How Do I Charge A Dead Prius Hybrid Battery
I tried to start my Prius this morning and the battery is dead. Iâve never charged a hybrid before, so Iâm not sure what to do next. How can I charge a Prius Hybrid battery if itâs not working?
drive the vehicle for about 20 minutesneed to replace the battery$2,500 to $4,500save an average of $887
Brake And Accelerate Slowly
Flooring your car into movement from a standstill wears out the battery more than accelerating at a more reasonable pace will. This does not mean you have to move forward sluggishly all you need to do is gently tap the accelerator in order to speed up at a steady pace. The same applies with braking. It is far better on a hybrid battery to coast to a stop than it is to slam on the brakes, because rolling to a stop provides the kinetic energy needed for the battery to gain a little charging boost.
How Does A Hybrid Car Battery Work
A hybrid car actually has two batteries a normal car battery which operates the starter to start the combustion engine, and a traction battery which supplies electricity to the motors that drive the wheels. The combustion engine drives a generator which recharges the traction battery, which is also topped up using regenerative braking . This is why these cars are sometimes called self-charging hybrids.
Plug-in hybrid cars have larger batteries than normal hybrids and provide the option of charging at a charging station. They can run on electricity longer than standard hybrid cars, often with a range of 20 to 40 miles.
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Anyone Have A Charger For Their Hv Battery Pack Yet
PostsRe: Anyone have a charger for their HV battery pack yet?jamnpb If so couldnt you make a full wave rectifier for a 240 volt AC plug that puts out a low current for charging? I know its a 255 volt battery pack, but 240 volt seems close to the 90% charge where its supposed to charge up to. I wouldnt even need anything fancy, a timer could turn it on and off so there isnt anything too sophisticated.thinkPostsRe: Anyone have a charger for their HV battery pack yet?PostsRe: Anyone have a charger for their HV battery pack yet?PostsRe: Anyone have a charger for their HV battery pack yet?Re: Anyone have a charger for their HV battery pack yet?jamnpbSo far Ive gone about 13,500 miles in just under nine months, so the end is coming fast.
Keep Your Car Running With Batteries For The Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is an electric hybrid manufactured by Toyota since 1997. Electric hybrids run off battery power, so if you want to keep your vehicle running, youll have to make sure that the batteries are in good shape. You can find hybrid batteries for the Prius on eBay.
What is a hybrid vehicle?
A hybrid vehicle uses more than one type of power. The Prius, for example, uses a hybrid battery and gas to increase miles per gallon and make the car more fuel-efficient. The science behind these vehicles operates on the theory that different motors work more efficiently at different speeds. Electric motors are good at producing torque, or turning power, while combustion engines are known for their ability to maintain high speeds. Transferring from one type of power to the other at specific times leads to a more efficient use of fuel.
How does the Prius recharge?
The Prius recharges during normal driving, eliminating the need to plug it in. A charge-sustaining model, the car keeps the power-pack topped using power recovered during braking and coasting or power from the gasoline engine. The vehicles low carbon emissions make it environmentally friendly. This is done by a charging system that lets the battery tap into the gasoline engine while using kinetic energy from the brake system to create electrical power. This is known as regenerative braking.
How long does a Prius power-pack last?
What is a plug-in?
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What Happens If You Dont Charge Your Hybrid Battery
If you dont charge your hybrid battery, you could be looking at some serious consequences. For one, your car will have a much harder time starting up and running. Additionally, you could end up damaging the battery, which can be expensive to replace. Not to mention, you could also void your warranty if you dont charge the battery as recommended by the manufacturer.
What Causes Hybrid Batteries To Degrade And Fail
Eventually all batteries will fail. Hybrid Electric Vehicle NiMh batteries have a life cycle. When the hybrid battery does not last as long as the rest of the vehicle, replacing it costs several thousand dollars and creates hazardous environmental waste. Delaying battery failure beyond the service life of the vehicle will reduce the negative environmental impact of hybrid vehicle ownership and save the vehicle owner thousands of dollars.
This graph depicts the typical life cycle of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle hybrid battery:
There are three major phases of hybrid battery lifespan. Usable capacity and performance decreasing as the battery ages:
Typically begins: | |
Failed hybrid battery | 5-11 years |
Each hybrid battery pack is comprised of many individual battery cells. Consumer hybrid electric vehicles have anywhere from 120 to 240 individual battery cells. Each cell is about the size of a typical D cell battery. At the beginning of the hybrid batteryâs life, each cell easily provides all of the energy needed to propel the vehicle and to stay in sync with other cells in the battery pack. As time progresses, the battery will start to degrade and the cells will fall out of sync with each other. Results of this degradation include:
usable cell capacity is reduced
cells drift out of balance with each other .
