Current price of Prius main battery

Here's a periodic update on the price of the main battery used in
the Prius as sold in the UK (and, I suspect, as elsewhere), since
this seems to agitate some people. Details supplied today by my
local Toyota Centre (sales, service &c), Dingles of Norwich.

Last November, the price (w/o taxes and labour: ie, just battery)
was GBP1321.35 (at $1.75/GBP --> $2312.36). It now (30mar2006)
is GBP1530.42 ($2678.24).

This 15.8% increase is not surprising, considering how energy and
materials prices have rocketed. It seems reasonable to hope that
production runs and redesigns will reduce this, either by numbers
falling or a static price while inflation boosts everything else.
(And I have over seven years of warranty left, so whattheheck.)

BTW, prices locally vary, AIUI. (One local source, married to a
Japanese, says their Japanese visitors sometimes buy car parts on
visits to the UK, as prices in *.JP are so much higher.) So it's
possible that in the US the $ price is higher (or lower). On top
of that, unscrupulous liars could misrepresent the true price for
private reasons, so be wary.

Whatever the case, those are the current UK numbers. HTH.
--
Andrew Stephenson

That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a conventionally powered
car for a year of two. ;)


mike hunt


"Andrew Stephenson" <ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1143728667snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...[color=blue]
> Here's a periodic update on the price of the main battery used in
> the Prius as sold in the UK (and, I suspect, as elsewhere), since
> this seems to agitate some people. Details supplied today by my
> local Toyota Centre (sales, service &c), Dingles of Norwich.
>
> Last November, the price (w/o taxes and labour: ie, just battery)
> was GBP1321.35 (at $1.75/GBP --> $2312.36). It now (30mar2006)
> is GBP1530.42 ($2678.24).
>[/color]

In article <1143728667snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk>
[email]ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk[/email] "Andrew Stephenson" writes:
[color=blue]
> Here's a periodic update on the price of the main battery used in
> the Prius as sold in the UK (and, I suspect, as elsewhere), since
> this seems to agitate some people. Details supplied today by my
> local Toyota Centre (sales, service &c), Dingles of Norwich.
>
> [...][/color]

The Man From Dingles (Who Say How Much) reports further that they
have been handling the Prius for years (the oldest on their books
seemingly dating from 2000), that they may have sold as many as a
hundred into East Anglia -- basically eastern England -- and have
_never_ supplied a main battery, on any basis. For me, that puts
it into perspective. The trick to maximising battery life is to
maintain it correctly; and most of that is handled by the Prius'
onboard autonomic systems, augmented by normal regular servicing.
--
Andrew Stephenson

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a conventionally powered
> car for a year of two. ;)
>
>
> mike hunt
>[/color]

Hey, if you don't mind paying more than your fair share subsidizing
terrorists...

Duh. I have news for you, hybrids burn gasoline LOL


mike hunt


"mark_digital" <xxx976@comcast.com> wrote in message
news:LamdndgI856nv7HZRVn-iA@comcast.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=green]
>> That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a conventionally powered
>> car for a year of two. ;)
>>
>>
>> mike hunt
>>[/color]
>
> Hey, if you don't mind paying more than your fair share subsidizing
> terrorists...[/color]

In article <LamdndgI856nv7HZRVn-iA@comcast.com>
[email]xxx976@comcast.com[/email] "mark_digital" writes:
[color=blue]
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...
>[color=green]
> > That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a
> > conventionally powered car for a year of two. ;)[/color]
>
> Hey, if you don't mind paying more than your fair share
> subsidizing terrorists...[/color]

I don't usually see Mike's posts, as he's in my killfile (and not
about to leave it, if that lamebrain effort is typical of current
output) but his observation is marginally less asinine than usual
and can easily be put into perspective.

