Know the Battery
Understanding the hybrid battery before buying a car is crucial, especially when it comes to future replacement costs.
NiMH Vs Li-ion:
Reliability & Longevity
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NiMH: Proven, reliable technology used in Toyota hybrids for years. Performs well in various temperatures and has a slower degradation rate. Estimated lifespan of 10-15 years.
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Li-ion: Newer technology with better performance and electric range but can be sensitive to extreme temperatures. Expected lifespan can exceed 10 years, though long-term reliability is still being tested.
Availability Replacement Cost
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NiMH(equipped on majority of TOYOTA and LEXUS models): Cheaper to replace, with more rebuild and aftermarket options available, lowering future costs.
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Li-ion(equipped on Plug-in and some newer models): More expensive to replace, fewer rebuild or aftermarket options, which could lead to much higher costs and limited availability in the future.
NiMH Types:
Among NiMH batteries, there are 3 common module configurations: 6-cell, 8-cell, and 12-cell.
The 6-cell modules by far are the most common, found in popular models like the Prius, Aqua, Camry, and RAV4. Their abundance ensures a large supply of available modules for future battery rebuilding, which helps drive down costs and provides a larger testing data pool for battery rebuilders. This extensive data allows rebuilders to match modules with more similar performance characteristics, resulting in higher-quality battery packs. Additionally, 6-cell battery packs are generally less labor-intensive to assemble, making them the optimal choice for minimizing the cost of a high-quality rebuilt battery.
On the other hand, 8-cell and 12-cell modules are much less common, significantly more expensive, and challenging to rebuild due to the lack of a large data pool. Moreover, their more complex battery pack constructions make the rebuilding process more time consuming and costly.
Check out our Model list.