Hybrid Car Batteries

The use of hybrid car batteries are the essential key to the technology that makes hybrids different from ordinary gas fueled vehicles.

A hybrid car uses a battery pack, which contains cells filled with NiMH, or nickel metal hydride. These batteries are charged by the gas engine powered generator or by regenerative braking or both.

Many people wonder about the hybrid car battery cost when they are considering buying a hybrid car. They are the most costly thing about a hybrid, which is why they are so much more expensive than a standard gas engine vehicle.

In the future, Lithium-ion batteries may be the best alternative to NiMH batteries for hybrid cars. They are not only more powerful, but also use less nickel.

The NiMH batteries are meant to last the life of the vehicle or longer. They usually come with a warranty for eight years or 80,000 miles. In California, it may be up to ten years or 150,000 miles if the hybrid qualifies as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle.

A good thing about NiMH batteries is that they can be recycled. Toyota even pays a bounty to anyone who returns one for recycling. Back to the What Are Hybrid Cars? page.

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