How do I know if my hybrid battery is failing?
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Keep An 80/20 Battery Charge
Hybrid batteries can be a bit complicated, as the writers from Oards Automotive Hub explain, in that keeping them charged 100 percent can lead to quicker drainage and going lower than 20 percent can ruin the battery so that it will not hold a charge. Ideally, you want the battery at no more than 80 percent and no less than 20, as this will ensure the battery is operating optimally.
How Do Hybrids Work
Hybrids combine a battery pack, an electric motor, and a gas engine. The gas engine or the electric motor alone can drive the wheels, or they can work in unison. The electric motor gets energy from the hybrid battery, and can power the car at low speeds allowing the gas engine to shut off. The gas engine kicks in for higher speeds, climbing hills, or when recharging the battery. Hybrid vehicles also feature regenerative braking, which uses the cars momentum as it slows down or coasts to create extra electricity.
Hybrids are so fuel-efficient because they utilize energy that would otherwise be wasted, says Jake Fisher, senior director of CRs Auto Test Center. When you press the brake pedal, much of the energy that would have been converted to heat through the brake pads instead generates electricity for the electric motor.
One of the benefits of a hybrid over a pure electric vehicle is that a hybrid can be driven long distances, filling up at gas stations along the way. Pure EVs must be charged once the range is depleted.
Todays plug-in hybrid vehicles work in much the same way, except they add the option to recharge the hybrid battery by plugging it in at a wall outlet or charging station. This can allow PHEV owners to drive only on electric power for a short distance.
Find out why hybrid vehicles are a smart choice right now.
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Where Can I Charge A Plug
You can charge a plug-in hybrid car at home if you have off-street parking, by connecting to your domestic power supply much like you would with a mobile phone. Or you can have a charging station installed, which enables faster charging. Some local authorities are now installing on-street charging for people who do not have off-street parking.
You may find that youre able to top up a plug-in hybrid car at your destination. An increasing number of companies are installing charging facilities for employees, and there are more and more charging points in public car parks.
There are charging points across the UK at locations ranging from supermarkets and services to National Trust attractions. You can find these by using a map of charging points for plug-in hybrid and electric cars. There you will find charging stations of various speeds which serve different types of connectors.
Where you decide to charge is down to whats convenient for you in terms of the time you have and what youre willing to spend.
How Long Do Hybrid Batteries Last And Are They Covered By A Warranty
Hybrids rely on a battery to power the electric motor. Although they can be expensive to replacearound $7,400, according to RepairPalCRs reliability surveys show such replacements are rare. Many hybrid batteries last longer than 200,000 miles.
If the battery does fail, the automaker might pay for a replacement. In most states, automakers are required to warranty the batteries on any hybrid for eight years and 80,000 miles. In about 10 states, theyre required to warranty them for 10 years or 150,000 miles. This is because hybrid batteries are part of an emissions control system, and emissions-related parts often have different warranties than the rest of the vehicle.
Lets be clear: When were talking about a hybrid battery, were not talking about starter batteries that can be purchased off-the-shelf at most auto parts stores. Most people just call these car batteries, they usually cost less than $250, and they last between three and five years. Many hybrids have a starter battery, in addition to the long-lasting hybrid battery that drives the electric motor.
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How To Charge Hybrid Battery Manually
Because this is a hybrid, models differ slightly from regular vehicles. The rear of the vehicle is where the hybrids batteries are positioned.
Step 1: Find the relays and junction box mainly on the side of the engines vehicle to ensure a correct boost. Uncover the fuses under the engine, where the hybrid batteries will be.
Step 2: Open the lid and find any positive red connection in the switch box. The metallic connector is directly within here, so unscrew the cover plate.
Step 3: The next step is to attach the red hoop wire to the devices positive connector. Connect the identical wire to a second automobile and attach it to the positive electrode .
Step 4: Attach one end of the black wires to a plated metal component on a lifeless automobile and the other to the negative wire upon that functional battery.
Step 5: You may now start your hybrid after correctly attaching your rechargeable battery to the correct hybrid connections. The second cars engine should be started and run for a while.
How Do I Manually Charge My Hybrid Battery

When you first get your hybrid car, you may be wondering how to charge the battery. Luckily, its a pretty simple process. All you need is the plug that came with your car and an outlet.
