I drive a 2021 2.0 Corolla TS Hybrid, mainly 5km to work and back daily, and every three months, a 700km highway trip to visit my parents. I cover around 10k km annually.
Will the HV battery last about 9-10 years with this kind of use?
I’m also considering switching to an e-bike for work and getting a Lexus UX200 for occasional use and those longer trips.
Given that maintaining ICE vehicles might become tougher and fuel prices could skyrocket due to EU regulations, I want to transition over the next decade without losing too much money.
In 10 years, fossil fuel engines might be harder to maintain, and fuel prices will be high.
Toyota, BMW, Porsche, Mazda, and others are still investing heavily in ICE cars. Despite EU policies, ICE vehicles are not disappearing anytime soon, and the 2035 EV target is already seeing some pushback.
@West
Until nuclear power scales up and the electrical infrastructure improves, ICE vehicles aren’t going away. They might become hybrids, but fully electric cars are currently not environmentally friendly to produce on a large scale and often don’t achieve their advertised ranges.
Excessive heat and imbalanced charge hurt the HV battery. Starting your hybrid daily, even for short trips, is good for the battery, but short trips can be tough on the combustion engine. You should change the oil more often, around every 7,500km, due to “severe conditions.”
How long does your 5km drive take? Hybrids are great for short city trips, but very short trips can be hard on the engine if it doesn’t warm up. To protect the battery, avoid parking with too much or too little charge.
Harley said: @Jason
That’s why I’m glad the auto industry is moving toward EVs. Anything under 20km is already bad for engines, be it petrol, diesel, or hybrid.
Totally agree. I plan to get an EV when I can charge at home. For now, my Toyota Yaris Hybrid works well for my needs. It handles short trips better by warming up the engine gradually and using electric power during the warm-up phase.
Lesley said:
Hybrids are currently the best compromise between ICE and EV, offering better efficiency and lower emissions without the range anxiety of full EVs.
Hybrids feel like a stopgap until EVs are fully developed, and ICE vehicles are becoming more expensive.