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

Battery type advantage

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Technical Discussion' started by priusmatty, Mar 1, 2021.

  1. priusmatty

    priusmatty Active Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2016
    304
    108
    0
    Location:
    Louisiana USA
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    What are the advantages and disadvantages of lithium ion versus nickel metal traction batteries?
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    NiMH pros - works in lower temps, longer experience with technology

    LiIon pros - lower weight

    LiIon cons - less thermally stable when charging, catches fire when not well managed.
     
    alanclarkeau and Tyfly like this.
  3. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, effectively, you take what you get - but in reality, there is almost no advantages either way - but, yes, certainly differences. If you're in Australia or Middle East - you take a NiMH because that's all they offer. In Asia, particularly Japan, only Li-ION was offered. Get a PRIUS v - you can only get a Li-ION.

    There have been so many threads on this topic - the OP should do a search. Might be easier to do it via GOOGLE search, but mention "PRIUSCHAT" in the query.

    I've got NiMH - which I'm happy with - been proven technology for much longer than Li-ION - and potentially doesn't lose capacity at the same rate as (evidenced in Nissan LEAFs/LEAVES) Li-ION.
     
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,690
    6,378
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    NiMH has had a complicated legal/IP history. Things allegedly got better a year or two back with a patent expiration but cheap results haven't exactly stormed the marketplace.

    Lithium ion isn't free of lawsuits and arguments, but things are easier for users of this chemistry.

    From a certain point of view, NiMH showed up exactly at the right time to get clobbered in the courtroom by Big Oil to prevent electric cars from taking off. It didn't get used in many other places- some 1990s laptops and flashlight batteries, a few industrial installations.

    Meanwhile lithium ion showed up at the right time to enable so many other portable electric/electronic applications that nothing could stop it, and it was only a matter of time before it wound up in cars.
     
    Valiant V likes this.
  5. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,317
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    For the Prius the NiMH has a proven record and has supposedly been improved in Gen 4

    For the Prius, unless you are in a cold climate, just evaluate the vehicle on its other features.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.