To charge your hybrid battery, simply connect the plug to the battery and then plug the other end into the outlet. Your hybrid battery will start charging up. Depending on how depleted it was, it could take a few hours to charge it fully. But once its charged, youll be good to go!
So there you have it charging your hybrid battery is a breeze! Just follow these simple instructions and youll have a fully charged battery in no time.
Also, Your hybrid vehicle has a battery that needs to be charged up using a plug. The plug has two ends, one that goes into the outlet and the other that goes into the battery. Once the plug is connected to both the outlet and the battery, the battery will start charging up.
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Charging Cable Handle And Charging Input Socket
Charging cable handle and charging input socket.
Charging status is indicated in three ways:
- Indicators on the charging cable’s control unit
- Indicator lamp in the car’s charging input socket
- Image and text in the driver display
The car’s starter battery is charged when the hybrid battery is charging and charging is ended when the hybrid battery is fully charged. The starter batter is also charged while driving.
If the hybrid battery’s temperature is below -10 ºC or above 40 ºC then it may mean that some of the car’s functions are changed or unavailable because the capacity of the hybrid batteries is reduced outside this temperature range.
Electric operation is not possible if the temperature of the battery is too low or too high. If drive mode PURE is selected, the combustion engine starts.
How Do Hybrid Cars Charge
In a standard hybrid car, the internal combustion engine drives a generator which recharges the battery as you drive. The battery is also charged using regenerative braking, which captures waste energy as the car slows down. These cars are sometimes called self-charging hybrids.
A plug-in hybrid can do all that too, but it can also be plugged into a mains electricity charging point to charge while its parked. The simplest, but slowest, way to charge is to connect the car to a standard 3-pin socket using a special cable called an EVSE. However, some people with off-street parking decide to have a home charging point installed. This is usually wall-mounted on an exterior wall or garage where your vehicle is parked, and speeds up charging.
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How Long Do Toyota Hybrid Batteries Last
Toyota has been at the forefront of the hybrid car market for decades. The worlds first mass-produced hybrid, the Toyota Prius, was introduced to the U.S. 20 years ago. But many people are still reluctant to invest in a hybrid because of concerns over how long the battery pack lasts and the cost of replacing it.
This is also relevant to used car buyers, as many older hybrid vehicles can now be found for sale. In this article, well look at how long a Toyota hybrid battery pack can be expected to last and what can be done to prolong its life.
Are Hybrid Cars Eligible For Government Grants
Several UK government grants make hybrid and electric cars more affordable. In particular, theres the UK plug-in car grant which offers up to £3,000 towards the cost of the car. Theres also the OLEV grant which offers £350 off the cost of purchasing and installing a home charging point for the plug-in hybrid car. Add this to the savings you can make on fuel over time, and the hybrid car can prove to be very cost-effective.
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Starting Each Step Of The Process
Once all wires are hooked up to the right place, youll need to spark the battery by pressing the accelerator for a second or two. Turn the engine on and drive the vehicle for an average of 20 minutes. Avoid turning off the car. The battery can also be charged overnight. Use caution and work slowly to avoid mistakes because its always dangerous when handling electricity. Double-check your work to ensure you perform each step correctly and protect your safety.
Be sure to check that there isnt anything else running on your car that can cause the battery to die. This includes the headlights or lights in your vehicle. The battery should last as long as your car runs before it needs to be replaced. You can visit a Toyota dealership if youre encountering issues that you cant diagnose or repair on your own. We can perform a thorough inspection and restore the vehicles operation to ensure you can get back on the road and have a reliable mode of transportation.
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A Primer On Hybrid Battery Care
When the first gasoline-electric hybrids vehicles began arriving in 1999 and 2000, early adopters did their research and were quite knowledgeable about the then-new and revolutionary transportation mode.
But the mass market was confused these new cars had an additional battery to provide electricity to an electric motor. For the uninformed, the question was: Does the battery need to be plugged in to be charged?
When hybrids appeared most used nickel-metal-hydride batteries
This question was such a big roadblock for increasing sales that Toyota began an advertising campaign for the Prius that clearly emphasized that plugging in was not necessary. Just occasionally fill up the gas tank and drive away.
Fast-forward about 10 years and a new type of hybrid came on the scenethe plug-in hybrid, and it does require plugging in to charge the onboard battery to maximize efficiency .
So, whats the difference between the two different types of hybrid vehicles? Heres a brief overview.
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