NewPriusBatteries GEN3

Have had my NewPriusBattery (Gen 3) for about a month now. Due to Covid, I haven't been driving my typical commute for some time, but I can provide my overall experience and some observations I've made.

TL;DR
- $1600 w/ free shipping and no tax in CA
- Set aside a full day to install, but can be done faster
- Happy with my purchase, improved MPG from 35 to 46
- Just hit 100k mileage, what maintenance should I do & ideas to get back to 54MPG?

Backstory
I started getting a P0A80 error code around February 2020 which was about 6 months prior to replacing my OEM battery. At the time, I simply cleared the code, started using apps like Dr. Prius to keep an eye on my cells and began doing moderate research on replacements. Every month or so, I would get a check engine light and lose significant power while driving. As soon as I made a stop, I would clear the error code and continue without a hitch. After a while the intervals got smaller and smaller (about a week or two) until I finally gave in and decided to swap out the battery. For context, my Prius use to hover at around 54MPG, but about a month before replacing the battery, my MPG had significantly dropped to around 35MPG and pretty much never used the battery.

Installation Process
I placed my order on Sunday (08/02/20) and received it by Friday (08/07/20) of the same week. Total was $1600 w/ free shipping and no tax in CA. Batteries look great, were packaged well, and best of all, I did not have to give up my core. Perhaps the only negative I could give was that the instructions were a bit confusing and parts of it did not apply in my case. Not a big issue though, because as long as you wire everything up to match exactly how your original battery was connected, then you're good to go. So please make sure to take plenty of pictures and video of your original setup to make sure you wire it up exactly the same. Also, for getting to the battery itself, this video proved to be extremely helpful:

[WILL ADD URL ONCE I HAVE ENOUGH POSTS]​

It took me an entire day to swap out the battery, and I highly recommend you plan for it to take you that long too. It can be done much faster, but I took my sweet time and really enjoyed the process. I triple checked my work, cleaned out the fan and corrosion off of cables that were being reused, took multiple breaks, and did not rush any steps. You will also need a second person to help take out the battery and to place it back in. After doing this battery swap, I now feel confident in being able to complete this process within 4 hours, and even faster given some practice. But on your first go at it, I recommend you set aside a full day so that you don't feel pressured or rushed. You don't need any specialized tools, and I only used a size 8, 10, and 12 socket.

There are quite a few images and posts for wiring up the GEN2's, but not many for GEN3. I've included an album with pictures and videos of my build process. Hoping this helps some one out there.

[WILL ADD URL ONCE I HAVE ENOUGH POSTS]​

Outcomes
So after I put everything back together, I started up the car, cleared the error code one last time and took it for a spin. I immediately noticed that the battery would remain charged for far longer and would not drop as low as before. Everything felt good as new and after some time, my MPG slowly shot back up to around 46MPG, which was a huge improvement over my 35MPG. I've now done 2 fill ups and have almost 1k miles on the new battery. If anyone is on the fence about getting this or a reconditioned battery, I highly recommend getting this. If you are able to get the OEM battery at under $2k, then obviously go for that. In my case, the dealership would not sell me the battery, and instead required that I pay them for the installation, which was just way over my budget. One big advantage of purchasing with NewPriusBatteries, is that you do not have to give up the core and can sell these to help offset the cost. Me personally, I've kept them for some electronics projects and will hopefully build out a small solar battery array for my shed.

Questions
Although I have a 10MPG improvement, I'm still not back at my full 54MPG. I know that some of this can be due to the fact that my commute is very different during COVID, but I have noticed that when the engine kicks in, it does so at a much lower MPG. As mentioned in the backstory, I cleared the engine error code multiple times and which probably drove the engine harder than usual for a few months. Because of this, I'm not convinced that the lower MPG is due to the batteries and some of it may be engine and route dependent. I've also now hit 100k miles and need to perform some maintenance. I'd love some feedback on some maintenance I should do now that I'm at 100k miles as well as some ideas to help improve my MPG.

Things I'm Planning To Do
- Transmission Drain and Refill
- Change Spark Plugs
- Clean out Throttle body
- Clean out EGR Pipe
- Replace PCV Valve

Things I've AlreadyDone
- Change Engine Air Filter
- Change Cabin Air Filter
- Fill Tires to 35PSI​

 

Thanks for all the tips! And yes, I tried to get the warranty, but was told that the 10 years were up in September 2019 and it's whichever comes first. It's a really good point though, and should definitely be a first step before going through this process.