We're not quite there yet, but getting close to replacing one of our vehicles. Looking at what's available in our price range (~$8k), I've come across a few Camry Hybrids that look pretty appealing. They seem to generally be in the 110k-120k mile range, which has never scared me away from a conventional gas vehicle. If EPA estimates are accurate, it should use half (or less) the fuel around town that our minivan currently uses.
Anecdotal stories on the internet seem to range from 'battery is on borrowed time, be prepared to spend thousands to replace' to 'mine has lasted 200k so far and shows no signs of quitting.' I imagine a realistic expectation is somewhere between those two extremes? Closer to one than the other?
- If not completely dead, there's really no way to tell how much life is left in a hybrid battery, is there? At least in a test drive setting?
- I've seen Prius owners in particular mention identifying individual cells that have gotten weak, and replacing/reconditioning those. Presume that's feasible on most other hybrid models as well?
Any experience, insights, or other thoughts appreciated!