Do hybrid car batteries ever leak in the trunk? (vehicles, 2010, traction)
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We are interested in purchasing a hybrid. We have never owned a hybrid before. The car we are interested in has both the hybrid battery and the car battery in the trunk. I was wondering if there is any chance of the batteries leaking into the trunk (I have had a regular battery leak before and it got fuzzy stuff all over the back of the electronic it was in).
A search on priuschat.com, shows that the Gen 1 (2001-2003) Prius was known to leak at the battery terminals of the big high voltage NiMH powertrain battery, but nothing for the Gen 2 (2004-2009) or Gen 3 (2010-present). This was also confirmed at the web site of a hybrid battery remanufacturer.
The 12V accessory battery has the same chance of leaking as any other wet-cell lead acid battery. If you're really paranoid, replace it with an AGM (advanced glass mat) battery, where the electrolyte is contained in a baby-wipe like material and won't spill.
I've owned four hybrids - three Toyotas and one Lexus, and I've never had an issue with the high voltage battery in any of them.
Go to Toyotanation hybrid vehicles forum. Personally, I own 07 TCH with closing fast on 90 000 miles, doing over 45 mpg, and never heard of anyone there complaining on leaking batteries. I mean - it's basic deep cycle 12V battery that does not really even have acid, it's AGM design, in it and I seriously doubt, NiMeHi traction battery has it too. Also, traction battery is combination of multiple cells, that can be spotted as bad and replaced as needed.
Study was done on Prii used for taxi cabs and batteries last well into 300 000 miles with only minor efficiency drop.
Just to add. Camry folks that bought 12 and 13 models, say that their battery is dry battery now, the 12V one, as it does not even have vents. Mine still has vents and vent tubes, but it's the type you can mount upside down if you want to, non spill.
On the Lexus website it shows 29/32.......My buddy bought the first generation one and traded it in less than 3 payments due to dismal real world mileage (compared to advertised claims). He laughed at his own experiment (buying a Hybrid SUV ) and got almost all his money back on trade because of the hype created a demand for the SUV!
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) and got almost all his money back on trade because of the hype created a demand for the SUV!