hybrid cars. Battery regeneration and replacement

Hybrid vehicles have become an integral part of Polish roads. Based on data compiled by manufacturers and backed up by user feedback, batteries have proven to be a permanent part of the drive. However, nothing lasts forever and every owner of a hybrid car sooner or later has to deal with the replacement or regeneration of a used battery.

Is it worth replacing it? Can it be restored, and if so, what is the cost? Are there cars where a battery failure would be particularly costly? When buying a used hybrid car, can we minimize the risk of buying a car with damaged batteries? Dear reader, I invite you to read the article.

hybrid cars. Is battery replacement worth it?

Let's start with the question, is it worth replacing used hybrid batteries? Looking at the prices available on the Internet for used boxes around PLN 2, it might seem that this is an alternative worth considering. The problem is that battery life is greatly affected by their current idle time. It is more exhausting than intensive exploitation. The longer a battery is left unused after disassembly, the more likely it is to lose its factory capacity. After a long "aging" it can irretrievably lose up to half of its capacity. In addition, most sellers who rebuild batteries from wrecked cars have no idea what condition the item is in. They only give the vehicle's mileage, which may not fully reflect the state of the cells that store electricity. Vendors often give a start-up warranty, but given the high installation cost (PLN 000 on average) and the risk that the battery could fail just a month after replacement, we can treat this more as a marketing procedure than real protection. . for the buyer. So maybe you can get to a new battery? Here the profitability barrier will be overcome by a purchase price in the range of PLN 500 8–000 15.

hybrid cars. Cell regeneration

Fortunately, hybrid car owners already have a reasonable alternative in the form of recycling used batteries in specialized factories. As I learned from JD Serwis in Warsaw, the complexity of the regeneration process can vary depending on the make and model of the car. Almost any battery can be repaired, but in some cases the price of the service will be very high. Luxury car batteries are expensive to renew and, interestingly, relatively unstable.

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JD Serwis specialists show by their own experience the high cost of repairing the cells of a hybrid BMW 7 F01, Mercedes S400 W221 or E300 W212. In the case of these models, we must be prepared for an average cost of PLN 10. Lexus LS000h batteries are durable but difficult to repair, while Toyota Highlander and Lexus RX 600h batteries show an average level of repair difficulty. The cells installed in the Honda Civic IMA are not durable and quite expensive to maintain. The most popular Toyota and Lexus models regenerate most favorably. Interestingly, the batteries of these models are highly durable.

In the case of Prius (1st and 000th generation) and Auris (150th and 28th generation), the JD Serwis price list indicates the cost of work in the amount of PLN 2. Each replaced link costs PLN 500, and in the indicated models there are 3 of them. The cost of repair depends on the number of replaced elements. Sometimes it is enough to replace one with four cells, sometimes half, and sometimes all at once, in order to restore the full functionality of the entire package. The average price of regeneration ranges from 000 to 1 PLN. We give a one-year warranty for repairs with no mileage limit. The second and most popular hybrid on the Polish market is the Honda Civic IMA. In this case, the cost of work is also PLN 000, and for each cell replaced we will pay PLN 400, where the Civic IMA battery includes 7 - 11 pieces, depending on the model generation.

hybrid cars. Buying a used car

We already know that buying a used battery comes with the risk of buying a worn out unit, what if you are buying a used hybrid car?

The risks are similar. Unscrupulous sellers can mask cell damage by disconnecting the auxiliary battery (12V). Restarting the system leads to the disappearance of the error “check hybrid system” for 200 - 300 km. How to protect yourself from it? Connecting a diagnostic computer to the system and a test drive by a qualified mechanic will assist in assessing the condition of the battery. The cost of such an operation is about 100 PLN. Not much, given the cost of a possible repair, amounting to several thousand zlotys.

hybrid cars. Summary

To sum up, the Check Hybrid System indicator some time ago was a financial verdict for the owner of a hybrid car. Prices for new batteries in car services still scare us away, but in Poland there are already several companies that will professionally repair a damaged battery, as well as the entire hybrid system. They will do it qualitatively, quickly, on proven cells and at the same time provide a guarantee without a mileage limit. So don't be interested in used aftermarket batteries unless they are professionally refurbished devices.

If you are buying a hybrid vehicle from the aftermarket, you will need to visit a specialized service to check the condition of the system in question. As always, at the end I will mention prevention. Hybrid vehicles are considered maintenance free, and in many ways this is true. However, there are two main maintenance steps to keep in mind that are often overlooked. First, replace or clean the air recirculation filter that cools the battery system. A clogged filter can lead to system overheating and partial battery failure. The second is to regularly check the tightness of the inverter cooling system. This is a very durable component, but when overheated, it breaks down and the price is high. These two simple actions and regular use of the car will make our battery pay us back with a long and trouble-free life.

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