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Electron Hybrid Solutions batteries

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Katrina O, Dec 16, 2023.

  1. Katrina O

    Katrina O Junior Member

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    My boyfriend (who has worked as a mechanic in the past) has been looking into hybrid batteries since we've been talking about replacing the one in my 2008 Touring (132k miles approximately). It hasn't failed, but I don't get particularly good mpg at this point and we're looking to the future. Less expensive to get a new battery and take care of a few things than to buy a new car.
    He came up with these guys out of California and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with their batteries. I'm not a technical person and can't recall all the benefits he was telling me about this design, but they were numerous.
    Thanks in advance for any input

    Toyota Prius (2004-2009) Hybrid Battery Rebuild Kit with Brand New Cylindrical Cells - ELECTRON
     
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    This is an older design of round cells rather than box shaped cells (prism modules) and likely 1/2 the lifespan of Toyota OEM or http://www.projectlithium.com/?ref=9qLPw
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Save your money If you're going to spend that kind of money look into the project lithium if you're where that's possible If not just stick with the Toyota reliable battery that generally makes the 10 years and all that they're like 14 to1600 No need to spend more than that for OEM quality if you want to play with the project lithium and see how that goes give it a whirl but these round sell things the Chinese and Alibaba and even before that have been bringing these over and they generally haven't done too well Honda guys were using them to in the insights not so good.
     
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    New Toyota cells are 3-5 times better from a lifespan standpoint than the Chinese cylinders you are being offered. Marketing guys lie. Some people only get two years out of the aftermarket modules. Toyota oem modules are good for 8-10 years or longer.

    Some new Toyota modules have been sold for $1600 to $2400. The lithium option is roughly the same but are essentially beta versions. No long-term many year use yet but the odds are they will last longer than the cylinders but not as long as Toyota. Again there is heavy marketing hype on the work in progress lithium cells.

    All options require you or your mechanic to remove the heavy hybrid battery assembly, disassemble completely and reassemble with the new cells/modules.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could the low mpg's be non battery related?
     
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    It is in my '09 I know that for sure My battery's new works great so on and so forth and getting 39 mi to the gallon where it used to get 47.1 what it was rated to get while I owned it I can't figure out what's changed everything seems to be working spot on No funny business All the other three generation 2 sitting right next to it or all getting in the 45 48 somewhere in there. Of course the 09 has 340,000 mi on it to the other two cars which are in the 170,000 mi range The '09 having the new battery The other two cars having replacement rebuilts done in the last 2 years
     
  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    This would be my question, too.

    There are many reasons for low MPGs, including the nut behind the wheel.

    You should have empirical evidence that the hybrid vehicle (HV) battery is failing otherwise, you are just throwing away your money.

    In any case, stay away from anything but new Toyota modules if your objective is to change it once and forget about it for 10-15 years.
     
    Brian1954 likes this.
  8. Katrina O

    Katrina O Junior Member

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    so the cylindrical ones are an OLD design? The site sure makes it sound like they're a new & improved design. Weird
     
  9. Katrina O

    Katrina O Junior Member

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    What are you saying is in your '09? A battery with cylindrical cells?
     
  10. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    No in my '09 my battery is now about 9 months old maybe a year now factory due bought it online picked it up at the dealer installed it in the parking lot handed in my trade in
     
  11. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Honda used them into the early 2000's in their hybrids and Toyota bailed on them just before introducing Gen1 Prius. Basically, if you want to get into the hybrid battery business these round sticks are a more reasonably priced entry point because you're just spot welding a bunch of D-size batteries together. But the amount of surface area for cooling / longevity is much less in the round stick design compared to prism with foil sides design.

    For Prius, this aftermarket business was the first to offer round stick: NewPriusBatteries but after 5 years they were proven to no last as long.
     
  12. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Not necessarily “old” but cheap with a short lifespan.