Anyone remotely familiar with hybrid vehicles is aware that even with the many benefits they provide, there are some potential drawbacks that need to be considered. One of these drawbacks, according to mechanics and consumers, appears to be in the longevity, power, and great gas mileage of the battery over time. The downsides do not affect all consumers or all hybrids on the road, and there are many. Current reports estimate about two million gas-electric and diesel-electric hybrid vehicles on the road in 2013 and the EIA estimates that in 2011 there were nearly 11 million alternative fuel vehicles in the United States. With so many hybrids driven, there are likely to be some battery problems and most have to do with loss of power and fuel consumption.

Most consumers are willing to take risks, and many warranties have extended battery coverage to 100,000 in many cases. Most batteries will last well beyond those estimates and can continue to function like new. But there are some batteries that, even after this amount of life, just need some life to be breathed into them. However, if a hybrid car experiences battery failure outside of its warranty, the owner is alone when it comes to battery replacement. Consumers unfamiliar with the hybrid battery conditioning option may be in awe of current hybrid battery prices, some of which are over $ 4,000. Dr. Mark Quarto and his Automotive Research and Design team have developed technology that can restore a hybrid battery to more than 95% of its original performance.

The technology sounds pretty awesome, but the question remains: does it work? Many consumers are eager to save thousands of dollars by retrofitting hybrid batteries instead of replacing their old battery. Not only are the financial savings apparent, but many hybrid owners are eager to enjoy the environmental benefits of this unique technology, as it was one of the original factors why they bought a hybrid in the first place. Dr. Mark Quarto is an expert in hybrid battery conditioning and claims that his proprietary technology will change the hybrid industry. Its familiarity with nickel metal hydride, lithium technologies, and history of hybrid development make for some very interesting and research-based findings.

If you notice that your hybrid has less power than ever, or that its fuel efficiency is well below its normal range, your battery capacity may be undergoing some kind of failure or deterioration. How does a hybrid battery lose performance capacity? There are two systems that can affect the acceleration of your hybrid. Of course, when it comes to traditional cars, you only have a powertrain made up of the gasoline-powered engine. With a hybrid, you have the gasoline engine and then you have an electric powertrain or traction. The two of you must work together to make your hybrid what it is. There are times when the hybrid battery can be low power and low power. When the acceleration process begins, the hybrid requires that electric traction system for the vehicle to function. If that battery pack doesn’t provide the proper amount of power, you might feel like the hybrid is hesitant or seems slower than usual. If you can identify the cause or work with a specialized auto repair shop to find solutions for acceleration or battery drain problems, your hybrid can last for many years.

That is why battery conditioning is gaining so much popularity. Hybrid owners can immediately enjoy the performance of their vehicle again. Hybrid battery conditioning is straightforward and costs a fraction of the cost of a new battery. This alone is what consumers are most excited about, and for good reason. There are thousands of old hybrid batteries filling landfills across the country. To make a difference to the environment, as most hybrid drivers want to do, hybrid battery conditioning can help remove waste from landfills.

At an average cost of $ 4,000 to $ 4,500, this is a significant investment that essentially eliminates the reason to buy a hybrid vehicle. Hybrid vehicles tend to be a bit more expensive up front, but they are not necessarily more expensive to maintain over their useful life, unless you need to replace the battery after the warranty ends. Hybrid battery conditioning eliminates this inconvenience by costing less and giving your vehicle more life. Because the hybrid battery is an integral part of the vehicle’s operation, it is often compared to the vehicle’s transmission. Most hybrid batteries do not need to be replaced. In fact, 60-80% of hybrid batteries that were bought new did not have to be replaced when they were not working well (when they were under warranty or not).

However, the battery system is much more complex. The hybrid battery is not an entity, but a battery module pack. The battery is what powers the vehicle. Without this battery pack, a hybrid driver cannot get the power or fuel efficiency they claim. The Toyota Prius battery, for example, consists of 28 individual modules and when there is a problem with the battery, it is most likely due to one of the modules, not all. Each of the 28 modules has its own state of health and at any given time they may be in a different state. Over time, the worst battery modules in that pack end up triggering a diagnostic code and that can sometimes force a dealer or repair shop to replace the battery. However, it may be that one or two of the modules need to be replaced and not the entire pack or battery could be out of balance or low on capacity. Low capacity is where battery conditioning comes in and is very common. Conditioning means that the pack is cycled (the top load drops to zero and then returns to 100%). This is good for the battery pack and cells, but it can also help diagnose any problems with the pack.

All in all, hybrid battery replacement is one of the most critical issues hybrid controllers face. With hybrid battery conditioning as effective and efficient as it is, drivers have another option to extend the life of their hybrid and support a cleaner environment. Reconditioning a battery has been found to add approximately six years to the vehicle for a quarter of the price of replacing the entire battery pack. It has been shown to improve fuel efficiency and increase horsepower, and has been highly recommended by consumers around the world. It’s worth a try? Absolutely. When stores can guarantee the advantages mentioned above, it is worth it.