Have you recently made the switch to a hybrid electric vehicle? Or maybe you are trying to prepare yourself for that inevitable leap. There is no longer much doubt that electric vehicles are likely the future of the automobile industry. The majority of us will be driving these eco-friendly cars before we know it. But you might be wondering exactly how these cars work. With so many features and styles flooding the market in the past few years, it can be challenging to keep up.
The electric vehicle market has come a long way in a short amount of time. Hybrid electric vehicles are making this switch to EV (electric vehicles) exceptionally easy for modern drivers. Hybrids can be an excellent way to drastically reduce your dependence on gasoline even if you are not quite ready to make the switch to full electric. But, of course, if you are like most consumers, you are bound to have questions. At the top of that list of questions, you might be wondering, what happens if your hybrid’s battery dies? Can you still drive it? Unfortunately, in general, you can not drive your hybrid electric car without the electric battery. However, there are a few vehicle models that are exceptions to this rule. Either way, the electric high voltage battery is a critical component of any hybrid vehicle.
Hybrid batteries are a relatively pricey component of the vehicle, particularly if we compare the cost of the hybrid battery to the vehicle’s overall price. Therefore, a hybrid owner must understand how long these batteries last. You should also know how they can fail so you can prepare for the worst and take proper action if (or when) the battery dies.
- Do you own a hybrid?
- Are you thinking of buying one?
Then keep reading, so you don’t have any surprises waiting for you down the road.
How Long do Hybrid Batteries Last?
Whether your electric vehicle (EV) is fully electric or a gasoline hybrid, the high voltage battery is what makes the whole thing work. It powers your electric motor, which in turn powers an overwhelming majority of the systems in your vehicle.
How long your battery lasts depends a lot on how many miles you drive each year. Most vehicle manufacturers will offer a 100,000-mile warranty that specifically covers the high voltage battery. This means that the carmaker expects your battery to work for at least 100,000 miles. They can confidently offer you this warranty because they are confident that the vast majority of batteries will easily last that long. In fact, many hybrid car batteries last much, much longer. For most drivers, this covers a period of 8-10 years. Of course, this lifespan can be much shorter if you tend to drive a lot of miles. I once put 300,000 miles on a car in the same amount of time, so this largely depends on how you use the vehicle and where you live. Once you reach 100,000 miles, it can be challenging to say precisely how much longer the battery will last. Unfortunately, the battery is going to eventually die no matter how well you take care of the car.
Signs Your Hybrid Battery Is Dying
Some signs that you have a bad battery that is close to dying could include:
- Weird noises coming from your electric engine
- Trouble charging your hybrid battery
- A sudden decrease in your vehicles overall fuel efficiency
- Increase use of your traditional gas engine
Anytime you experience these warning signs while driving your vehicle, you should inspect the car for potential problems. Of course, any one of these things on its own might not signal a problem with your battery. But the earlier you identify what is causing the problem, the easier the issue will be to address. Ignoring one or more of these signs could quickly leave you stranded on the side of the road.
What Happens to a Hybrid Vehicle When the Battery Dies?
Most hybrid vehicles use the internal combustion engine to recharge the high voltage battery. When that high voltage battery completely dies, there is no recharging it. Unfortunately, your gasoline engine typically can’t just switch over and power the car with more traditional methods. A hybrid car running with no battery will normally be weak and slow. Power in the cabin will also likely be quite limited. If your vehicle is entirely off, you might find that you can not even start it. This is because often, the electric battery is necessary even to start the gasoline engine.
Can You Drive a Hybrid Without the Battery?
The majority of these cars were never designed to run as “gas only.” The gas-powered part of your vehicle works with the electric motor and doesn’t ever completely replace it. The Toyota Prius is a prime example of a hybrid that runs with this “parallel” system. Technically with these kinds of designs, you can drive the car short distances, but it will not be easy to drive, and you will likely be limited to speeds of under 20mph. This can be helpful in emergencies but really shouldn’t be used unless you need to move the car off the side of the highway to a safer location.
Can You Jump Start a Hybrid Car?
Most hybrid cars CAN be jump-started, but that doesn’t mean that they all can be. Whether or not you can jump-start your hybrid depends on what kind of starter battery the car has. Most hybrids use traditional 12-volt batteries as starter batteries. All of these hybrids can be jumped the same way a conventional gas-powered vehicle is jump-started. However, if you have a newer hybrid (2017 or later), you might have a lithium-ion battery. These batteries can NOT be traditionally jumped. The good news is that they can typically jump-start themselves so long as the primary hybrid battery still works. Cars with these batteries have a reset switch that draws power from the high voltage battery and uses that to power the starter battery.
How Much Does a Hybrid Battery Cost?
Have you realized your hybrid battery is at the end of its life? Unfortunately, every battery will eventually be beyond recharging. Your hybrid’s high voltage battery is no different. If this is the case, you might be looking for a replacement.
When the time comes to replace your hybrid battery, you should start by checking your vehicle’s warranty. While different manufacturers have different warranty periods, your battery will typically be covered for 8-10 years. That warranty can be a lifesaver if you find yourself needing to replace the battery.
If a warranty no longer protects your vehicle or battery, you will, unfortunately, have to pay for the repair yourself. Replacing your hybrid battery can cost anywhere from $1,000-$6,000. Low-end, remanufactured batteries typically start at around $1,000, while an OEM battery can easily hit the top end of this price range. Also, be aware that this estimate may not include what you need to pay a mechanic for their labor. As you can see, replacing a hybrid battery can quickly become an expensive repair.
Can I Replace a Hybrid Battery Myself?
Like any car owner facing a potentially pricy repair bill, you might be wondering if you can simply replace the hybrid battery yourself. Most of us have changed out more traditional car batteries at some point. So is changing out the hybrid battery that much different?
The good news is that you CAN technically replace the battery on your own. A quick search of Youtube will supply you with no shortage of helpful how-to videos. However, unless you have some experience with high voltage electricity, you might want to think twice about that DIY job. Unfortunately, this repair is nowhere near as simple as switching out the dead battery in your old gasoline-powered vehicles. The apparent risk of electrocution aside, a mistake can easily cause significant damage to your car, which would cost you a whole lot more than paying a mechanic with hybrid vehicle experience. Still, with the right equipment, it is possible to do the job yourself. If you are handy in the garage and think you are up for the task, changing the battery yourself might be an excellent way to save yourself a considerable amount of money.
Finally
Hybrid vehicles have quickly become popular, and hybrids are now outselling their gas and diesel counterparts for the first time. While a hybrid car can save you money, the cost of replacing the battery can cost thousands of dollars and typically requires an expert to determine if your hybrid can be saved.The good news? Currently, these batteries can last for nearly a decade (sometimes more). The automobile industry is just getting started on this technology. There is very little doubt that this technology will only improve as the years pass. Maybe one day, we will all be able to drive electric vehicles with batteries that last longer than we do. Until that day, a little TLC can help you prevent costly repairs and extend the life of your hybrid’s battery.