When considering the potential purchase of a hybrid car for the first time, most people hesitate slightly in the knowledge that under the hood, they are somewhat different from conventional gasoline powered cars. Most people are aware that hybrid cars have battery-powered motors and this brings to the surface one or two uncertainties. It would therefore be advantageous to look more closely at the facts about battery packs used in modern hybrid cars.
Hybrid car battery packs should never need replacing
Unlike batteries in conventional cars, which need replacing every three or four years, hybrid car battery packs are warranted for between eight and ten years. They not only can last much longer but usually outlast the life of the rest of the car. In terms of mileage, they are designed to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, which in today’s terms is way beyond the life expectancy of the normal car.
Hybrid batteries are designed to be recyclable
In conventional cars, the batteries utilise rechargeable Nickel Cadmium elements that when disposed of give some toxic waste concerns. The design of hybrid car batteries utilises a NiMH construction that is fully recyclable and produce much reduced toxic waste effects.
Hybrid batteries contain hundreds of cells
Conventional car batteries have very few cells and the deterioration of any one of them can have a catastrophic effect on performance. Hybrid car batteries are constructed with hundreds of cells, which at first glance would indicate a problem of complexity and possibly less reliability. Modern construction methods ensure this is not the case and in fact the sheer number of cells means that should one or two deteriorate, over all performance remains relatively unaffected. This is clearly reflected in the length of warranty the battery manufacturers are prepared to give and should therefore give rise to no anxiety when purchasing a hybrid car.
The rate of hybrid car battery pack failure is negligible
The battery failure rate on hybrid cars in normal use is so low its difficult to quantify. Where a faulty or failing battery has been produced, it will usually be found before you take delivery from the dealer. Toyota has issued statistics that show some of its hybrid battery packs have lasted for over 300,000 miles. All of this once again is reflected in the length of warranty given by the manufacturers.
No need to budget for replacement hybrid battery costs
Once again this comes back to the fact that warranties are for eight to ten years and the fact that batteries are known to last for hundreds of thousands of miles. The U.S. Department of Energy commenced tests to show the decline in power of hybrid battery packs over distance in use. It actually terminated its testing when after 160,000 miles it could detect no discernible drop in battery capacity and described the performance still to be ‘as new’.
Hybrid battery packs have still to be fully developed
All auto manufacturers and their suppliers have continuing development programs and hybrid battery packs are no exception. The battery industry is targeting new technology in order to produce more powerful and more efficient battery capacity, reduced manufacturing costs and therefore lower prices, together with extending even further the efficient working life of the battery pack.
After the warranty period you can still refurbish a hybrid battery pack
So, somewhere down the line you own a hybrid car more than ten years old with more than 200,000 miles on the clock and the battery pack starts playing up. No problems. You can just refurbish the battery pack. The hundreds of cells within the packs are divided up into 28 separate modules. All you have to do is replace the faulty module with a non-faulty one from another pack of similar mileage and age. The latter point is essential as the replacement cells have to have the same chemical performance as the ones in the other 27 modules.
Taking into account the above facts, it can be seen that there should be little cause for anxiety about battery packs when contemplating the purchase of a hybrid car.
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Wendy Gorman is an accomplished author and niche website developer. She is committed to exploring the question “what is a hybrid car?” and also to explain how to buy a hybrid car.
One great hobby that stands out and is enjoyed throughout the world is flying radio controlled airplanes. This hobby can be passed down from generation to generation through the stages of building and then onto the flying aspect. One of the most important components of this is going to be your battery. So which RC battery pack should one choose with this hobby?
There are two types that one can choose for their rc battery pack. These can be used for RC transmitters or for the electric planes. Two of the most popular brands of batteries are the LiPo and the other being Nanotech. LiPo being Lithium Polymer while Nanotech a new battery of choice, discharges and fully charges within seconds other than minutes.
When mentioning the RC transmitter this is the device to help in the controlling of the radio controlled airplane. Whether it’s a simple three channel or highly developed 10 channel these channels provide an extra extension of ones own hands.
Each RC battery pack for an individuals radio controlled plane will need to be charged, discharged, and may even need to be stored differently than others. Whether using an electric or other battery, the well being of these batteries may impact the performance if not cared for.
Keep in mind that each airplane model may also call for a different cell count or battery configuration. Before using any RC battery pack make sure you check the owners manual for your models specific information. This information can be found under “other items needed”.
In the choosing of any RC battery pack for your radio controlled plane, the battery life is key to enjoying the blue skies of flight. Take the time to find which one is best for your model and read up on maintaining the life for this battery. This is one hobby that caters to anyone who wants the ability to fly a simple radio controlled plane to the a more complex model.
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Trevor Sadler from RC Universe is an avid RC hobbyist himself and invites you to go to http://www.RC-Universe.net in order to view all the information from RC-Universe. View a collection of RC models and accessories which are available for purchase, as well as photos, video’s and articles that can be found when you visit this site. There is an excellent choice of remote control models ready for your consideration.
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