You love the outdoors and wild nature! Animals, plants, and the environment are all causes you rally behind. That’s why you bought a hybrid car!
You’re not alone either because many Americans have jumped on the hybrid bandwagon. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, auto dealers sold about 384,404 hybrid cars in 2015 alone!
But what about the batteries? How long do hybrid batteries last?
We put together a quick guide about these unique car batteries to help you out. Keep reading to learn everything the average hybrid car owner needs to know about their vehicle’s battery and maintenance.
What Is a Hybrid Car?
Hybrid cars have both a gas-powered motor and at least 1 electric motor. You don’t plug these models into an outlet like full electric vehicles. They regenerate the electric energy when you brake by converting your kinetic energy into electric energy.
By using a combination of energy sources, hybrid cars use much less gasoline and put out much less pollution into the environment. You can also drive long distances and during cloudy weather, unlike solar-powered and electric cars.
How Long Do Hybrid Batteries Last?
Like most car batteries, quality matters. The better quality batteries last much longer than cheaper options, for the most part.
Hybrid batteries aren’t any different, but even the cheap ones last a long time. On average, a hybrid battery lasts between 100,000 and 150,000 miles!
It’s safe to say that, if you buy your car brand new, you’ll never need to replace the battery. For those who buy their hybrids used, make sure you check out the vehicle report to see if the previous owner ever replaced the battery.
Signs your Hybrid battery is dying
If you think your hybrid battery is dying, there are a few things to look out for. If you see any of these symptoms, you should head to your local hybrid repair shop.
Dropping Gas Mileage
When your battery starts to malfunction, it won’t be able to recharge and power your car’s electric motor as well as it should. That means your gas motor will take over more of the time. When you use the gas engine more, you use more gas and you’ll notice the gas mileage take a noticeable dip.
Strange Engine Noises
If you hear strange whirring noises coming from your engine, that could mean your battery is overheating. When that happens, it switches on the fan as an emergency cooling method.
When your battery overheats, it causes permanent damage to the battery and its ability to hold a full charge. So, be sure to get this checked as soon as you start to hear the fan kick on.
Glitchy Gauge
Have you noticed that your battery says it has full charge one second and then empty the next? No, you’re not going crazy. Erratic battery charge status changes could mean your battery needs some attention.
Often times, this happens because your battery is getting overcharged or that it can no longer hold a charge at all.
The Gas-Powered Motor Turns on More Than Usual
If you noticed that your combustion engine comes on at unexpected random times or if you notice that it comes on more than usual in general, that’s a good sign that your battery is struggling.
Your combustion engine switches on to compensate when the battery is too low to power the electric motor. If you notice the gas-powered engine kick on when it shouldn’t, you should swing by and get a battery check.
The Battery Won’t Hold a Charge
One of the most obvious signs that your battery has a problem is when it won’t hold a charge. If you’ve been driving for an hour in city traffic and your battery is still empty, your battery might not hold a charge anymore.
The good news is that some hybrid models can still work when your battery isn’t, but the gas mileage will suffer. Other kinds of hybrids won’t turn on if your battery holds no charge at all. So, try not to procrastinate when you notice possible battery issues.
What Can You Do If Your Hybrid Battery Is Not Working?
When the battery gives out, you might not need to replace the battery. Some hybrid repair services offer hybrid battery repair on some kinds of hybrid batteries. Ask around to see if your battery is repairable.
If you can’t repair your hybrid battery, you may need to invest in a new one. We say “invest” because these kinds of batteries don’t come cheap! Hybrid batteries can cost between $3,000 and $8,000!
you might find a refurbished or used hybrid battery at a discounted price, but even those run about $2,500. Not only that, but you have no idea how much life they have left and they’re often sold without a warranty.
Get the Best of Both Worlds with a Hybrid Car
Your love of the environment and all the creatures who live on earth shouldn’t get dissuaded by a dead battery. Keep these tips in mind and your hybrid car won’t leave you stranded!
Since hybrid cars use both gasoline and electricity, you get both the earth-conscious emissions as well as the ability to drive long distances regardless of the weather. These hybrid cars are the best of both worlds!
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that we answered the most important question, “how long do hybrid batteries last?”. If you’re looking for more car articles, check out the rest of our blog today!