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How do you know when your Hybrid Battery needs to be serviced or replaced? This is the scary part of owning a Hybrid Vehicle, waiting and hoping that it will last forever. Most people will wait until they see the dreaded; Triangle of Death, trouble code light comes on. Then it’s too late and you have to do something immediately. What if there were a better way to know the State of Health of your Hybrid Battery and budget and plan for your known maintenance. Without any trouble code, how do you know the State of Health of your Hybrid Battery, it is called a “Stress Test” and this is a very good test to find out the State of Health.

Stress Testing

For this test you will need to find a repair shop that has a scan tool that can gather the live data from you hybrid battery. Special diagnostic tools like the “TechStream” for Toyota or Aftermarket scan tool like Matco or Snap-on will provide the data needed to perform the Stress Test.

Basically what happens during the test is first is to find a safe vacant back street to perform the stress test, once you are ready to start the test, the technician will need clear the Diagnostic Trouble Codes so the car is not in low propulsion mode or limp mode. The data from your hybrid battery is collected and recorded first. Then turn on live data collection and then accelerate the car at full throttle, up to 30 mph and then shifted into neutral prior to braking, so as to not let the regenerative brakes add energy back into the battery, coming to a complete stop. This is repeated five times in a row, stressing the capacity of the battery. Now with the data gathered from the live test, you will now know the true State of Health of your Hybrid Battery. Now you will know when it is time for your Hybrid Battery Reconditioning.

Conclusion

There are not many repair shop that are not trained, including dealerships, nor have ever heard of a Stress Test, even though they probably have the scan too to complete the test. I spend 30% of my time educating people and repair shops on how to properly test the State of Health, so be educated about your Hybrid Vehicles Health and remember, after seven years all Hybrid Battery Solution. are out of balance and need to be rebalanced to perform properly and regain the expected high fuel mileage.

At this time you will need to email me at daniel@hybridbatterysolution.co.nz or call us to 021 148 1200 for a copy of the Stress Test worksheet and I will be happy to help you with any of your hybrid vehicle questions.

I hope this helps you to be more in tune with your Hybrid Vehicles and now know how to properly check your batteries STATE OF HEALTH!

Hybrid Vehicles are a great way to conserve our oil supply and have become very popular today. It is great when the Factory warranty is in place and active so when you’re Hybrid Battery fails there is no cost out of pocket. But what about post-warranty failures? What are the options and costs? We will dig into the ever-growing problem with older Hybrid Vehicles.

Introduction

First of all, let’s get to know the type of chemistry that makes up the majority of the Hybrid Batteries today. The most popular one is a Nickel Metal Hydride, which is a great power delivery battery, this means it will charge and discharge quickly. It is a low capacity battery but transfers energy fast. The other Hybrid Batteries are Lithium-Ion batteries, mostly used in Full Electric Vehicles, because of their very good energy density or larger capacity that is needed to give a good range. Kia and Toyota both have a Lithium-Ion Battery as do some of the hybrids. Most of these are still covered under factory warranty so today I am going to focus on the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery that is post-warranty.

Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries

The best part about the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery is that it can be refurbished and shouldn’t be discarded until a Professional like Hybrid Battery Solution can recycle your battery.

Because of shallow cycling (battery never fully charged or discharged) there becomes a dendrite (a crystal or crystalline mass with a branching tree-like structure) buildup on the plates of the cells in the battery. Because they take up area on the plates, capacity is a function of area, therefore capacity is lost. This is a normal occurrence that takes place over a seven-year period. After this amount of time all batteries to be balanced. When this occurs you will notice a decrease in fuel mileage and performance. This is a hard sell when your battery is still functioning, but the truth of the matter is, if this preventive maintenance is done you will save money in the long run and regain your vehicle’s mileage and performance. Remember your battery will now last another seven years before needing a rebalance.

5 Expert Tips to Extend Your Hybrid Battery Life

1. Practice Regular Maintenance

To make your hybrid battery last longer, take good care of it. Keep it clean by checking and cleaning the terminals often. Also, make sure the coolant level is right to prevent overheating. Park in shady spots to keep it cool. These simple steps help your battery stay strong.

