Hybrid Cars battery life?

Question

I have heard that the batteries in hybrid vehicles like the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius have a finite life. Can anyone estimate the life of the batteries and the cost to replace them when the time arises (ball park numbers are fine)?

I have also heard that the disposal of the spent batteries is a looming nightmare. Are these vehicles really as green as we think they are?

Answer 1

Toyota claim they've never had to replace a Prius battery pack and they've had them on the market for about a decade or so (and been used as taxies) so they seem to last a while (hybrids can treat the batteries much kinder than full electric cars).

"Are these vehicles really as green as we think they are?"

You can get them in other colours if you don't like green.

Answer 2

It's hard to estimate the battery life, because none of them have died yet!  The Prius battery is designed to last the lifetime of the car, and Priuses used as taxis have gone over 250,000 miles on the original battery.

http://www.hybridexperience.ca/Toyota_Pr...

Battery disposal is no problem.  They're fully recyclable.

"Q: Are hybrid batteries recyclable?

GS: Absolutely. In fact, Toyota pays a bounty to dealers who recover them from damaged vehicles. Additionally, our engineers are studying the possibility of remanufacturing these batteries."

http://www.toyota.com/html/hybridsynergy...

The Prius was also named the greenest car on the planet by a recent Swiss study.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environme...

Answer 3

5 to 7 years,cost over $7,000.

Answer 4

I am a Prius owner (this is my second one).  The battery life is a bit of an unknown right now.  The cars and batteries are so new that the average life span has yet to be determined.  I've never had a battery problem with mine.  I do know that Toyota warrants the battery for 100,000 miles.  If it goes out before then, you get a new one.  Toyota takes care of the disposal when the time comes.  Replacement cost can be high, though.  

I like the car.  The gas mileage is fantastic.  Emissions are near zero.  Until something better comes along, I plan to stick with it.

Answer 5

Thats the draw back, the batteries last about 5 years and cost thousands to replace, they are not worth it.