What happens to old hybrid car batteries?

10/11/2024 08:00 PM

It's been a record year for hybrid cars so far in 2024, with the latest sales data revealing hybrid model sales are up 87 per cent in comparison to the first nine months of 2023.

RELATED: What happens to old electric car batteries?

While there is approximately two decades’ worth of data surrounding the life cycle of hybrid batteries, to the average driver, little is known about what happens to these batteries once they’re no longer useable.

But what happens to hybrid car batteries once they’ve been replaced? We ask the experts.

What happens to old hybrid car batteries?

There’s no predetermined time for when a hybrid battery starts to deteriorate. However, experts estimate it will take approximately eight years before the batteries start to lose their capacity.

Once a hybrid battery’s health starts to decline, car owners might start to see their fuel consumption increase, or they may see a warning light on their dashboard.

If you want to know more about how long hybrid car batteries last and the general warning signs to look out for, visit Drive’s previous hybrid battery coverage here.

Used hybrid car batteries that are acquired by various dealer networks are sent to recyclers either offshore or domestically, where their materials are separated, either to be reused again or disposed of responsibly.

According to battery recycler Ecobatt, hybrid and electric car batteries come in two main forms: nickel-metal hydride like the kind used by Toyota and Lexus, and lithium-ion "used by pretty much everyone else".

Valuable components like nickel, cobalt, graphite and manganese found in lithium-ion batteries are often traded globally and will usually "be re-used for new batteries", as per the NSW Government.

A Toyota Australia spokesperson told Drive: “Toyota has its own battery recycling and repair initiative which it uses to replace batteries and recycle them in an environmentally conscious and responsible manner.

“Recovered nickel-metal hydride (NIMH) batteries are sent back to our parent company in Japan for recycling, where Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) recycle/re-purpose batteries or components wherever possible.

“Lithium-ion batteries are recycled locally in Australia. We don’t currently repurpose batteries locally in Australia, but we are constantly looking at potential opportunities for where this might be possible,” they added.

While Toyota didn’t disclose where its recovered materials are used, Honda UK has partnered with SNAM – a European recycler – to use old hybrid and EV batteries as "second-life energy storage" to power businesses.

Can you recycle old hybrid car batteries?

Yes, old hybrid car batteries can be recycled in a similar manner to electric car batteries. However, it is usually a costly process that involves a mix of domestic recyclers and offshore processes, which is why it’s handled by car manufacturers rather than the everyday consumer.

According to Toyota – the industry leader in hybrid vehicles – its recycling process has a landfill diversion rate above 98 per cent, meaning a vast majority of toxic materials found in its hybrid batteries don't end up in Australia's waste stream.

To encourage car owners to contribute to its recycling program, Toyota Australia offers a $100 rebate to drivers who return a used hybrid battery to a certified Toyota Dealership.

In addition, Toyota hybrid car owners can receive a $500 discount for a new hybrid battery if the original one "is provided at the point of sale".

Those looking for alternative options could consider Australian company Infinitev, which offers "remanufactured" aftermarket hybrid batteries for specific models at a cheaper price point.

Rather than getting rid of the deteriorating used hybrid battery altogether, Infinitev will diagnose the battery cells and repackage the working modules that meet its stringent criteria to make a new remanufactured battery.

"For [remanufactured] batteries, we will use the original battery and remanufacture it in the sense that we will calibrate [and] diagnose the actual battery pack," Leow told Drive.

Infinitev has a three-year/40,000km warranty for its remanufactured batteries.

In addition, the Australia and New Zealand-based battery specialist offers brand-new aftermarket hybrid car batteries, with the materials sourced "from the same supplier" as car manufacturers.

For its brand-new aftermarket hybrid batteries, Infinitev offers a three-year/200,000km warranty.

How do you replace old hybrid car batteries?

Generally speaking, car owners can get their hybrid batteryreplaced at no extra cost at their preferred dealership, provided they do so within the manufacturer's warranty period.

While the industry standard for warranty on hybrid batteries is around eight years, manufacturers like Toyota offer a 10-year/unlimited-kilometre coverage for them due to a “high level of confidence in the durability of our batteries".

However, if the hybrid battery starts to deteriorate outside of the warranty period, owners will usually have to pay a replacement fee to get a new one installed.

How much does it cost to replace a hybrid car battery?

For full or ‘closed’ loop hybrid car batteries that start to lose capacity outside of the warranty period, it will generally cost owners $2000 to $10,000 depending on the make and model of the car.

Car owners driving plug-in hybrid cars could expect a $10,000 to $20,000 battery replacement fee if they decide to replace it with the manufacturer.

To determine the estimated costs of replacing a hybrid car battery, Drive spoke to a range of manufacturers as well as Infinitev. Below is a list of estimated pricing for various brands.

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