2. Improve Your Driving Techniques

Drive smoothly to keep your hybrid battery happy. Avoid sudden stops and starts — they stress the battery. Use regenerative braking to charge it while driving. Also, plan your routes smartly to use the battery well and keep your hybrid running smoothly for longer.

3. Avoid Sudden Speeding and Braking

Drive smoothly, without sudden stops or starts. This not only feels nicer but also helps your hybrid battery last longer. Being gentle with the accelerator and brakes is key.

Sudden moves stress the battery, wearing it out faster. Instead, aim for a steady pace, anticipating traffic changes. Smooth driving means less strain on your battery, making it last longer and work better overall.

As we talk about regenerative braking next, remember that driving smoothly is just the beginning of getting the most out of your hybrid battery.

4. Utilize Regenerative Braking

Use regenerative braking in your hybrid to charge the battery and boost its performance. It turns braking energy into electricity. Here’s how:

1. Predict stops.

2. Brake gently.

3. Keep a safe distance.

4. Try the ‘B’ mode for stronger braking.

These tricks help your battery last longer and work better.

5. Plan Routes in Advance

Plan your routes smartly to get the most out of your battery. This helps manage the charge well and keeps your battery healthy. When planning, think about things like traffic, hills, and how far you’re going.

Pick routes with less traffic and avoid big hills to keep your battery happy. Smooth driving and fewer stops are key. Plus, plan to find charging spots if you need them.

Stress Testing

For this test you will need to find a repair shop that has a scan tool that can gather the live data from you hybrid battery. Special diagnostic tools like the “TechStream” for Toyota or Aftermarket scan tool like Matco or Snap-on will provide the data needed to perform the Stress Test.

Basically what happens during the test is first is to find a safe vacant back street to perform the stress test, once you are ready to start the test, the technician will need clear the Diagnostic Trouble Codes so the car is not in low propulsion mode or limp mode. The data from your hybrid battery is collected and recorded first. Then turn on live data collection and then accelerate the car at full throttle, up to 30 mph and then shifted into neutral prior to braking, so as to not let the regenerative brakes add energy back into the battery, coming to a complete stop. This is repeated five times in a row, stressing the capacity of the battery. Now with the data gathered from the live test, you will now know the true State of Health of your Hybrid Battery. Now you will know when it is time for your Hybrid Battery Reconditioning.

Conclusion

There are not many repair shop that are not trained, including dealerships, nor have ever heard of a Stress Test, even though they probably have the scan too to complete the test. I spend 30% of my time educating people and repair shops on how to properly test the State of Health, so be educated about your Hybrid Vehicles Health and remember, after seven years all Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries are out of balance and need to be rebalanced to perform properly and regain the expected high fuel mileage.

At this time you will need to email me at daniel@hybridbatterysolution.co.nz or Call to 021 148 1200 for a copy of the Stress Test worksheet and I will be happy to help you with any of your hybrid vehicle questions.

I hope this helps you to be more in tune with your Hybrid Vehicles and now know how to properly check your batteries STATE OF HEALTH AND HAPPY YOUR HYBRID BATTERY!

Hybrid Vehicles are a great way to conserve our oil supply and have become very popular today. It is great when the Factory warranty is in place and active so when you’re Hybrid Battery fails there is no cost out of pocket. But what about post-warranty failures? What are the options and costs? We will dig into the ever-growing problem with older Hybrid Vehicles.

Introduction

First of all, let’s get to know the type of chemistry that makes up the majority of the Hybrid Batteries today. The most popular one is a Nickel Metal Hydride, which is a great power delivery battery, this means it will charge and discharge quickly. It is a low capacity battery but transfers energy fast. The other Hybrid Batteries are Lithium-Ion batteries, mostly used in Full Electric Vehicles, because of their very good energy density or larger capacity that is needed to give a good range. Kia and Toyota both have a Lithium-Ion Battery as do some of the hybrids. Most of these are still covered under factory warranty so today I am going to focus on the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery that is post-warranty.

Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries

The best part about the Nickel Metal Hydride Battery is that it can be refurbished and shouldn’t be discarded until a Professional like 2^nd Life Battery LLC can recycle your battery.

