Do you know how much it costs to replace the battery of a hybrid car?

Question

Also in a hybrid, if the battery goes dead, can you run the car with the engine only? What is voltage rating of the electric motor of a hybrid?

Answer 1

Very interesting questions.  I was in a Honda dealership in 2004 for a purchase of vehicle.   I live in a rural region.  The secretary on the floor  chatted with me as I awaited the people to clear out my car for the new Honda.  She remarked " I think we have the battery powered Honda (one of them) as "window dressing."   The sales people confirmed the idea was just of satisfy the public and not to sale them because they had nobody trained to deal with the mechanical issues you discuss.   Some people in our little town of 60 K people seem to feel pleased with their hybrid. But, maybe they have not asked the questions you pose today.   I cannot think of a case for hybrid in rural America.  Most people share that view "around here."  Hope you get some informed responses.  It is a good question and hybrid may be great in the urban setting.

Answer 2

New-from-the-factory hybrid cars currently sold in the U.S. typically carry an 8-year / 100,000-mile warranty on the hybrid battery.

During that period, if the battery fails (which very rarely happens), the cost to replace the battery is FREE.   Covered by the warranty.

Just make sure you don't void the warranty by doing things  like crash the car, tamper with the system or abuse it by doing things like deep-discharging it.

If after 8 years your warranty expires and the battery starts to fail, YOU DO NOT BUY A NEW BATTERY.  That would be the MOST STUPID thing you can do--  Why put a brand-new $2500 traction battery into an 8-year-old car?  It's just as foolish as buying a brand-new engine to put into an 8-year-old clunker.

Buy a refurbished battery for around $600 or so, drive the car for a few more years, then get a new car.

Hope this helps.