How Long Do Hybrid Car Batteries Last?

Eco-friendly vehicles like the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid are gaining popularity. It seems like every manufacturer is making a hybrid car.

Even though vehicles like the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, and Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid have been around for years, they’ve really picked up steam in recent years.

Hybrids are so popular because they combine the power of a gas engine with the efficiency of an electric motor. Popular models, like the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, are showing up on used car lots across the country as drivers upgrade to more modern versions of their favorite hybrids.

If you’re looking at grabbing a used hybrid, you might catch yourself wondering if you’ll have to replace the electric battery. Rumor is that they’re pretty expensive, so you don’t want to get stuck with a bad battery because you found a great deal.

Here’s what you need to know about the life of a hybrid battery:

Do Hybrid Batteries Fail?

Hybrid car batteries are similar to any other batter you come across in daily life. They are made up of individual battery cells. These cells do have an expiration date and will eventually lose power. The challenge is that it’s not necessarily a definitive shelf life for every battery.

The good news is that most manufacturers offer a hybrid battery warranty that lasts eight to ten years or up to 100,000 miles. Many batteries outlive the warranty by a long shot, but you can buy a used hybrid with confidence that it’s covered if it has fewer than 100,000 miles.

Out of Warranty. Not Out of Luck.

In the case that you own or purchase a hybrid that is out of warranty, you may have to pay for a new one when it finally sees its last couple of miles. A new battery with installation could cost near $6,000, depending on your exact vehicle and where you go. Of course, independent shops may be able to install the new battery at a better price.

If you’re handy and looking to save some cash, you can probably pick up a refurbished batter for close to $1,000 and install it yourself. Consult YouTube or automotive forums online to learn how to replace the battery on your own.

Built To Last

For most modern cars, 100,000 miles doesn’t seem like that much. Many hybrid vehicle owners keep their cars much longer and exceed their initial warranty several times over without replacing their batteries.  Hybrid batteries last longer than a cell phone and laptop batteries because of something called under-taxing. The idea here is that a hybrid car battery is usually only charged to about 80% of capacity and never goes below 20%. By not constantly overcharging or depleting the battery, hybrids are able to last longer.

Whether you’re looking for a great deal on a used Hyundai IoniqHybrid or want to keep your existing Prius running its best, you can trust your battery to last a good eight to ten years at a minimum. After that, there are plenty of options to change it and keep your car running even longer. With proper maintenance and care, your original batter may just outlive the rest of the car.