Of late, when I go to fill up I am paying approx 85.9 pence/litre
(and could easily pay up to 89.9 at other local filling stations)
for basic unleaded. The tank takes some 45 litres and I seem to
be getting around 56mpgUK (now that the weather is warming) with
a fill-up once a month. Other data: 1 gallonUK = approx 4.54605
litres; and 1 galUS = approx 0.8 galUK.

Okay, not a lot of mileage: about (45/4.54605) * 56 = 554/month.

BTW, I am presenting all these figures so readers can compare my
sitaution with theirs, as matching like with like otherwise is a
bit difficult.

What would be a reasonable "conventional" car's mpgUK? Shall we
say 35? Do the summs differently, if you prefer.

On my present rate of consumption (assuming I don't begin driving
longer distances regularly), I am saving

((554/35) * 4.54605 - 45) * 0.859 GBP/month
= 26.96 GBP/month

Hence, to save the cost of a new main battery at (pre-labour and
pre-tax) price of GBP1530.42, I'd have to run my Prius for

1530.42 / 26.96 = 56.8 months, or about 4 years 9 months,

which means that, by the time my warranty runs out after 8 years,
I'll be able to afford to buy almost TWO new main batteries.

Yay!

Hey: and I could increase my saving (using the logic of household
goods sellers) by driving more than the modest amount I do now.

(Hmm, Mike doesn't happen to sell washing machines, does he?)
--
Andrew Stephenson

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a conventionally powered
> car for a year of two. ;)
> mike hunt[/color]

Considering that, out of several hundred Prius' sold (see Stephenson's own
reply to the original post) without a single replacement (ditto for the
local Toyota dealer), we're looking at a part that can be expected to last
200K or more miles. That's about $.01/ mile, maybe less if the price drops
(likely) or the battery life turns out to be longer.

Considering my last Ford was burning through transmissions at the rate of
about $.20/mile, the Prius battery doesn't look like a bad deal.

Come to think of it, I was spending $.01/mile in defroster blower motor
repairs on that Ford. And nearly $.03/mile on oil leak repairs.

Yeah, I think I'd be willing to take my chances with that Prius battery.
[color=blue]
> "Andrew Stephenson" <ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1143728667snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...[color=green]
> > Here's a periodic update on the price of the main battery used in
> > the Prius as sold in the UK (and, I suspect, as elsewhere), since
> > this seems to agitate some people. Details supplied today by my
> > local Toyota Centre (sales, service &c), Dingles of Norwich.
> >
> > Last November, the price (w/o taxes and labour: ie, just battery)
> > was GBP1321.35 (at $1.75/GBP --> $2312.36). It now (30mar2006)
> > is GBP1530.42 ($2678.24).[/color][/color]


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"DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
news:442c3ec3$0$13368$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...[color=blue]
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=green]
>> That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a conventionally powered
>> car for a year of two. ;)
>> mike hunt[/color]
>
> Considering that, out of several hundred Prius' sold (see Stephenson's own
> reply to the original post) without a single replacement (ditto for the
> local Toyota dealer), we're looking at a part that can be expected to last
> 200K or more miles. That's about $.01/ mile, maybe less if the price
> drops
> (likely) or the battery life turns out to be longer.
>[/color]

When one calculates the cost per mile you must add in the extra $6,000 it
cost to buy it over a Corolla At some point one will need to replace the
battery pack and at the point the question will be do I spend that much
money on a ten year old car of little value, or do I junk it? ;)


mike hunt


"DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
news:442c3ec3$0$13368$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...[color=blue]
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=green]
>> That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a conventionally powered
>> car for a year of two. ;)
>> mike hunt[/color]
>
> Considering that, out of several hundred Prius' sold (see Stephenson's own
> reply to the original post) without a single replacement (ditto for the
> local Toyota dealer), we're looking at a part that can be expected to last
> 200K or more miles. That's about $.01/ mile, maybe less if the price
> drops
> (likely) or the battery life turns out to be longer.
>[/color]

