How Long Do Hybrid Car Batteries Last?

If you’re considering a new Lexus NX Hybrid or Lexus ES Hybrid and you’ve never owned a hybrid before, you might want to ask, “How long do hybrid car batteries last?” The good news is that hybrid car battery life is usually long and uneventful in Delray Beach and Lake Worth. And should your hybrid battery not last as long as it should, your Lexus warranty will cover its replacement. Lexus of Palm Beach has the information you need about hybrid car battery life, answering questions about projected battery life spans, battery care, and more. If you’re asking if a hybrid battery dies, can you still drive the car, you’ve come to the right place. 

Expected Hybrid Car Battery LifeSpan

The good news is that hybrid vehicle manufacturers in the United States are legally required to provide a warranty on high-voltage hybrid battery packs for at least eight years or up to 100,000 miles. In addition, auto manufacturers in the U.S. are legally obliged to transfer the balance of any hybrid battery warranty to a new owner. Still, occasionally high-voltage battery packs on hybrid cars can fail. Continue reading to learn what you can do to extend the life of your hybrid car battery life on Palm Beach Gardens roads and beyond.

Causes of Hybrid Car Battery Life Reduction or Failure

There are many possible reasons why a hybrid car’s battery life might not be as long as expected. Individual cells or modules can fail in the battery, and the most common reasons are:

• Poor electrical connections between cells or battery modules
• Auto manufacturing defects in battery cells
• Extreme high or low battery temperatures 
• Manufacturing differences between cells
• Mechanical damage to the battery during routine maintenance or service
• Improper serving procedures, which is why you should have your hybrid vehicle serviced by the certified Lexus service technicians on the Lexus of Palm Beach service team

How to Protect Your Hybrid Vehicle’s Battery Pack

Lexus of Palm Beach does not recommend that you work on your hybrid battery pack because it can be hazardous. Still, there is one significant thing you can do to protect your hybrid vehicle battery life that doesn’t include working on it yourself.

Don’t Ignore Warning Lights

Your hybrid vehicle likely has a battery monitoring system with trouble codes and warning indicators that will show on your dashboard if it detects any issues, defects, malfunctions, or failures in the battery pack and its related systems. Here are some issues to look out for:

• Abnormal battery temperatures: Abnormal temperatures are likely caused by problems with the dedicated computer-controlled battery cooling system.
• Imbalances between battery cells or battery modules: The failure of just one battery cell will likely degrade the performance of the entire battery pack, so get this checked out sooner rather than later.
• Abnormally high or low rates of charging: Factors like ambient temperature can affect how quickly or slowly your battery charges. You may also find that your hybrid battery charges more slowly if you stay in your vehicle and place other loads on your battery, such as for running cabin air conditioning/heating, lights, and radio.

If a Hybrid Battery Dies, Can You Still Drive the Car?

Sometimes customers ask us, “If a hybrid battery dies, can you still drive the car?” The answer is, it depends on which battery died. Fortunately, most hybrid cars have two batteries: the hybrid battery and a much smaller battery to operate the electronics in your vehicle. If the smaller battery dies, it’s not a problem. You can still drive it around West Palm Beach. However, if the main hybrid car battery is dead, do not attempt to drive the vehicle and make a service appointment at Lexus of Palm Beach immediately.

Lexus of Palm Beach is Your Best Source for Hybrid Car Battery Service

Driving a Lexus hybrid is easy, especially with Lexus of Palm Beach on your side. Our service department is here to answer your hybrid parts and maintenance questions and provide any necessary service during the life of your Lexus. We can help you learn everything from how hybrid cars work to how to charge a hybrid battery. We’re at the beginning of a new age of automotive technology that’s rapidly changing, and we’re proud to be your guide along the way.