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Can a hybrid jump-start a NON-hybrid?

Created December 26, 2007, at 10:12 am by PhxPrius

[ This was also posted under the Prius group, which is really the wrong place for it. ]

My family has three cars -- an 02 Prius, an 07 Camry Hybrid, and an 05 Honda CRV. Now the battery is weak on the CRV, and it won't start.

I've read (specifically in the jump-starting entry on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jump_start_%28vehicle%29) that a hybrid's secondary battery can't be used to jump-start a conventional vehicle, because the hybrid's 12-volt battery just is not designed to provide the surge of current that a starter requires. This seems technically reasonable to me (a software engineer w/o mechanical skills).

Any thoughts on this?

I'm kinda stuck at the moment. I guess I'll have to ask a neighbor for a jump. I never really considered this possible downside to having a hybrid. ;)

Barry S.
Phoenix, AZ

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ex-EV1 driver
Senior Member

4 years ago

Its sort of like a downside to having a hybrid alright. But actually it is your friend's downside for NOT having one :-)

I can't actually confirm whether this is true however.

Scott Z

3 years ago

Not true.

Have used my Prius to jump start my Honda Element. I was washing both cars with the music going in the Honda for some time. The car's battery is over four years old and I guess after three hours of high level music it lost juice. I jump started the Honda in about 45 seconds. The prius has a normal battery like any other car besides the hybrid battery system. I just used the positive connector on the prius as well as the negative to the frame. The manual explains this very clearly.

Anastasio Rossi

1 year ago

However, the Prius manual clearly states that the Prius cannot be used to jump start another car.
S010 manual page 545-547.

anastasio rossi

1 year ago

However, the Prius 2010 manual states that the prius cannot be used to jump start another car.

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