2006-06-30 10:02:33 · 3 answers · asked by Angie B 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Hybrid batteries are designed to last 10 years or about 200,000 miles. Most are warranted for at least 8 years. That said, the Toyota Prius has bee on sale for 9 years (in Japan) and Toyota has reported that none of the batteries have 'failed' yet. And that's with the technology used in the last generation.
Every component on any vehicle is designed to last a certain amount of time. The transmission has an expected life, the engine etc etc. Hybrids are no different in that regard.
If someone is getting bad mileage from their hybrid they likely don't know that hybrids have to be driven differently to optimize efficiency. For hybrid driving tips check out http://www.all-about-car-selection.com/hybridvehicle.html
2006-06-30 10:28:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you are talking about the battery packs in hybrid vehicles. Fuel cells use chemistry to transfer fuel directly to electricity. We don't have cars, commercially available today, that run on fuel cells.
When you say "fuel cells expire" it looks like you mean: "how long does the warranty last on battery packs in hybrid vehicles?"
Toyota has been advertising 10 years and 150,000 miles on the warranty. However a relative recently bought a new Toyota Highlander and got an 8 year and 75,000 warranty on the batteries for the electric drive. Toyota does not guarantee mileage. The advertised 30 mpg on the highway does not happen. My relative gets 22 mpg on the highway.
I have yet to see any evidence that there is a financial benefit to using a hybrid vehicle versus a conventional vehicle of the same type.
2006-06-30 10:15:42 · answer #2 · answered by regerugged 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they last THAT long.
2006-06-30 10:06:16 · answer #3 · answered by J.D. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