Prius Battery Pack Will Last 10 Years

By: Bill Waters
Published: Oct 14, 2009
Updated: Mar 14, 2010

Warranty Information For Toyota Prius Battery Pack

A Prius battery pack could last as much as 400,000 miles with minimal maintenance issues, according to an independent study conducted by Toyota Motor Company. The study also found that many of the first-generation Toyota Prius hybrids are still running with more than 200,000 miles with their original battery packs. This study quite interesting and it does squash any rumors that the Toyota hybrid will need its batteries replaced every five years, as most critics speculate.

The study also found a few cars in Victoria, B.C., that are still used as a taxi service. These vehicles have between 300,000 to 400,000 miles on them and are still using the same batteries installed since 2001. These findings are remarkable.

Toyota Prius debuted as a hybrid car in 2001. If each vehicle achieves about 15,000 miles per year for up to seven years, that would suggest that these first-generation automobiles could have more than 100,000 miles on them. Perhaps some of them have fewer than 100,000 miles. However, most are still running fine and operating on the original batteries that were installed.

This doesn't mean that all batteries in the Toyota Prius, for all model years, will last up to 400,000 miles or more. These batteries do wear out in time, and they do work hard to carry the load. They are recharged and recharged over the years which only add to the wear and tear.

The 2010 Toyota Prius model is still using the same technology, but with a few tweaks that were added to help with sustainability. In other words, these batteries are getting better and are built with solid designs that worked in previous models. For example, the gasoline engine for the hybrid will recharge the battery more frequently. Engineers found that if the battery was completely drained, it would decrease its lifetime of use.

So when do you change the battery packs? These batteries do wear out in time. Unfortunately, there's not a set mileage on when you should replace them.

Battery packs can last for years. The price for these batteries is anywhere between $2,000 to $3,500. Additional costs might include labor charges, depending on the dealer. However, keep in mind that the cost for these battery packs is decreasing each year due to higher demand.

Toyota provides a full warranty on their hybrid batteries for up to 10 years or 150,000 miles. This should give you plenty of incentives to feel comfortable driving a Prius hybrid. There are several rumors on the web that suggest that these battery packs need to be replaced every five years, or that they cost upwards of $15,000. Well, even if that were true, the Toyota warranty would cover it.