I understand what you are saying, And my Insight falls into the same category as yours (Pre 2002 old ECM/BCM) but I dont think you can go as far as to label a driving style as the cause.

Not to mention all these new people who are hypermiling BRAND new cars.. Geez what is that going to do to the gas portion of your engine which needs a proper breakin? but thats a whole new can of worms LoL

 

While I did notice a few more recals, in the months preceeding my battery pack failure, it was not that much more. When the IMA light went on indicating it failed, it was two months since my last recal - a suprize.

 

Hi,

Initially I too was concerned about the low Prius Ah capacity remaining. Then I looked at the ending MPG and it was pretty much the same as the begining. For Prius, this makes sense since iti appears to use the battery for:
- start/stop ICE (no alternative)
- topping off power not available from the ICE (acceleration)
- sink for regenerative braking (saves brake shoes)
- MG1 CVT operation when no power available from MG2 (initial acceleration)

Without addressing the Prius operational modes, it appears a new, Prius HV battery has a remarkable amount of 'excess capacity.' How much is not yet know. Some of us are still 'reverse engineering' the vehicle's characteristics.

The Prius has a radically different architecture from the Honda vehicles and comparing details finer than the gross MPG and handling won't be terribly successful. For example, one of the Prius folks tried the 'warm air' duct trick and it had no effect on MPG. But on the Honda it apparently can fool the 'lean burn' mode to engage.

Bob Wilson

 

Indeed, the regular driver of a car can certainly tell when it starts to perform differently. However, different/inadequate performance can be caused by MANY things, only one of which is battery failure.

I have read your story, and while I'm sorry for your experience, it does not mean that all hybrids are doomed to similar future occurrences.

 

No, Of course not. Alot of the problems with Low LMPG, bad cats, 02, etc were due to dealerships not being able to diagnosis problems properly. But you are dead wrong about one part. All hybrids ARE doomed to have battery failure. It is the design, and it is only a matter of time before it happens. Weather you have gotten your $$$ out of it to that point or not will only be told in time

 

From your posts, it's hard to believe you really think that.

All cars are doomed to have engine or transmission failure so what's the difference? I had a Chevy whose tranny died with less than 80k miles on the clock. I know several people at work who have had to replace their engines in their trucks with less than 100,000 miles on them due to engine failure. None of us set up a website about our problems and trolled forums.

 

Say what? The report was written by Herb Weisbaum, from MSNBC's "ConsumerMan". Berman is quoted once in the article, from his contribution to an article in BusinessWeek.

Before you attempt to scorn the credibility of others, I recommend checking your own. You do a disservice to your argument by blatant misrepresentation of the authorship of the report from MSNBC.

 

Original Article i am reffering too, Sorry for not being Clear (which is linked within your article which if you read my replies has to do with the comment of 160,000km which Herb sourced to the following)




One of the Supporting Articles TO the original article

 

I dont understand how you guys lump Engine failure to battery failure as being the same. They are not. We are talking above and BEYOND the cost to maintain a regualr gas engine. Your argument would work if we were comparing EV to Gas.


Actually, their are tones of pro-hybrid websites up around the net. Why Silence one that gives an oposing view? And why is presenting an ligatimate oposing argument Trolling? Infact by making such a comment YOU are infact trolling