Hybrid Batteries - longevity / replacing / not replacing?

[jwm135]

There are threads dealing with the longevity of the hybrid batteries, cost to replace etc. What if the truck is out of warranty and the hybrid battery gives up at a point in the vehicles life- lets say high mileage- that the owner chooses not to replace it. Will the truck drive exclusively as a gas vehicle? Or will it cease to run smoothly? Will the mpg remain fairly good, let's say in the 30+ mile range?

JWM

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[Maverick4moses]

That is what my 2023 maverick is now. First, my mileage dropped to 37 mpg from 39+ mpg, louder engine noise when idling for a couple weeks. Then I got engine light, service light. The dealer said I needed to replace the battery. My mileage is 130,000. You can still drive, but mechanic recommended not to drive far and needed to replace battery anytime soon because the bad battery gives a stress the engine and eventually damages the engine too.

 

[jwm135]

That is what my 2023 maverick is now. First, my mileage dropped to 37 mpg from 39+ mpg, louder engine noise when idling for a couple weeks. Then I got engine light, service light. The dealer said I needed to replace the battery. My mileage is 130,000. You can still drive, but mechanic recommended not to drive far and needed to replace battery anytime soon because the bad battery gives a stress the engine and eventually damages the engine too.

So I suppose it does not truly convert into a 100% Internal Combustion Engine. I'm at almost a year and have only 6000 miles on mine as I am retired and don't drive much. It's likely my battery will wear out due to its age, not use. Thanks for the info.

JWM

 

[Suzukiridr14]

That is what my 2023 maverick is now. First, my mileage dropped to 37 mpg from 39+ mpg, louder engine noise when idling for a couple weeks. Then I got engine light, service light. The dealer said I needed to replace the battery. My mileage is 130,000. You can still drive, but mechanic recommended not to drive far and needed to replace battery anytime soon because the bad battery gives a stress the engine and eventually damages the engine too.

Over a year ago I looked on ebay to see what a battery out of a wrecked Maverick was selling for. There were 4 or 5 batterys from low mileage trucks for $1000-$1300. Maybe $500? to have it installed. So the way I look at it, under $2000 gets you back for the next 100K miles.

 

[HeyBales]

So I suppose it does not truly convert into a 100% Internal Combustion Engine. I'm at almost a year and have only 6000 miles on mine as I am retired and don't drive much. It's likely my battery will wear out due to its age, not use. Thanks for the info.

JWM

The HVB starts the engine - via the generator motor.
There is no traditional starter running from the 12V system.

Therefore it needs connectivity and some juice. So you could run it down to a very bad battery state and still work for that purpose. And running the AC, and charging the 12V battery, and running the 12V system while On.
6K annually isn't that low, whether small trips or just a couple big ones. Either one will exercise the HVB for longevity. High heat and low cold - while being charged/discharged at the limit of either - there's a life shortener.

So the difference between a badly degraded battery, and say malfunctioned shorted out some other issue battery - matters.

 

[notfast]

Will the truck drive exclusively as a gas vehicle?

Negative. The hybrid battery needs to be present and functional in at least a minimal capacity in order for the vehicle to be operable.

Will the mpg remain fairly good, let's say in the 30+ mile range?

I'm not sure. I know Priuses can operate with a severely degraded HVB, but not well. The engine has to idle a lot more and the vehicle needs its electric motors to get moving from a dead stop at a reasonable cadence.

Also if you're in a state that requires emissions checks, hybrids can throw a P0A80 (replace hybrid battery) which may be a reason to fail a check.

 

[Jim D]

The gas motor is of Atkinson design with the intake valve timing delayed for fuel economy. Therefore, you’ll have limited power without its counterpart (electrical battery) which drastically affects the miles per hour. At least that is my understanding.

 

[Darnon]

The gas motor is of Atkinson design with the intake valve timing delayed for fuel economy. Therefore, you’ll have limited power without its counterpart (electrical battery) which drastically affects the miles per hour. At least that is my understanding.

Not really short of the HV being completely dead (in which case it won't even be able to start itself) there's going to be some battery capacity for demand. But in general the ICE can still generate electrical power which can go to the electric motor for low-end torque; that's fairly standard operation. But as the HV battery capacity is diminished MPG will suffer as the ICE will have to run more or the system will outright have it run constantly.

That was actually something of an issue that started to crop up about a decade ago or so with 2nd gen Escapes and 1.5 gen Fusion hybrids. Not because the battery was actually failing, but Ford was very conservative on the battery health estimates and they had a 'timer' to start limiting the battery capacity (and thus using the ICE more) as they aged. Folks found they could safely reset the timer and get near their original mileage back.

 

[Cherokee]

So I suppose it does not truly convert into a 100% Internal Combustion Engine. I'm at almost a year and have only 6000 miles on mine as I am retired and don't drive much. It's likely my battery will wear out due to its age, not use. Thanks for the info.

JWM

Considering just age, I’d bet you got ten to twelve years.
Fagetaboutit :’P

 

[Escapologist]

There are a wealth of options for 10 year old hybrids, I am gonna make the presumption that Maverick demand in the masses is several years out yet, so they don't do it YET, but based on what I'm seeing there, I would guesstimate a reconditioned Mav battery with 3 year warranty would be around $800 in 2025 prices, in 2030 that might have gone up a bit, or, market competition forces might keep it level or knock it down a little.

So yeah, wreckers yard battery, check car-part.com is probably the go-to in the near term.

 

[Surly Old Bill]

There are a wealth of options for 10 year old hybrids, I am gonna make the presumption that Maverick demand in the masses is several years out yet, so they don't do it YET, but based on what I'm seeing there, I would guesstimate a reconditioned Mav battery with 3 year warranty would be around $800 in 2025 prices, in 2030 that might have gone up a bit, or, market competition forces might keep it level or knock it down a little.

So yeah, wreckers yard battery, check car-part.com is probably the go-to in the near term.

Since I just bought mine, I wouldn't have to think about a battery for at least 8 years (when warranty runs out), and I suspect by that time there will be MANY aftermarket new battery replacements, and very likely some with double the capacity or more, but a lot cheaper than the current $2500 OEM price tag. I mean, with inflation going the way it is, they might be $4000, but that would be like $500 or less in today's $.
I don't think the battery is that big of a problem.

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