Have you calculated in the premium you paid to buy a Pruis over a Corolla.
That premium alone will buy all of the gas for a Corolla for three of four
years. ;)


mike hunt


"Andrew Stephenson" <ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1143745790snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...[color=blue]
> In article <LamdndgI856nv7HZRVn-iA@comcast.com>
> [email]xxx976@comcast.com[/email] "mark_digital" writes:
>[color=green]
>> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
>> news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...
>>[color=darkred]
>> > That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a
>> > conventionally powered car for a year of two. ;)[/color]
>>
>> Hey, if you don't mind paying more than your fair share
>> subsidizing terrorists...[/color]
>
> I don't usually see Mike's posts, as he's in my killfile (and not
> about to leave it, if that lamebrain effort is typical of current
> output) but his observation is marginally less asinine than usual
> and can easily be put into perspective.
>
> Of late, when I go to fill up I am paying approx 85.9 pence/litre
> (and could easily pay up to 89.9 at other local filling stations)
> for basic unleaded. The tank takes some 45 litres and I seem to
> be getting around 56mpgUK (now that the weather is warming) with
> a fill-up once a month. Other data: 1 gallonUK = approx 4.54605
> litres; and 1 galUS = approx 0.8 galUK.
>
> Okay, not a lot of mileage: about (45/4.54605) * 56 = 554/month.
>
> BTW, I am presenting all these figures so readers can compare my
> sitaution with theirs, as matching like with like otherwise is a
> bit difficult.
>
> What would be a reasonable "conventional" car's mpgUK? Shall we
> say 35? Do the summs differently, if you prefer.
>
> On my present rate of consumption (assuming I don't begin driving
> longer distances regularly), I am saving
>
> ((554/35) * 4.54605 - 45) * 0.859 GBP/month
> = 26.96 GBP/month
>
> Hence, to save the cost of a new main battery at (pre-labour and
> pre-tax) price of GBP1530.42, I'd have to run my Prius for
>
> 1530.42 / 26.96 = 56.8 months, or about 4 years 9 months,
>
> which means that, by the time my warranty runs out after 8 years,
> I'll be able to afford to buy almost TWO new main batteries.
>
> Yay!
>
> Hey: and I could increase my saving (using the logic of household
> goods sellers) by driving more than the modest amount I do now.
>
> (Hmm, Mike doesn't happen to sell washing machines, does he?)
> --
> Andrew Stephenson
>[/color]

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:yKycnYqkMqnE2rHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> Have you calculated in the premium you paid to buy a Pruis over a Corolla.
> That premium alone will buy all of the gas for a Corolla for three of four
> years. ;)
> mike hunt[/color]

Low reading comprehension can be cured. Re-read the part where he says
you're in his killfile and figure out for yourself whether or not there's
any point to replying.

