Are hybrid cars more prone to break down because they have more complex insides than non-hybrids?

Question

Is the engineering of hybrid cars more complex than non-hybrids? If so, does higher complexity make them more prone to break-down?

Answer 1

First, you should consider that cars have become more reliable through time. Two generations ago a person wouldn't have left home without a repair kit - it's been a steady improvement since then. Today's cars are very reliable and seldom break down if properly maintained. So, if you practice preventive maintinence, almost all of today's cars are very reliable.

That said, I'm going to talk about the Prius, since we own one. First, you have a regular four cylinder car. Nothing unusual. Then you have an electric motor and batteries - very few moving parts and reliable. The electric motor and the gas engine are coupled with a planetary gear system that is actualy quite simple. Now you add some extras, like regenerative brakeing and a computer monitor to help performance, and you have the whole thing.

More parts? Yes, but not a whole bunch, and in the case of the Toyota, all of the hybrid drive parts are warantied for 100,000 miles. I have yet to read of or hear of a failure of the hybrid drive or computer system. Add to that that the Prius is made at Toyota's primier production facility in Japan - our's was so perfect that the 30,000 mile all inclusive warranty ran out without us finding a single defect.

So, in theory, they are slightly more complex and therefore should be slightly more unreliable, but in reality, the car industry has so much invested in these "cars of the future" that extra care in production more than makes up for this. Buy one - you'll be glad you did.

Answer 2

My company has decided to change their whole fleet to hybrids (Honda Civic). While I can say that they do not break down in terms of computer failure, the only problems are the normal ones you would have with a conventional vehicle.

The tires still can go flat, the brakes still need changing as usual, the fluids still must be changed on a regular basis, etc, etc.

We have hybrids with 250,000 kilometers and still going strong. You must remember that in my profession, they get driven 24/7. To date, the only strange thing was with the electric windows on one vehicle which jump out of its' track. However, this is the only problem to date that we had.

As long as you realize to watch your battery charge and to take care, these are a great vehicle to drive. I know. I use one every day I work. (drive 250 kilometers a night).

I think for your limited use, this would be a great investment. And think: you are also doing your thing for the environment.

Answer 3

Surprisingly, but fortunately, the Toyoto Prius has proven very reliable - moreso than most 'regular' vehicles.

Answer 4

the reason hybirds are so important is because the use solar energy and decrease global warming