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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg The study also found a few cars in Victoria, B.C., that are still used as a taxi service. These vehicles have between 300,000 to 400,000 miles on them and are still using the same batteries installed (http://www.newsoxy.com/toyota-prius/battery-pack-will-last-10-years.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/619/127_2010_Prius.jpgBill Waters - NEWSOXY (http://www.newsoxy.com) - October 15, 2009

This should put a zipper on the critics mouths --Ed.

A Prius battery pack could last as much as 400,000 miles with minimal maintenance issues, according to an independent study conducted by Toyota Motor Company. The study also found that many of the first-generation Toyota Prius hybrids are still running with more than 200,000 miles with their original battery packs. This study quite interesting and it does squash any rumors that the Toyota hybrid will need its batteries replaced every five years, as most critics speculate.

The study also found a few cars in Victoria, B.C., that are still used as a taxi service. These vehicles have between 300,000 to 400,000 miles on them and are still using the same batteries installed since 2001. These findings are remarkable.
... http://www.newsoxy.com/toyota-prius/battery-pack-will-last-10-years.html

This article really needed to cover how much wear occurred in the taxi batteries over 10 years, and how it impacted mileage, but with TM's 10 year warranty, it's a non-issue for most consumers, anyway.

I wonder if my FEH battery is made by the same company? (I think Samsung??)

See this on a BC taxi driver (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/in-the-news/t-cab-drivers-prius-cost-recovered-in-24-months-5426.html).

He's driven a Prius I for at least 250,000 miles then Toyota swaped it for research - he has more miles on the Prius II.

This should put a zipper on the critics mouths --Ed.I want to believe that too, but skeptical. Have most of the hybrid attacks been rational? I hope plenty will listen and see how many hybrids are on the road. The things said against hybrids often remind me of gradeschool boys throwing stuff until something sticks - they could care less if it's true. The motivation for the attacks is it's not made in America, or the Prius is supposed to be a political icon, etc.

This report is actually old news. The MiHG has been handing out copies of the two reports this article is based on for over two years. Two years later, the data is even more impressive, since many of the vehicles have 400,000 miles on them.

Since the number one question by the public at the Milwaukee Auto Show has always been the reliability of batteries, we have been giving out two handouts that reflect the data from the BC taxi fleet. The data indicates 1st gen Prius battery reliabilty as well as lower overall maintenace costs as well.

When buying a conventional vehicle, you usually don't ask about how long the transmission will last, you assume it'll last the life of the vehicle. So our MiHG bottom line has been that the battery packs will last the life of the vehicle.

Just drop a line to us at brad@milwaukeehybridgroup.com and we'll forward the handouts to you.

Bradlee

For such a critical component I would like to take my hat off and salute those engineers that got this right, on the first try no less. Thank you gentlemen wherever you are.

I would say they (Toyota) got it right on the third iteration. The first (cylindrical cells) have caused owners lots of problems. The second (prismatic 2001-2003) were much better but not failure free. The third (primatics with better electrode design to distribute heat evenly) do indeed appear to be nearly bulletproof.

DAS