Reconditioned Hybrid Battery: A Better and Affordable Alternative to Replacement

The drive train battery is a huge battery structure consisting of individual battery cells that have their own mechanism. When this battery degenerates over time, it produces and stores less energy than usual. It will eventually lead to a complete failure of the driving system. So any ignorance on the part of the car owner would lead to more problems.

Reasons for Prius Battery Failure

The battery relies on chemical reactions to operate. Due to waste build-up deposited in the batteries, they develop corrosion and become less effective in storing and releasing electricity. They come with a limited life span. If you had bought your Prius in the year 2005 then naturally it has passed beyond its warranty period. If you have driven your car a lot, it will put enough strain on your battery, it will contribute to its decline.

What is important is that the overall performance of the Prius battery will be affected even if one single cell stops functioning. This is the problem with the drive train battery. The defect with one cell would put an additional burden on other cells and cause them to go bad.

What to do with a Hybrid Battery that goes bad?

You have a few options when it goes bad. Here is what you can do, from most expensive to least expensive. Following are the options you can think about when your car experiences battery failure.

· Take it to the Original Dealer

Your hybrid car will itself start giving some warning signals when its battery is going bad. If you visit your original dealer they will examine your car and will tell you when the battery will need to be replaced. If you get the replacement done with your original dealer they will do the entire replacement but it will be very expensive. No doubt you will get a fresh battery and it will last longer and comes with a warranty, but the expense part will make you disheartened.

· Go to a Third Party Dealer

Your original hybrid car dealer sells its batteries through its dealership but some companies are there who make compatible batteries. You can find such dealers online and it costs more or less the same going to your original dealer. It is just slightly affordable than the original brand. But the disadvantage is that they are less reliable and will give less amount of warranty on your car.

· Go to a Reconditioned Battery Dealer

Battery reconditioning is done on the original hybrid battery by cleaning and replacing the cells. They are always checked and tested before the delivery. What is beneficial is that they always come with a limited warranty that covers some parts and service. This gives you protection against getting defective cells, a risk often associated with the reconditioned battery. Though they are not as powerful as brand new batteries yet they can last for a considerable period of time. This process proves less expensive than third-party dealers.

Reconditioning happens in two types, partial reconditioning and complete reconditioning. In full reconditioning, the dealer will take it apart, clean it and then fully draining and recharging each of the battery.

They may replace any defective cells in the process and it will cost extra and the cost of replacement will be also separate. So a complete replacement would take a considerable amount of money and it will also take some time. Your car will be in-operational for a few days.

When your battery is old, it is bound to slow down. Experts say complete reconditioning sometimes prove affordable for hybrid car owners because partial reconditioning does not include the removing of battery, cleaning, and further testing. So it proves less effective than the complete reconditioning.

Final Notes

No doubt reconditioning adds life to your old battery. It is a fast, mobile and affordable approach to the failed hybrid car batteries. The reconditioning depends on certain situations such as the age of your hybrid battery, how long do you need to run your battery and what is your budgetary requirement.

When your battery is relatively new, it is better to go for complete reconditioning as it will give you some other years of service. But when you have a tight budget, you should opt for partial recondition. Choose a local trusted company who gives limited warranty in reconditioned hybrid car batteries. The warranty coverage is a sign of good dealer and you can get a sigh of relief by contacting them.