2010 Toyota Prius Maintenance Cost Varies

By: Andy Hodges
Staff Writer
Published: May 22, 2009

2010 Toyota Prius Will Save Consumers Maintenance Costs

There's been some debate regarding the maintenance and repair costs for the 2010 Toyota Prius. Toyota Motor Sales issues an eight-year warranty on its 2010 Prius, which covers the hybrid components. The automaker also claims that not one of its hybrid cars ever required a battery replacement due to a malfunction or defect.

Some consumers think that these batteries will cost up to $15,000, giving the impression that Toyota Hybrid vehicles don't offer savings for repairs and maintenance. Replacement batteries can be purchased for $3,000. These hybrid batteries are nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) which is used in all Prius models.

Moreover, the Prius hybrid battery is expected to last the life of the automobile with very little to no degradation in power capability. With this being said, the hybrid vehicle is certainly cheaper to maintain than a conventional automobile. The Toyota Prius has no belts under the hood and requires fewer oil changes.

There is also the question of the drivetrain and the expense in repairing the hardware. Again, Toyota will cover any defects or malfunctions under its eight-year warranty. However, just like any vehicle, whether it be conventional or hybrid, there is the cost for repairs if you break it.

Despite all the information which Toyota has released for its 2010 Prius, most consumers still question the battery life, as most gadgets we use today that use NiMH batteries do need a replacement. For example, cell phones use NiMH batteries and since the battery's charge longevity seems to wane, resulting in usage between charges and eventually a replacement is needed.

These batteries, whether it be a hybrid or cell phone gadget, actually go through a full discharge before being charged again. For the power pack in the Prius, at least, Toyota says this would greatly shorten the life span of the battery. With that being said, the automaker redesigned how the battery pack will complete a full charge.

To get maximum life out of the Prius battery pack, the car's computer brain does not allow the battery to fully charge or discharge. Toyota says that for the best service life, the Prius battery likes to be kept at about a 60 percent charge. In normal operation, the system usually lets the charge level vary only 10-15 percentage points.

The battery is rarely more than 75 percent charged, or less than 45 percent charged. This helps extend the life of the unit and will save replacement costs.