Hybrid vehicles run on both battery and gas power, but everyone knows how much gas typically costs. There’s a bit more mystery surrounding the price for a replacement hybrid battery. These batteries are more powerful and advanced than a standard car battery, so they are understandably more expensive to replace.
A hybrid battery costs between $1,000 and $8,000. For a standard hybrid vehicle such as a Toyota Prius, it may cost between $1,500 and $3,000. But, batteries for other hybrids may be much higher on the price spectrum. The vehicle’s make and model will determine how much the new battery costs.
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Cost to Replace a Hybrid Battery
Hybrid vehicles are known for being cost-efficient due to their ability to run on electricity and battery power versus gasoline-only vehicles. Still, these cars are also known for their expensive batteries, which cost much more than a standard vehicle’s battery.
Replacing a hybrid battery will cost at least $1,000 even for the least expensive makes and models. However, the replacement batteries for some vehicles are much more expensive and may cost $7,000 or more.
| Low-End Price | $1,000 – $1,750 |
| Mid-Range Price | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| High-End Price | $4,000 – $8,000 |
Larger vehicles, like hybrid SUVs, require more power and thus they need bigger, more expensive batteries. That’s why the cost of a Ford Escape or Toyota Highlander’s hybrid battery costs more than one for a Toyota Prius.
Hybrid Battery Costs by Vehicle Make and Model
The vehicle’s make and model play a big role in how much a replacement battery costs. Let’s take a look at some common vehicles and how much you should expect to pay for a new battery.
| Toyota RAV4 | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Honda Accord | $800 – $4,000 |
| Honda Insight | $1,750 – $3,000 |
| Lexus ES300-H | $1,350 – $4,500 |
| Toyota Prius | $1,500 – $4,100 |
| Nissan Leaf | $2,500 – $5,500 |
| Chevrolet Volt | $1,200 – $3,500 |
For a Toyota RAV4, you should expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 for a new hybrid battery. These batteries aren’t known for their long lifespan like some of the other hybrids out there, so it’s definitely something to consider if you’re thinking of buying one.
The difference in price depends on whether you purchase a new or refurbished battery. If you go with a used or remanufactured battery, you can save thousands of dollars.
The same goes for other makes and models, like the Honda Accord hybrid. You may be able to find a refurbished or used battery for less than $1,000, but a brand new replacement could run upward of $4,000.
Luxury vehicles, like Lexus, typically have more expensive parts than their standard counterparts. The ES300-H battery is no different. A new replacement for that vehicle could potentially cost close to $5,000 for the parts and labor.
Toyota Prius batteries have a long lifespan and they’re a little more affordable than some of the others on the market. The company has been making hybrid vehicles for a very long time, so they’ve definitely had opportunities to perfect their design and equipment.
The Prius comes with a ten-year, 150,000-mile warranty on the hybrid battery, which means if yours dies before then they’ll replace it for you. Plenty of people end up getting a new car long before the battery ever needs to be replaced, which makes the price a little more understandable.
How Long Do Hybrid Batteries Last?
Generally, a hybrid vehicle’s battery should last at least eight to ten years or 150,000+ miles. Plenty of hybrid owners have reported the battery outlasting the rest of the vehicle, driving 20 years and going well past the 200k mileage mark without any battery problems.
Still, the actual lifetime will depend on your specific vehicle, the environmental conditions, and how you treat the battery. For example, if you live in an area where there are extremely high and low temperatures, it can cause your battery to break down faster.
Here are some tips for extending your hybrid battery’s lifespan:
Follow manufacturer’s charge/discharge recommendations
Despite your desire to keep your vehicle fully charged 100% of the time, it’s actually not good for the hybrid battery. It’s best to keep the charge between 20% and 80%.
That means try not to let it drop below 20% and don’t keep it above 80% for extended periods.
Keep up with maintenance schedules
Even though hybrids don’t have all the same problems as traditional cars, they still need regular, routine maintenance.
Keeping up with your vehicle’s maintenance schedule will prevent the battery from having to do extra work and allow you to find problems early.
Drive the car
Hybrid batteries don’t do well if they just sit for extended periods. If you don’t drive often, try to make sure you (or someone) take the car out for a spin at least a couple of times each week.
Apply even pressure to your pedals
Try not to floor them when you accelerate, and avoid slamming on your brakes. Doing so wears out the battery faster than normal, so try to keep even pressure when accelerating and braking.
How to Tell if Your Hybrid Battery is Failing
Unlike a traditional car battery that dies out and suddenly leaves you with a car that won’t start, hybrid batteries tend to wear out much slower. That means that the signs and symptoms of a failing battery are a little more subtle. Still, if you’re paying attention, you’ll probably notice some of these issues:
Lower miles-per-gallon (MPG)
If the battery isn’t charging fully or holding a charge properly, your hybrid may use more gas than normal.
Unusual sounds
If the battery isn’t performing normally, it can cause the engine to make unusual noises when it has to work harder to power the vehicle.
Sudden drop in battery meter
If your vehicle suddenly decreases in the charge level on your battery meter, it could mean that the hybrid battery isn’t holding a charge normally or the charging capacity has dropped.
Warning light
Some vehicles have an indicator light on the dash to let you know that there’s a problem with the battery.
Can You Repair a Hybrid Battery?
Hybrid batteries generally can’t be “recharged” or repaired once they die. In some cases it could be possible to remove one bad battery cell and replace it with a new one, but that type of repair is typically not worth the cost.
When one battery cell fails, it’s best to replace the entire battery since the other cells might be failing shortly after.
In addition, unauthorized attempts to repair a hybrid vehicle’s battery could cause other problems and potentially even void the warranty. So, it’s always best to deal with a certified technician who’s qualified to work on your hybrid.
However, there are other options besides purchasing a brand new battery, such as getting a used or remanufactured one.
Should You Buy a New or Refurbished Hybrid Battery?
When it comes time to replace your hybrid’s battery, you’ll need to decide whether to buy a new one or go with a cheaper option. There are used, refurbished, and reconditioned hybrid batteries available for most vehicles.
Reconditioned batteries have been discharged, recharged, and balanced. This is usually a short-term, temporary fix if you just need a battery to get you through until you can replace it.
Refurbished or rebuilt hybrid batteries are a cheaper option than buying a new replacement, but they’re not always as reliable as the other option. Refurbished batteries take the good cells from used batteries and then rebuild them into an operable battery. They’re a good alternative to a full-price new battery, but they don’t always have the same warranty coverage as a new one.
New batteries are typically the most reliable option. For as long as they last, it’s the best investment for your money and the performance will be top-notch.
Final Thoughts
Replacing a hybrid battery isn’t a cheap repair, but it’s necessary to keep your vehicle running. Many hybrid owners wonder if it’s worth it to replace their battery when it starts to fail. If the vehicle has no other problems, you may end up with essentially a new car once the battery is replaced, so it might be worth it.
However, if you’re thinking about getting a new car anyway or you’re not planning to keep yours for several more years, it might not make sense to invest in replacing the battery.
In that case, you may choose to go with a used or refurbished option to save some money rather than purchasing a new battery for several thousand dollars. Ultimately, the cost to replace the battery will depend on your vehicle’s make and model, so it’s something you should consider when you decide to purchase a hybrid vehicle.
Plus, you’ll also need to factor in the cost of labor should you decide to have the new battery installed by a professional. That could cost anywhere from around $100 to several hundred depending on how long it takes.
