I have been paying attention. The poster didn't quote any text in the thread that gave us a clue. He didn't make a point.
And this had nothing to do with a Prius.
The bottom line is that if a poster wants to make a contribution, it really helps to say something relevant to the thread. The poster didn't.
Jeff
The lead-acid (Pb-A) 12v accessory batteries in hybrids tend to be smaller than those found in every traditional gasoline vehicle. Recycling programs are in place for traditional lead-acid batteries.
All the hybrids on the market use NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) batteries, which contain no heavy metals (so they're not hazardous waste, like the Pb-A batteries), and are easily recycled.
There has been some press lately about the future of lithium ion batteries in hybrids, specifically the Prius. Toyota has decided to delay the introduction of them due to safety concerns (similar design as those overheating laptop batteries).
The Prius' hybrid battery is made by Panasonic EV Energy:
How long does the Prius battery last and what is the replacement cost?
The Prius battery (and the battery-power management system) has been designed to maximize battery life. In part this is done by keeping the battery at an optimum charge level - never fully draining it and never fully recharging it. As a result, the Prius battery leads a pretty easy life. We have lab data showing the equivalent of 180,000 miles with no deterioration and expect it to last the life of the vehicle. We also expect battery technology to continue to improve: the second- generation model battery is 15% smaller, 25% lighter, and has 35% more specific power than the first. This is true of price as well. Between the 2003 and 2004 models, service battery costs came down 36% and we expect them to continue to drop so that by the time replacements may be needed it won't be a much of an issue. Since the car went on sale in 2000, Toyota has not replaced a single battery for wear and tear.
Is there a recycling plan in place for nickel-metal hydride batteries? Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric Vehicle was introduced in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case and the wiring, is recycled. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers are paid a $200 "bounty" for each battery.
The hybrid battery packs in the Prius have labels on them for whom to contact to recycle them. See the HV Battery Pack Recycling section in the Prius Emergency Response Guides. page 11 (of the printed version):
oh, forgot to mention: In the US, the hybrid traction battery is covered federally for 8 years/100,000 miles. If you have an AT-PZEV Prius (2004-current) in a CA emissions state, it is further covered out to 10 years/150,000 miles. That's a full warranty, NOT pro-rated.
Considering what's in the rest of the thread: I think he was making the analogy that anything weird & unexpected *can* happen (like a Prius battery going bad early on), but that any one of those things isn't *likely* to happen.
Cathy
Hijacking a subject is a standard ploy of OT posters.
LOL!
I was just reading that, thanks. Is the engine a rotary engine then, like the Mazdas had? That's what it looks like.
But people here are reporting that the batteries last a lot of years?
Anyone can post anything they want on these sites. It could have been posted by the competition.
Wow, impressive.
What would one cost to replace when out of warranty?
just replacing an individual cell, or the whole battery pack? does that include the casing and mounting brackets and battery ECU and wiring harness? labor charges? New dealer pricing, or a used pack? Battery for the NHW10, NHW11, or the NHW20 Prius, as they're not interchangeable?
Used packs from wrecked Prius can be found on eBay every so often, and can be had for less than US$1000, usually closer to US$500. (Often purchased by hybrid hobbists for study or for use in an EV installation.) New, depending on the dealership and if a NHW11 or NHW20 battery it is around US$3000, and depending on labor rates that can grow to US$5000-US$6000. But since the replacements are very rare, often one can get Toyota corporate to split the costs with you out of warranty if you remain civil.
Where did you get that from? The Prius uses an Atkinson cycle internal combustion engine, which is similar in block to the Otto cycle ICE used in the Echo/Yaris.
More information can be found on this site for the NHW11 Prius (though most items carry over to the current NHW20 Prius):
Hi Jeff, Did anyone ever tell you that you're an asshole? Well, you are.
No, the engine is a standard reciprocating engine.
What you're seeing is the ingenious Power Split Device--the mechanism by which the entire power cycle of the system is managed and distributed.
I have to say, that even though I'm not an engineer or mechanic or anything, this is the first car that I've felt excited about in many years.
Wish I could afford the $500 a month for one.
If I can find a way, I'd love to have a 2008 model.
Did you see this color for 2008?:
Or the first recorded retail sale of a Mercury Milan that was to a Toyota owner when the tranny, in his 38 month old Camry, blew at 30K miles. ;)
mike
In other word you don't care if you car has problems, as long as you do not bear the cost of the repair? ;)
mike
2008?:
Available exterior colors in Japan:
Ohhhh... I was hoping to see that pretty (IMO) icy aqua color back again. Nope.
OTOH, I see the "jp" in the above link. Possibly that color's available only in Japan...
Cathy
No, it's a regular four-cylinder engine.
Jeff
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