Hybrid Owners, have you noticed your battery becoming less efficient with time?

[TheVTCGuy]

I have a 2015 Ford Fusion hybrid, Titanium model with 55,000 miles. It is top of the line with all the amenities and a very nice ride. It has served me very well the almost seven years I have owned it.

For a mid size sedan it got great mileage in the beginning, the first couple years I averaged around 50MPG per tank. For most of the life of the car it has been solid around 45, but the last year it has dropped and the last three or four tanks have been in the upper 30s.

I am OCD about preventative maintenance, I had the fuel injectors cleaned, cleaned the K and N air filter, change the (synthetic) oil religiously every 5,000 miles, but it still dropped. I have heard the batteries last typically ten years, but start to degrade around seven or eight (makes sense), and was wondering the experience of any other hybrid owners with mid-high time on their cars are experiencing. The mileage for the time I have owned it is really fairly low (55,000 over seven years) so I am a little surprised, can anyone else chime in their Hybrid experience?



PS No one tell Danny 83!!! He is taking this as a trade in when I get my Tesla!!!

[swils8610]

Battery capacity dwindles a bit over time. It’s amazing how far the technology has changed over the past two years. Sounds like you take great care of your car Paul!!


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[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by swils8610

Battery capacity dwindles a bit over time. It’s amazing how far the technology has changed over the past two years. Sounds like you take great care of your car Paul!!


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If ok

[SDGT3]

The batteries will deteriorate over time like anything else but if it's within the charge it should give you the same MPG, the time to recharge or maintain the charge would change.

There are several other variables to factor into MPG such as a change in tires (low rolling resistance tires vs off the shelf tires), PSI in tires, A/C on or off, winter blend gas vs. off season fuel, windows up or down (drag), change in city driving vs. hwy driving etc.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

If ok

I just noticed this post… it is not at all what I wrote

I’ll try it again, Shannon, as an industry expert, I was asking your opinion of the future batteries, for full electric and hybrid vehicles. It seems like the talk is all about the sold-state battery that will change everything and make electric cars cheaper, longer lasting etc. What do you think?

[Chewbacca]

The mileage drop seems in line with specs and age.

If she’s running well and you’ve put all this maintenance in it, I’d swap battery packs. About $700-1000 and there’s many shops that’ll even use salvaged parts for less. On a 2015 it might be worth it and they’ll rebuild and swap your old pack.

2015 Fusion Hybrid Warranty

Note: Lithium-Ion Battery Gradual Capacity Loss
The Lithium-ion battery (EV battery) will experience gradual capacity loss with time and use (similar to all lithium-ion batteries), which is considered normal wear and tear. Loss of battery capacity due to or resulting from gradual capacity loss is NOT covered under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. See your Owner’s Manual for important tips on how to maximize the life and capacity of the Lithium-ion battery.




http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo...US_05_2014.pdf

[Duey]

I've got a 2006 Lexus RX400H that I bought new and around town it got 26.9 MPG at first and today I'm getting 25 MPG and it's got 65k miles on it. Not as dramatic as yours but it has gone down.

[904VT]

100% the battery. The more charge cycles it goes thru, the lower the capacity to hold charge over time of any lithium based. Luckily, you don't have to deal with any extreme cold temps in So Cal, so I would bet your battery life will be better than most owners. Similar experience with Toyota hybrids for me. Normal efficiency leak. Also, why I believe hybrids to be superior to pure EVs that will degrade more quickly.