Toyota Prius Hybrid Battery Old vs New Comparison

In an earlier article we learned about one new used-Prius owner faced with a diagnosis of needing a new Hybrid battery for his recently purchased used Prius at an auction. The point of the article was that even though the Prius had only approximately 50,000 miles on it, it is still a 17 to 18-year-old-car of which the original battery had actually surpassed its typical life expectancy. Therefore, a second opinion was not really needed, but it made for a good learning lesson should you decide to buy any used Prius and know what to expect.

Namely: Be sure to factor in the cost of a used Prius to include that of a new battery.

Out with the Old and In with the New...Battery

Today’s article is a continuation of the Toyota Maintenance YouTube channel in which the host while working on the client’s auction-bought used Prius has received the new replacement Prius Hybrid battery and is doing a Show ‘n Tell of the two batteries should you need to buy a new one for your aging Prius.

Although the video is short, there are a few worthwhile points to be aware of:

In the video you will find out:

• Corrosion can occur under the battery bus bar cover in a Prius battery over the years.
• The need to inspect the Hybrid battery junction box electronics before switching out the old battery with a new one.
• What to expect to see on the dash monitor as you test-drive the Prius with a new Hybrid battery just installed.

There’s More to the Battery Beyond the Show ‘n Tell

If the video wasn’t enough to satiate your curiosity about the Prius Hybrid battery---and you want to delve into one yourself---then it is highly recommended that you check out an earlier video that shows a dissection and explanation of what goes into a Prius Hybrid battery. Plus, a second informative video that shows step-by-step how to safely switch out the battery cell modules of a Prius Hybrid battery with an aftermarket cell module kit that will save you money and claimed to provide even more performance than an original OEM replacement battery.

And finally...

For additional Prius-related articles, here are a few for your consideration:

• Prius Owner Repair Warning from Toyota Mechanic
• Toyota Prius Auxiliary Battery Info You Need to Know
• Fuel Efficiency You Can Expect from an Old Toyota Prius

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: Features You Will Want to Avoid in Your Car Purchase Warning

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