Hybrid Car Battery Facts
Gas-electric hybrid vehicles have traveled from the drawing board to the street in just a few years. These vehicles use electric motors that are powered by battery packs. That leaves a lot of consumers wondering about the "electric" part. Will they be looking for a hybrid car battery replacement in a few years? Are they short-lived like their other electronics such as their laptop and cell phone batteries?
The Makeup: Most gas/electric hybrid vehicles on the road today use nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery packs. What are the advantages of the NiMH battery packs?
- They are less toxic inside than traditional lead-acid batteries, making them environmentally friendly;
- They are more space-efficient than traditional lead-acid batteries; and
- They are much cheaper than lithium-ion batteries.
As a computer or cell phone user, you have probably heard that batteries will last longer if you neither charge it fully nor allow it to run down to zero. Hybrid vehicles are one step ahead. They have been manufactured with safeguards that limit both the maximum and minimum charge levels of the battery pack. This ensures that the car battery will keep working without prematurely losing its effectiveness, no matter how you treat your car. NiMH battery packs are designed and built to last the life of the vehicle. The industry reports that the number of car battery replacements is extremely low.
A word about lithium-ion batteries (the default power source for consumer electronics): They are starting to advance in the automotive industry and it is expected that they will become more prevalent in hybrids as time goes on. Due to their superior efficiency, they're already featured in some cars with full-electric models. They are relatively new, so there's not much durability data to see how the lithium-based hybrid car batteries fare over time.
NiMH battery packs, in general, are a mature product with millions of miles and countless refinements. Hybrid drivers should enjoy many years of trouble-free motoring from their complex power systems.
Fun Car Facts: Do you know....
- Who opened the first drive-in gas station? Gulf opened up the first station in Pittsburgh in 1913.
- What American luxury automaker began by making cages for birds and squirrels? The George N. Pierce Co. of Buffalo, who made the Pierce Arrow, also made iceboxes.
Have questions about a hybrid car battery replacement? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and surrounding communities.
Gas-electric hybrid vehicles have traveled from the drawing board to the street in just a few years. These vehicles use electric motors that are powered by battery packs. That leaves a lot of consumers wondering about the "electric" part. Will they be looking for a hybrid car battery replacement in a few years? Are they short-lived like their other electronics such as their laptop and cell phone batteries?
The Makeup: Most gas/electric hybrid vehicles on the road today use nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery packs. What are the advantages of the NiMH battery packs?
- They are less toxic inside than traditional lead-acid batteries, making them environmentally friendly;
- They are more space-efficient than traditional lead-acid batteries; and
- They are much cheaper than lithium-ion batteries.
As a computer or cell phone user, you have probably heard that batteries will last longer if you neither charge it fully nor allow it to run down to zero. Hybrid vehicles are one step ahead. They have been manufactured with safeguards that limit both the maximum and minimum charge levels of the battery pack. This ensures that the car battery will keep working without prematurely losing its effectiveness, no matter how you treat your car. NiMH battery packs are designed and built to last the life of the vehicle. The industry reports that the number of car battery replacements is extremely low.
A word about lithium-ion batteries (the default power source for consumer electronics): They are starting to advance in the automotive industry and it is expected that they will become more prevalent in hybrids as time goes on. Due to their superior efficiency, they're already featured in some cars with full-electric models. They are relatively new, so there's not much durability data to see how the lithium-based hybrid car batteries fare over time.
NiMH battery packs, in general, are a mature product with millions of miles and countless refinements. Hybrid drivers should enjoy many years of trouble-free motoring from their complex power systems.
Fun Car Facts: Do you know....
- Who opened the first drive-in gas station? Gulf opened up the first station in Pittsburgh in 1913.
- What American luxury automaker began by making cages for birds and squirrels? The George N. Pierce Co. of Buffalo, who made the Pierce Arrow, also made iceboxes.
Have questions about a hybrid car battery replacement? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive by calling (608) 221-8321 for more information. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and surrounding communities.
