Can I drive my hybrid without the battery?

So I was at a Toyota dealership today, and they told me that replacing the battery in my 2021 hybrid would run me 10K. I started wondering… if the battery goes bad, can I just run it on gas like a regular non-hybrid? I don’t know much about the mechanics of hybrids, but I figured taking the battery out would at least make it lighter. Anyone know if this could work?

Why would a 2021 hybrid need a new battery so soon? Only four years old and already talking replacements? That’s wild…

Zora said:
Why would a 2021 hybrid need a new battery so soon? Only four years old and already talking replacements? That’s wild…

Oh no, You don’t need a battery right now. One of the sales guys was trying to convince me to trade in my car, saying the battery might go soon. Mine has 200K miles and is still doing great. I don’t usually fall for sales talk, but it got me thinking if the battery fails, could I still drive it on gas?

@Nidra
Salespeople are the worst.

@Nidra
I asked the same thing when I got mine. The answer is no, unfortunately. But wow, 200K miles in four years? That’s impressive!

Amber said:
@Nidra
I asked the same thing when I got mine. The answer is no, unfortunately. But wow, 200K miles in four years? That’s impressive!

Probably a lot of commuting or road trips. I’m a rideshare driver and I rack up 5K miles every three months.

Amber said:
@Nidra
I asked the same thing when I got mine. The answer is no, unfortunately. But wow, 200K miles in four years? That’s impressive!

I’m impressed too. My 2011 RAV4 just hit 230K miles, and I thought I was putting on a lot!

Amber said:
@Nidra
I asked the same thing when I got mine. The answer is no, unfortunately. But wow, 200K miles in four years? That’s impressive!

My 2024 Rav4 Hybrid has a 10-year battery warranty. I think the 2021 models had the same.

@Thorn
It’s 10 years or 150K miles, whichever comes first.

@Nidra
How did you manage 200K miles in just three years?

Max said:
@Nidra
How did you manage 200K miles in just three years?

I travel a lot! I have friends in other states, take my grandkids on trips, and follow my grandson’s travel baseball games. Plus, I visit family and friends in other parts of my state regularly. I drive to town at least five times a week, which is about 100 miles round trip. It all adds up, and since I’m retired, I can go wherever I want.

The car is comfortable, and it’s got great fuel economy—though staying home would obviously save more gas.

@Nidra
With all that driving, are your batteries still in good shape? No issues yet?

Zachary said:
@Nidra
With all that driving, are your batteries still in good shape? No issues yet?

Nope, no issues at all.

The hybrid battery actually helps start the engine. If it’s dead, you probably won’t be able to drive it. Even if there’s a bit of power left, you’ll get terrible gas mileage. I’d suggest getting a quote from somewhere other than the dealership.

No, you can’t drive it like a regular gas car. And honestly, the price they quoted you is ridiculous. Toyota hybrids are known for lasting a really long time—some even go beyond 400K miles with the battery still working fine. For most hybrids, the battery lasts around 11 to 14 years. Just make sure to keep the fan filter clean and you should be good to go.

@Tate
Thanks! I figured they were trying to scare me. Someone on this forum drives a RAV hybrid for medical supply deliveries, and their car is almost at 500K miles. That’s inspiring!

Nidra said:
@Tate
Thanks! I figured they were trying to scare me. Someone on this forum drives a RAV hybrid for medical supply deliveries, and their car is almost at 500K miles. That’s inspiring!

I saw their posts too! I think they sold it at around 460K miles after finding a car they always wanted. Just goes to show how solid the eCVT and hybrid batteries are. Makes me feel pretty good about my 2023 with 20K miles so far!

@Tate
I love my RAV hybrid. I don’t think I’ll ever drive anything else as my main vehicle.

Edit: Typo

@Tate
I agree! We bought a 2004 Prius new, and it’s still running with over 200K miles. We only had to replace the hybrid battery about four months ago. I don’t remember the exact cost, but it was manageable.

We also have a 2014 RAV4, and I’m expecting the same kind of reliability from it.

No, it won’t work. The battery is essential for starting the engine and managing how the transmission works. Without it, the car won’t run properly.