Because of shallow cycling (battery never fully charged or discharged) there becomes a dendrite (a crystal or crystalline mass with a branching tree-like structure) buildup on the plates of the cells in the battery. Because they take up area on the plates, capacity is a function of area, therefore capacity is lost. This is a normal occurrence that takes place over a seven-year period. After this amount of time all batteries to be balanced. When this occurs you will notice a decrease in fuel mileage and performance. This is a hard sell when your battery is still functioning, but the truth of the matter is, if this preventive maintenance is done you will save money in the long run and regain your vehicle’s mileage and performance. Remember your battery will now last another seven years before needing a rebalance.

Replacement Cost Options for Hybrid Battery

Drive to the dealership where they will sell you a brand new hybrid battery with a price range for a Prius $3200.00 up to a Lexus RX450h $7500.00 for example. These are the prices my customers have shared in their quotes in fall 2019. These batteries come with a 1-year Warranty. The problem is the high cost and the waste of a recyclable resource.

The next option is to Contact 2^nd Life Battery LLC and get a refurbished Hybrid Battery that has been recycled. Our hybrid batteries are built from good used batteries, taken from wrecked Hybrids Vehicles, that were working when wrecked, but all need to be rebalanced and brought back to 85-90% of the original OEM specification. When weak cell modules are identified, they are replaced from the return core batteries, with a matching donor cell module, and then they are cycled to match the Power Delivery (load) test and the Energy (capacity) test to build a great balanced replacement for your Post Warranty Hybrid Battery. The cost for the refurbished Prius Gen 2 battery was $1600.00 for the 3-year warranty battery installed. The Lexus RX450h refurbished battery cost $3200.00 with a 3-year warranty. I feel this is the best bang for the buck and saves resources to boot.

Another option is to buy a used Hybrid Battery from the local salvage yard and pay $850.00 plus install for a Prius Gen2, which is a usable battery, but that is already degraded and in need of rebalancing. This is a fair option but because the true condition of the battery is unknown it can be a bit of a gamble.

The last option is to go to you-tube and learn how to disassemble your High Voltage Hybrid battery and check all 28-40 cell modules hoping to find one with unusually low voltage. Then go to eBay and buy a good recycled donor cell module that has been checked for Power and Energy, @ $29.95 to $45.00 each, disassemble your hybrid battery and replace the failed cell module. One problem with this test is that it won’t tell you if there is an internal resistance that causes poor power delivery or the weak cell module can’t be detected. This is only a way to patch your hybrid battery together. The problem with this repair is that you have only put a band-aid on the problem. It may last 90 days or maybe a year before another cell module fails and you start all over again. Unfortunately, this option is usually done in the back yard without the proper high voltage protective Gloves or Cat III multimeters.

Conclusion

The best way to keep your Hybrid Battery happy, after the factory warranty has expired, is to find a company like Hybrid Battery Solution that can keep your high tech Hybrid Vehicle on the road for a Second Life. Enjoy your fuel-efficient Hybrid Vehicle for years to come and save the planet at the same time. Happy Motoring

Hybrid Battery Solution offers mobile installation of hybrid batteries across Auckland. Call 021 148 1200 today to get a quote for your replacement battery. Hybrid battery replacement, Prius battery repair, trust our trained hybrid car repair professionals to take care of it for you. We look forward to adding you to our long list of loyal, satisfied customers. We have a personal approach to customer service and we guarantee our work.

Don’t believe the common myths of the past. Now replacing your hybrid battery is cost effective, quick and can be done in the convenience of your own driveway by a skilled technician.

Owning a Hybrid gives you so many benefits like unbeatable MPGs, reducing your carbon footprint and efficiency without sacrificing performance, but it does come with a small risk of hybrid battery failure. Don’t believe the common myths of the past, replacing your hybrid battery is no longer tens of thousands of dollars. The industry has come a long way in the Hybrid world, now replacing your hybrid battery is cost effective, quick and can be done in the convenience of your own driveway by a skilled technician. Not to mention the variety of options hybrid owners now have when selecting a new battery for their car.

