How long does a hybrid battery last and how much does it cost to replace?

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Hybrid cars are finding favour with Australian car buyers of all ages, budgets and tastes, as more people embrace the unique benefits of a petrol-electric powertrain.

RELATED: The best-selling hybrid cars in Australia during the first half of 2024

Hybrid cars were the only segment to record an increase in sales in August 2024 used car data, while sales of new hybrids were up 96 per cent year to date according to the August 2024 VFACTs report.

While Toyota has previously been the market leader in hybrid technology – courtesy of popular models like the hybrid RAV4 – more and more brands are entering the fray, with Nissan, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi all offering hybrid powertrains.

How do hybrid cars work?

Not all hybrids are made equal. While all hybrid models feature an engine, one or more electric motors and a battery, the way these three things work together to power the vehicle can vary.

For example, Toyota and Honda’s ‘closed-loop’ hybrid technology sees the petrol engine and electric motor work in tandem to power the vehicle, though each can power the vehicle independently in some situations.

The battery does not need to be charged independently, and the vehicle just needs to be refuelled in order to be driven.

Nissan’s closed-loop e-Power hybrids, meanwhile, work slightly differently but provide a similar outcome – using the petrol engine as a generator to power the electric motor, which exclusively drives the wheels.

As with Toyota and Honda’s hybrids, the batteries in hybrid Nissan models do not need to be externally charged and owners simply need to keep their vehicle fuelled to enjoy hybrid benefits.

Meanwhile, Mazda and Mitsubishi have both embraced plug-in hybrid models, which allow the petrol engine and electric motor to each power the car either independently or in tandem.

Unlike a closed-loop hybrid, the bigger battery of a PHEV allows it to cover substantial distances on electric-only power provided you keep the onboard battery externally charged and the fuel tank full. Once batteries are depleted, PHEVs behave more like a closed-loop hybrid.

While consumers are well versed in conventional petrol engines, there remains some confusion around the electric motors and battery that make up a hybrid powertrain.

In particular, hybrid batteries may experience a loss of capacity over the course of their life and may need to be replaced at some point in your ownership cycle.

To find out what you can expect from hybrid battery longevity and replacement costs, we approached leaders in hybrid technology around Australia. Here’s what you need to know.

How long does a hybrid battery last?

There is no perfect answer to this question as it depends on the make, model and how the car is driven, but as a general rule, consumers can expect at least eight good years out of their hybrid battery, which is why most battery warranties cover you for eight years.

“We currently have two decades of vehicle data, so we do know that hybrid batteries do last beyond their prescribed warranty duration, which is generally around eight years,” Dickson Leow, General Manager of Australian hybrid battery remanufacturing specialist Infinitev, told Drive.

“We do see after eight years they start to deteriorate, but it depends on how the vehicle is being utilised.”

A spokesperson for Toyota Australia said the company “has a high level of confidence in the durability of our batteries”, with owners of Toyota hybrid vehicles from 2019 and later able to extend their battery warranty to 10 years with no kilometre limit, provided they conduct an annual hybrid health inspection.

“The need for a battery to be replaced is normally determined at the time of service when a technician conducts the hybrid health inspection with specialist equipment that our service centres have. A hybrid health inspection includes testing of the traction battery, traction battery cooling fan, auxiliary battery voltage and inverter cooling pump operation,” the Toyota Australia spokesperson explained.

A Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson told Drive, “It’s difficult to be definitive on battery degradation, especially as the Eclipse Cross and new Outlander PHEV are relatively new to market”.

How do you know if a hybrid battery is going bad?

How can you tell if your hybrid battery is losing capacity? According to Leow, there are a couple of telltale signs.

“Often with a hybrid battery, the vehicle will give you a warning. It might say ‘check your hybrid battery’ or ‘return to dealership’.  Another telltale sign is a change in your fuel consumption – it may increase compared to what you're used to. That can suggest a battery is on the way out or needs to be checked.”

Typically, the performance of a hybrid battery depends on its ‘state of health’, or its capacity to store energy. Generally speaking, all hybrid batteries should have a storage capacity of 100 per cent when new, but this can drop over time.

Before you panic, plenty of hybrid batteries can lose between 10 and 30 per cent capacity, and “still be a feasible traction battery”, Leow explained.

In fact, you’ll likely only notice the real-world effects of a loss in capacity once it drops below 70 per cent.

As such, most major manufacturers offer a separate warranty on their hybrid batteries that covers you for around eight years or 160,000km, and guarantees that your battery won’t drop below a 70 per cent energy storage capacity in that time.

Mitsubishi’s Drive Battery Capacity Care Program, for example, covers the battery in 2022 Outlander models and onwards for eight years or 160,000km from the date of registration to ensure it retains “at least 66 per cent of its useable energy capacity”.

Thankfully, if you need a replacement battery within the warranty period, the manufacturer will cover the cost of the replacement.

However, after the warranty period has ended, you might face a loss of capacity that reduces the traction battery’s ability to effectively and efficiently drive the vehicle and, as such, you will need to cover the cost of replacement yourself.

How much does it cost to replace a hybrid battery?

Generally speaking, you should expect to pay between $2000 and $10,000 to replace the battery on a closed-loop hybrid model, and between $10,000 and $20,000 to replace the battery on a plug-in hybrid model – if you opt to buy directly from the manufacturer.

A Toyota Australia spokesperson told Drive, “The cost of replacing a battery varies by model. The current price for the latest Camry Hybrid traction battery is approximately $3280 (excluding GST). This price does not include labour, which may vary from dealer to dealer”.

Meanwhile, a Mitsubishi Australia spokesperson told Drive, “In terms of the ballpark – $12,000–$13,000 is a good guide for our previous-generation Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross PHEV.

“The new Outlander PHEV is a little more expensive given its increased size and capacity; however, they remain in warranty for a few years yet! The ballpark at this stage would be $15,000–$16,000 RRP.”

These prices exclude the cost of fitting the battery to the car.

A Honda Australia spokesperson quoted between “$6000 and $10,900 depending on model” for a replacement battery.

For consumers who want a more budget-friendly option, Infinitev offers remanufactured hybrid batteries at a fraction of the price of new batteries.

“We try to ensure your average family can feasibly replace the battery on a 10-year-old hybrid car,” Leow told Drive of Infinitev’s pricing structure.

“We target around 40–60 per cent of the manufacturer’s new retail price with our remanufactured units.”

For example, a remanufactured battery for a Toyota Camry will cost around $2090 (fully installed) with Infinitev and is offered with a three-year, 40,000km warranty. These remanufactured units take the original battery, diagnose the capacity issues and recalibrate or replace the cells to bring the capacity back in line with a brand-new battery.

The company also offers new aftermarket replacement units at a slightly higher price with a three-year, 200,000km warranty. For example, a new aftermarket battery for a 2020 Toyota Prius would cost $1990 from Infinitev, while a remanufactured unit would cost $1690.

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