Excessive Heat is Ruining Your Toyota Hybrid Battery

 It's summer time again here in Orlando and the excessive heat followed by afternoon showers is definitely in full swing. For many of us, this is the normal cycle for this time of year and we hardly give it a second thought. But, if you drive a Toyota hybrid, like the famous Prius, RAV4 Prime, and so on, you might have a few things to worry about. Did you know that an excessive amount of heat can actually prove to be problematic for your vehicle's battery system?

Yes, excessive heat can actually cause a plethora of issues for your Toyota vehicle when it comes to performance and fuel efficiency. Here at Toyota of Orlando we're here to break down how these Toyota hybrid problems happen and what you can do to fix it. Let's dive in!

Too Much Heat = Bad News for Your Toyota Hybrid

For many of us Orlando Toyota drivers, our cars are powered using internal combustion (ICE). This means that fuel is combusted to generate heat (energy) and then converted into motion. With that simple explanation out of the way, you might be thinking that heat is naturally needed for power generation and isn't really a bad thing. While you're not entirely wrong, you're not entirely right either. Too much heat generation, like with all things in excess, can actually be quite a bad thing. Especially if you drive a Toyota hybrid car. 

During the summer months here in Orlando you might notice a drop in the usually impeccable fuel efficiency you enjoy from your Toyota hybrid. Here's a brief explainer on why that happens:

• Car batteries, especially large ones found in hybrid vehicles, function best when exposed to moderate temperatures. Extremes, be it cold or hot, can throw their functionality out of wack. For extreme colds it means loss of charge and longer charge times. For extreme heat that means electrolyte evaporation. If you see a car battery bulging, bubbling, or having difficulty holding a charge, this is why. 
• Because Toyota hybrids are powered by a larger battery assembly compared to ICE engines. If this battery system suffers from excessive heat then you'll likely see your hybrid getting the fuel economy of an only ICE engine vehicle. Electrolytes are the lifeblood of batteries and when they evaporate they make for overworked batteries and broken hybrid systems. 

How to Help Bring Your Battery Back to Life

Luckily, rescuing your Toyota hybrid from the oppressive summer heat isn't an all-too difficult task. In fact, for many Orlando drivers, it only requires a few adjustments. Here are some tips to help get your fuel efficiency back up to speed: 

• Toyota hybrids are designed with large battery packs that make for vastly improved fuel efficiency over their ICE counterparts. If you're wondering why you've never felt an intrusion from the large battery pack, it's because hybrid models are designed with the battery pack placed underneath the back seats. To keep the batteries from suffering from excessive heat, simply keep your cabin cooler during the hotter parts of the day. This means keeping your A/C system working and on most of the day. 
• Tinting your windows is about more than just upping the aesthetic appeal of your ride. This technology can more practically keep your cabin cool and your battery functioning. 
• While this is only recommended for extreme or very necessary cases, it's a great way to get the job done. Some Orlando Toyota hybrid Prius drivers have devised a way to pipe cold air from an A/C vent to the battery's inlet. This supplies it with a direct and consistent source of cold air and can dramatically boost your fuel efficiency. 

Still need tips for getting your Toyota hybrid fuel efficiency back up to par? Visit Toyota of Orlando at 3575 Vineland Road today!