How Long Does a Hybrid Vehicle Battery Last For?

A growing consciousness of the availability of fossil fuels, coupled with a desire for more eco-friendly vehicles has produced some of the most efficient hybrid vehicles to date. Hybrid vehicles run off of gasoline but also use hybrid batteries to conserve fuel and reduce harmful emissions. It is estimated that 2012 saw around 4,500,000 hybrid vehicles sold worldwide with 2,180,000 vehicles being sold in the United States alone. For those on the fence, here are two of the strongest reasons to switch to a hybrid vehicle.

A More Economical Alternative

Naturally, those who invest in a hybrid vehicle can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars on gas every year. There are also other economic incentives for buying a hybrid vehicle; in the United States hybrid drivers save up to $3,400 in taxes. Many car insurance companies will help hybrid drivers save with discounts, as research shows that hybrid drivers are less likely to be involved in an accident. Although hybrid vehicles do cost an average of 15-25% more than traditional vehicles, studies have proven that the cost is recouped several times if the vehicle is owned for a long span of time.

Environmentally Friendly

Hybrid vehicles are specifically designed to increase fuel economy while decreasing the amount of green house gas emissions by 25-35%. Electric batteries for cars can be recharged overnight using a simple adaptor with many cities adopting public recharging stations to encourage drivers to switch to hybrid vehicles. Many hybrid vehicles use a regenerative charging system for its batteries where a portion of the kinetic energy produced from using brakes is sent back into the battery. Experts suggest replacing a hybrid battery every six to eight years — most come with an 8 year or 100,000 mile warranty. The cost of replacing a hybrid battery can be anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 on average — which is still less than six to eight years of gas use in a traditional vehicle. Hybrid vehicles are one of the first steps to an affordable, environmentally-friendly future for all vehicles.