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

Should I get a Prolong/Maxx Volts charger for my new OEM pack?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by bcmanucd, Jul 23, 2024 at 7:00 PM.

  1. bcmanucd

    bcmanucd Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2023
    8
    6
    0
    Location:
    santa rosa, ca
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    '06, 135k miles. My wife is currently en route in our van to a Toyota dealership in Oregon to buy a new hybrid battery, so I should have it in about a week. I chose replacement rather than try to recondition the old pack, since it seems my battery fan was out of commission for who knows how long, and there was probably a lot of cumulative heat damage. But I'm tempted to buy a charger and harness from either Hybrid Automotive or Maxx Volts (or possibly even DIY one based on the work by alftoy and PriusCamper) so I can periodically top balance the new pack.

    I'm trying to decide if this might just be a waste of money. After all, the last pack lasted 18 years, so it's likely I'll get at least 10 years out of the new one, at which point the car will be 28 years old. But, currently we don't drive it much - it might sit unused for a week or more at a time. I've read that this can be bad for the longevity of the pack. What would y'all do?
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    11,106
    4,520
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Your new battery pack won't need any help for 7 or 8 years... But getting that old pack charge and balanced and tested would be wise. Of course it's not worth losing the core deposit by keeping it. Unless you want to buy a Sodium-Ion pack for $1500 instead of OEM? Then you could keep the old pack to tinker with and I could loan you gear to do that.

    There's a chance I'll be in Napa on the 11th if it could wait that long... Might be able to help you get a Sodium-Ion pack despite them currently being sold out at that time. Private message me if interested?
     
  3. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    825
    310
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Buying a grid charger for a new OEM HV battery is a waste of money. It will not be needed for 7 to 10 years.