Oh, and a Prius is NOT a hybrid Corolla. It's a nicer car. Part of the
"premium" for the Prius is for the hybrid drivetrain and part is for a nicer
vehicle with more interior room. Go check the features list and size specs
at some authoritative source.
[color=blue]
> "Andrew Stephenson" <ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1143745790snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...[color=green]
> > In article <LamdndgI856nv7HZRVn-iA@comcast.com>
> > [email]xxx976@comcast.com[/email] "mark_digital" writes:
> >[color=darkred]
> >> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> >> news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...
> >>
> >> > That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a
> >> > conventionally powered car for a year of two. ;)
> >>
> >> Hey, if you don't mind paying more than your fair share
> >> subsidizing terrorists...[/color]
> >
> > I don't usually see Mike's posts, as he's in my killfile (and not
> > about to leave it, if that lamebrain effort is typical of current
> > output) but his observation is marginally less asinine than usual
> > and can easily be put into perspective.
> >
> > Of late, when I go to fill up I am paying approx 85.9 pence/litre
> > (and could easily pay up to 89.9 at other local filling stations)
> > for basic unleaded. The tank takes some 45 litres and I seem to
> > be getting around 56mpgUK (now that the weather is warming) with
> > a fill-up once a month. Other data: 1 gallonUK = approx 4.54605
> > litres; and 1 galUS = approx 0.8 galUK.
> >
> > Okay, not a lot of mileage: about (45/4.54605) * 56 = 554/month.
> >
> > BTW, I am presenting all these figures so readers can compare my
> > sitaution with theirs, as matching like with like otherwise is a
> > bit difficult.
> >
> > What would be a reasonable "conventional" car's mpgUK? Shall we
> > say 35? Do the summs differently, if you prefer.
> >
> > On my present rate of consumption (assuming I don't begin driving
> > longer distances regularly), I am saving
> >
> > ((554/35) * 4.54605 - 45) * 0.859 GBP/month
> > = 26.96 GBP/month
> >
> > Hence, to save the cost of a new main battery at (pre-labour and
> > pre-tax) price of GBP1530.42, I'd have to run my Prius for
> >
> > 1530.42 / 26.96 = 56.8 months, or about 4 years 9 months,
> >
> > which means that, by the time my warranty runs out after 8 years,
> > I'll be able to afford to buy almost TWO new main batteries.
> >
> > Yay!
> >
> > Hey: and I could increase my saving (using the logic of household
> > goods sellers) by driving more than the modest amount I do now.
> >
> > (Hmm, Mike doesn't happen to sell washing machines, does he?)
> > --
> > Andrew Stephenson[/color][/color]


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"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:5q2cnddHTMQC27HZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> When one calculates the cost per mile you must add in the extra $6,000 it
> cost to buy it over a Corolla At some point one will need to replace the
> battery pack and at the point the question will be do I spend that much
> money on a ten[/color]

or twenty
[color=blue]
> year old car of little value, or do I junk it? ;)
> mike hunt[/color]

I see the problem. You're used to driving Fords and, you're right, a ten
year-old Ford doess have little value(*).

Welcome to dot-TOYOTA! Ten-year-old Toyotas still have value and are still
worth driving. As CR pointed out recently, an eight-year-old Toyota will
have the same level of problems as a three-year-old domestic.

And a Prius is not the same as a Corolla. It has more interior room and
more features.

Oh, and have you ever known someone to put a transmission in a ten-year-old
car? Same decision. And it happens.

It's a penny a mile - maybe less. Get over it.
[color=blue]
> "DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
> news:442c3ec3$0$13368$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...[color=green]
> > "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> > news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=darkred]
> >> That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a conventionally[/color][/color][/color]
powered[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> car for a year of two. ;)
> >> mike hunt[/color]
> >
> > Considering that, out of several hundred Prius' sold (see Stephenson's[/color][/color]
own[color=blue][color=green]
> > reply to the original post) without a single replacement (ditto for the
> > local Toyota dealer), we're looking at a part that can be expected to[/color][/color]
last[color=blue][color=green]
> > 200K or more miles. That's about $.01/ mile, maybe less if the price
> > drops
> > (likely) or the battery life turns out to be longer.[/color][/color]

(*) of course, we can point to numerous examples of much newer Fords that
have little value, if that would make you happier. My father-in-law's
Escort, branded with a bulls-eye on the hood from the engine fire, just
oustide the warranty. Or his LTD, broken rear axle at 60K miles.


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So does my 20 year old Suzuki GS850, which I may add gets OVER 45mpg!! AND,
no annoying warning lights to keep me going back to the dealer!!!