THE FIRST FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER

Have no fear, there are many options for you when your hybrid battery fails. The first thing to identify is what your plan is for the car? Is it a daily driver that you plan to keep for a long time or maybe it is a car you are hoping to sell soon? A large determining factor for your decision will be your budget. You’ll be looking to get the best quality hybrid battery for your price point, at hybrid battery solution we offer 6 months interest-free financing to support you in the investment of a new hybrid battery. Other things to consider are the different types of warranties (be careful of the red tape that most companies vail their warranties in!), how long the company has been in business (will they still be around if you need them a year from now?), the training of their technicians (hybrid cars require specialized training to work on!) and the type of batteries the company offers (repairs, remanufactured, new cell, etc.). Also, understand who is performing the work on your vehicle, is it directly the hybrid battery company or a third party installer?

At hybrid battery solution we have several types of hybrid batteries for nearly every make and model of hybrid and electric vehicles. We also cover more than 85% of the country with our mobile installation service, ship internationally and have a combined experience of well over 100 years with hybrids! Our highly trained technicians are the only ones to work on your hybrid, so we not only offer an unlimited mile warranty of the battery, but can guarantee our work on your hybrid.

TYPES OF BATTERIES AVAILABLE TO YOU

Not all hybrid batteries available on the market are created equal. There will be different
grades of batteries available to you, each one offering a different level of performance and
reliability. While comparing companies it is also important to make sure you are comparing the same grade of battery to truly understand the different price points and warranties.

REMANUFACTURED HYBRID BATTERY

Most companies will offer a remanufactured hybrid battery. This is a battery pack from
the same type of car as yours that has reconditioned cells in it. Now, a battery is only as good as it’s lowest performing cell, similar to a chain that is only as strong as its weakest link. While remanufacturing batteries it is important the company has the ability to test and measure each cell’s capacity to match their ability and build a pack with similar cells. At Greentec we use a proprietary process called precision cell matching. Through this process we can guarantee a balanced and matched battery pack that will perform its best for your hybrid car!

HIGH-CAPACITY REMANUFACTURED BATTERY

Not many companies offer hybrid batteries beyond a typical remanufactured battery, but
at Greentec we have two other options for our customers. The next grade would be a high-capacity remanufactured battery. This is made from the top tier of the reconditioned cells offering you even more performance and reliability from your battery. These cells come from the newest generations of hybrid cars offering you the most up to date technology for your hybrid.

NEW CELL BATTERY

The highest grade of battery hybrid battery solution has to offer is a new cell battery. These are brand new, never used cells. With this grade you have the ability to restore your hybrid to new or better than new performance. Plus, it gives you 4 years of our unlimited mile warranty! It is an unbeatable option for your hybrid and will give you years of worry free driving.

KEY INFORMATION

Hybrids are a complex type of car that requires an in depth knowledge of the systems and the battery. Not many general mechanics will be able to provide the quality service you will need to get your car back safely on the road. Make sure you find a professional within the hybrid industry, also consider if this professional has a brick and mortar location or only provides a mobile service? hybrid battery solution currently has 20 locations nationwide that you are always welcome to come to and meet our hybrid experts! Avoid third party installers, it is incredibly difficult to verify the knowledge and experience of these installers, also the proper installation of a hybrid battery is critical to the success of the performance of your battery down the road. You do not want to be in a situation trying to track down the hybrid supplier and the third party installer in the event of a warranty claim or problem later on.

All in all, with today’s technology and advances in the hybrid industry, the hybrid car
owner now has many options in fixing their failed hybrid battery. The best advice we can give the leaders in hybrid battery replacement is to ask questions, understand the warranties offered and do your research. hybrid battery solution is never far away if you need assistance or have questions, just give us a call or stop by!

Get the best from your hybrid vehicle’s battery by contacting Hybrid Repair Service to arrange the reconditioning of your battery today, using state of the art equipment and with a our collection recondition and return service included in the quoted price. For more information or to place order contact Hybrid Battery Solution on Tel: 021 148 1200

daniel@hybridbatterysolution.co.nz

Why not check out our customer reviews for our high voltage battery repairs, reconditioning and replacement taken from Google, Review and Wix review system by clicking the link below