Ask an expert

I am thinking of buying a Toyota Prius but I have been told that the batteries don't last forever and cost about $10,000 to replace.

Is this correct? How long do the batteries last?

The Toyota showroom in the town where I live is offering a new Prius at a reduced price (which is great) but does it mean that this model has been superceded by one with more advanced technology?

The engine has a 1500cc rating. Is this suitable for long distance travel?

Adrienne.

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 8 September 2008

The life and cost of these batteries has been very topical for a number of years now with the overall results being very positive.

There are a number of cases globally where vehicles have clocked up massive distances (300,000 plus km's) on their original batteries with no problems.

Like a lot of new innovations, the early prototypes of the Toyota Prius which have tended to find their way to NZ as used Japanese imports are extremely high risk (not even Toyota NZ can fix them in many cases). When the hybrid technology is discussed in general however these vehicles should be ignored.

Toyota NZ are currently offering an eight year warranty on the Pruis batteries. This warranty is part of their new car warranty programme for vehicles sold through the Toyota dealer network in NZ.

Costs are also tumbling. I believe the current retail price is around the $6,000 mark and is expected to decrease rather than increase over the next few years. If a battery was deemed to be faulty and replaced, my information is, it is shipped back to the factory for investigation and recycling.

I am not aware of any new developments or upgrades to the Prius in the near future. There are rumours of the hybrid system being converted to allow for a 'plug-in' recharge of the battery via the home but if and when this becomes available who knows.

The engine size should not be a problem on long trips unless you have a specific need for lots of power.

The biggest issue with the Prius is the retail cost in my view. They are very expensive when compared to other petrol or diesel vehicles of similar body and engine size. One of the reasons for this is reported to be the high production costs which ultimately are passed on at retail level.

It could be argued you are helping the environment with any new vehicle you purchase in comparison to an older model as they all must comply with strict emissions standards, both petrol and diesel. And as I stated before, there are some wonderful fuel efficient and safe vehicles at cheaper retail prices.

The biggest environmental benefit from a Prius is gained when driving around congested inner city streets and / or in car parks where the vehicle is powered by the battery alone, eliminating carbon emissions from the tail pipe.

On the open road it can be argued they are no more environmentally friendly as many other new cars as the vehicle is being powered by its petrol engine.

Hybrid technology is not the final answer to the way vehicles will be powered in the years ahead, but it is part of the journey many of the auto industry will travel in the future.

Make sure you give the Prius a good long test drive before you make your final decision.