles New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2018
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Wisconsin, USA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I have a 2014 in Wisconsin and it's been extremely hot weather for several days. I started my car today and the battery level indicator went to one bar immediately. I'm afraid the battery is bad after only 37,000 miles? Is this typical battery behavior when the outside weather is 97 degrees?