Battery life

schwartm:

Welcome. The Civic Hybrid II (2006+) and the Prius II (2004+) are second generation hybrids and use battery packs made by the same manufacturer. These battery packs are designed to last the life of the car and are warrantied for 8 years and even more depending on the state (up to 15 years).
The first generation hybrids had some issues with their battery packs because neither Honda not Toyota had the experience and knowledge about battery management. But in all of those cases Honda and Toyota simply paid for their replacement even when the cars were outside their warranty coverage period.
With that said, there are now countless second generation hybrids going well over 300,000 miles without a single issue. Your friends advice is neither valid nor worth the concern you have.

The vast majority of the fuel economy complaints occur because the owners expect to get the advertised fuel economy by just driving off at the turn of the key. That is definitely not so as these cars are VERY sensitive to the way one drives. Because of this, these cars have hybrid specific instruments and displays that empower their "willing" owners to close-in to the EPA rating and even exceed it (as many of us do). In other words if you are not willing to change your driving attitude and embrace learning about the car (as its engineers intended), then a fuel efficient hybrid is not for you. On the other hand, if you do you homework and you're willing to learn then these cars will reward you in more ways than just financially. :)

Cheers;

MSantos

There's no doubt that extreme environments *may* have an impact on the expected service life of the battery pack.

However, these battery packs also have nothing to do with the technology found on todays lead acid batteries either. Unlike the lead acid batteries found in most cars today, we are not only dealing with a different chemistry but we are also dealing with a battery pack that is aggressively managed by the Battery Condition Monitor module... which in addition to managing the charge and discharge cycles, also monitors & manages the thermal operational parameters of the cell modules as well as their cooling.

You will notice that if the temperatures are too high (or too low), the basic IMA functions will be suspended simply because the BCM regards the health of the battery pack as having the higher priority. Under these circumstances the gas engine will be the primary and only means of powering the car and its systems. Yes, your FE will take a hit for sure, but so will that of any other car anyway. But if it is any consolation, at least you know the battery is also being protected as a guarantee of a longer service life.

Cheers;

MSantos

Hi OliviaH:

For the Civic Hybrid you may want to check this first. This is the one and only thing you need to read if you choose the HCH-II:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1306

For the Prius check here:
http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1224

Again, please ask about any of the details if you have any questions and we'll be happy to explain. :)

Cheers;

MSantos

We had a 2003 Honda Civic Manual and then sold it to a familiy member. Shortly after the sale, at about 75,000 miles, the Honda dealer said the battery was not charging and was not so useful. Replacement cost would be ~ $3000. However, the dealer said that the car could be continued to be driven, just that the hybrid mode would not work anymore. Then a few days later, Honda called back and said that it was a warranty item and they replaced the battery free of charge!!

It is any wonder that Honda creates lifelong customers?

Note that peace was also preserved in the familiy!!

Hi Russ.

Quite the opposite.

The more frequent the charge and discharge cycles, the shorter the life-span of a battery. The NiMH battery pack in today's hybrids are no different in these regards even though they are manufactured to very high standards and managed very aggressively throughout their operation.

As long as you drive the vehicle a couple of times a week all should be fine since there's a lot more to a Civic Hybrid than a battery pack and an electric motor. ;)

Cheers;

MSantos

You can have it repaired for half that price or less. Contact me if you want more information.

Hi,

I'm looking at used cars and found a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid with 101,000 miles that I really like. The ad says "all original parts" which I take to mean it still has the original battery. I'm concerned that if I buy this car, it won't be long till I need to replace the battery. From what I've read replacing the battery can cost upwards of $3000 which I wouldn't be able to afford. Can anyone give me some advice about this?

Thanks,
Carrie Ann

I drive about 150 miles daily commute to work. Mostly on highway 70mph+. My SUV only gets 19 mpg at best, even with highway driving. Is a hybrid the right choice for me? My assumption is that hybrids are better for city driving <35mph. Any advice is appreciated, Thanks.

I went looking for a vehicle since mine died last Monday. I found a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid that I really want. My husband asked our mechanic about it. He told hubby about the battery issue, thus, I am looking for info about this. I see no one is replying to people who've been coming here with questions for the past 36 weeks. I do hope someone will comment on our questions. Does Honda still cover the cost of replacement of the battery even if it has a second owner?????

Hello,
I have just put a down payment on a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid that has 95,000 miles. Should I be concerned about the mileage and the battery? How many miles does a battery last on average, and how do I know how many miles are on this battery?
Thank you,
Michael

I am considering the purchase of 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid with 112,000 miles. Do I need to be concerned with the batteries??

Bought a hybrid 02,the batterie went out, n I was wondering if I should keep it.