How Long Do Hybrid Car Batteries Last?

Are you thinking about buying a hybrid vehicle for your Kansas City commute? If so, you might be asking what a lot of other Leawood, KS drivers ask us at Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City South. “How long do hybrid car batteries last?” Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City South is at your service! Read on to find out more about hybrid car battery life here, and if you still have questions, contact us. We’re always happy to help!

Expected Hybrid Car Battery LifeSpan

The good news is that hybrid vehicle manufacturers in the United States are legally required to provide a warranty on high-voltage hybrid battery packs for at least eight years or up to 100,000 miles. In addition, auto manufacturers in the U.S. are legally obliged to transfer the balance of any hybrid battery warranty to a new owner. Still, occasionally high-voltage battery packs on hybrid cars can fail. Continue reading to learn what you can do to extend the life of your hybrid car battery life on Overland Park, KS roads and beyond.

Causes of Hybrid Car Battery Life Reduction or Failure

There are many possible reasons why a hybrid car battery life might not be as long as expected. Individual cells or modules can fail in the battery, and the most common reasons are:

• Poor electrical connections between cells or battery modules
• Auto manufacturing defects in battery cells
• Extreme high or low battery temperatures 
• Manufacturing differences between cells
• Mechanical damage to the battery during routine maintenance or service
• Improper serving procedures, which is why you should have your hybrid vehicle serviced by the certified Mercedes-Benz service technicians on the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City South service team

How To Protect Your Hybrid Vehicle’s Battery Pack

Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City South does not recommend that you work on your own hybrid battery pack around Stilwell, KS because they can be hazardous. Still, there is one significant thing you can do to protect your hybrid vehicle battery life that doesn’t include working on it yourself.

Don’t Ignore Warning Lights

The hybrid battery monitoring system has trouble codes and warning indicators that will show on your dashboard if it detects any issues, defects, malfunctions, or failures in the battery pack and its related systems. These kinds of issues may include:

• Abnormal battery temperatures likely caused by problems with the dedicated computer-controlled battery cooling system
• Imbalances between battery cells or battery modules. The failure of just one battery cell will likely degrade the performance of the entire battery pack
• Abnormally high or low rates of charging

If a Hybrid Battery Dies, Can You Still Drive the Car?

Sometimes customers ask us, “If a hybrid battery dies, can you still drive the car?” The answer is, it depends on which battery died. Fortunately, most hybrid cars have two batteries: the hybrid battery and a much smaller battery to operate the electronics in your vehicle. If the smaller battery dies, it’s not a problem. You can still drive it around Kansas City. However, if the main hybrid car battery is dead, do not attempt to drive the vehicle and make a service appointment at Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City South immediately.

Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City South is Your Best Source for Hybrid Car Battery Service

Now that you no longer need to ask, “How long do hybrid car batteries last?” if you ever experience issues with your hybrid car battery life, contact us at Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City South. Also, if you are considering purchasing a new hybrid vehicle, you can browse our extensive inventory of new Mercedes-Benz models online or at the dealership. Let us know how we can help. We’re here for you!