According to CR a hybrid that needs a battery pack will have no value no
matter whose name is on the hood. LOL


mike hunt


"DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
news:442c5408$1$11950$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...[color=blue]
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:5q2cnddHTMQC27HZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=green]
>> When one calculates the cost per mile you must add in the extra $6,000 it
>> cost to buy it over a Corolla At some point one will need to replace
>> the
>> battery pack and at the point the question will be do I spend that much
>> money on a ten year old car of little value, or do I junk it? ;)
>> mike hunt[/color]
>
> I see the problem. You're used to driving Fords and, you're right, a ten
> year-old Ford doess have little value(*).[/color]

The Camry is even bigger and nicer and it cost less than a Pruis as well


mike hunt


"DH" <dh@stargate.com> wrote in message
news:442c5408$0$11950$6d36acad@titian.nntpserver.com...[color=blue]
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
> news:yKycnYqkMqnE2rHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=green]
>> Have you calculated in the premium you paid to buy a Pruis over a
>> Corolla.
>> That premium alone will buy all of the gas for a Corolla for three of
>> four
>> years. ;)
>> mike hunt[/color]
>
> Low reading comprehension can be cured. Re-read the part where he says
> you're in his killfile and figure out for yourself whether or not there's
> any point to replying.
>
> Oh, and a Prius is NOT a hybrid Corolla. It's a nicer car. Part of the
> "premium" for the Prius is for the hybrid drivetrain and part is for a
> nicer
> vehicle with more interior room. Go check the features list and size
> specs
> at some authoritative source.
>[color=green]
>> "Andrew Stephenson" <ames@deltrak.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:1143745790snz@deltrak.demon.co.uk...[color=darkred]
>> > In article <LamdndgI856nv7HZRVn-iA@comcast.com>
>> > [email]xxx976@comcast.com[/email] "mark_digital" writes:
>> >
>> >> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:pV6dnfJIutLNnLHZUSdV9g@ptd.net...
>> >>
>> >> > That amount of money will buy ALL of the gas for a
>> >> > conventionally powered car for a year of two. ;)
>> >>
>> >> Hey, if you don't mind paying more than your fair share
>> >> subsidizing terrorists...
>> >
>> > I don't usually see Mike's posts, as he's in my killfile (and not
>> > about to leave it, if that lamebrain effort is typical of current
>> > output) but his observation is marginally less asinine than usual
>> > and can easily be put into perspective.
>> >
>> > Of late, when I go to fill up I am paying approx 85.9 pence/litre
>> > (and could easily pay up to 89.9 at other local filling stations)
>> > for basic unleaded. The tank takes some 45 litres and I seem to
>> > be getting around 56mpgUK (now that the weather is warming) with
>> > a fill-up once a month. Other data: 1 gallonUK = approx 4.54605
>> > litres; and 1 galUS = approx 0.8 galUK.
>> >
>> > Okay, not a lot of mileage: about (45/4.54605) * 56 = 554/month.
>> >
>> > BTW, I am presenting all these figures so readers can compare my
>> > sitaution with theirs, as matching like with like otherwise is a
>> > bit difficult.
>> >
>> > What would be a reasonable "conventional" car's mpgUK? Shall we
>> > say 35? Do the summs differently, if you prefer.
>> >
>> > On my present rate of consumption (assuming I don't begin driving
>> > longer distances regularly), I am saving
>> >
>> > ((554/35) * 4.54605 - 45) * 0.859 GBP/month
>> > = 26.96 GBP/month
>> >
>> > Hence, to save the cost of a new main battery at (pre-labour and
>> > pre-tax) price of GBP1530.42, I'd have to run my Prius for
>> >
>> > 1530.42 / 26.96 = 56.8 months, or about 4 years 9 months,
>> >
>> > which means that, by the time my warranty runs out after 8 years,
>> > I'll be able to afford to buy almost TWO new main batteries.
>> >
>> > Yay!
>> >
>> > Hey: and I could increase my saving (using the logic of household
>> > goods sellers) by driving more than the modest amount I do now.
>> >
>> > (Hmm, Mike doesn't happen to sell washing machines, does he?)
>> > --
>> > Andrew Stephenson[/color][/color]
>
>
> *** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
> *** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
> [url]http://www.SecureIX.com[/url] ***[/color]