Oct 10, 2008

Toyota Drops Price for Prius Batteries

Remember opening a toy on Christmas morning only to find the words of that dreaded sticker, “Batteries Not Included?” Well, in the first- and second-generation Toyota Prius, the batteries were included, but when time came to replace them, it cost a lot more than the price of a few D-cells. To address that, and presumably to keep the customers satisfied, Toyota Motor Sales USA has lowered the price of the nickel-metal hydride Prius replacement battery by 10 percent.

“For the most part, these customers have a positive ownership experience and want to keep their vehicle,” said Gary Smith, Toyota corporate manager for product quality and service support. “We’ve stated from the beginning that battery replacement costs will continue to decline due to technology and volume-related advancements.”

The drop in price might come partially as the result of grousing from current Prius owners, some of whom have filled chat rooms with negative vibes concerning the cost of battery replacement for the Prius. The new price isn’t cheap -- $2,229 for a 2000-03 model-year first-generation battery and $2,588 for a 2004-08 model-year second-generation battery. Toyota says the new, lower prices will benefit high-mileage drivers who drive beyond the 10-year/150,000-mile warranty or the eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. The carmaker also offered the possibility that it might “remanufacture” Prius batteries in North America.