The special battery packs that power hybrid cars use are among the most expensive components of hybrid cars, hybrid battery replacement being an expense dreaded by most owners. Hybrid battery packs are the special units that assist the gas engine and they come with special, 100,000 – 150,000 miles warranty, which allows most car owners to use their batteries for a good ten years or more, but if that warranty runs out and the battery starts showing signs of aging, the costs of a new pack run well into the thousands of dollars. Even so, you needn’t worry if your battery is little by little coming of age – there are several good alternatives to buying a brand-new battery, here are some.
Battery Replacement with a Used Pack
Most hybrid cars that are taken to junk yards because they have been involved in some sort of accident and not because their batteries have failed. This also means that the used hybrid car batteries you can buy at junk yards are probably in great condition and they will also cost you a fraction of the price of a new pack.
Battery Reconditioning
A hybrid battery that is getting tired is not necessarily a pack beyond remedy. Many old batteries can be reconditioned with the help of special technologies. If you choose this solution, you must be prepared that you will have to remove the battery from your car and send it to the company that provides the reconditioning services, which also means that you will not be able to use your car for a while, but the costs of the reconditioning are really affordable, so it is probably worth the temporary discomfort.
Buying Refurbished Batteries
Many dealerships that sell hybrid cars also offer refurbished battery packs and reconditioned packs are available from online vendors as well, usually for prices under a thousand dollars. The solution can also significantly reduce the costs of hybrid battery replacement, but it is a good idea to check the reputation of the vendor you are planning to use by visiting online forums or review websites.
Some Warnings
Hybrid cars are complicated machines that require mechanics to possess special professional knowledge to be able to repair them. If you suspect your hybrid battery pack to be the cause of the problems you have been experiencing with your car lately, do check whether the mechanic you are planning to turn to has the right kind of experience to be able to determine the cause of your issues.
In some cases, inexperienced or unqualified mechanics might mistake the problems for battery pack issues and recommend costly battery replacement even when the battery is completely healthy and the source of the fault is to be found elsewhere. You can easily avoid such costly mistakes by turning to a mechanic who knows hybrid cars, indeed. These guys will be able to help you not only with professional repairs, but also by recommending you the best replacement method, so their special expertise is definitely beneficial.