How to properly use a high voltage battery on a Toyota Prius? 5 simple rules

Toyota Prius

One of the best hybrid cars in the world, which has won millions of buyers with its efficiency and reliability, is the Toyota Prius. The machine has 4 generations and is constantly being modernized. Toyota designers have created a truly environmentally friendly car, with low fuel consumption and a futuristic design. All this makes this vehicle unique and convenient.

The car has an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, which complement each other and allow a consumption of 3.9 l/100 km to be achieved. Therefore, in such a car, you need to be very careful when choosing a battery. It is necessary to know exactly which Toyota Prius battery is optimal for replacement and will provide the car with the necessary traction.

How does VVB work?

A controller is installed inside the VVB case, which controls the charging of each battery unit, and also monitors the temperature and a number of other battery parameters.

When the car is moving at low speeds, it almost always drains battery power (unless the battery is very discharged) - this is due to the peculiarity of the Prius' internal combustion engine. In a situation where the car slows down, the energy, on the contrary, charges the VVB.

The process of energy consumption and recovery is controlled by a computer and occurs without user intervention.

Principle of operation

The electric motor is a “storage of energy”, which is transferred to it from the internal combustion engine when the car is idling, or the full potential of the power unit is not used. Thanks to this, unspent energy accumulates and allows you to move around on an electric motor, which is a large battery with the ability to recharge. The accumulated energy is released when the on-board computer determines the right moment.

Toyota battery

A dead Toyota Prius battery can be recharged. The number of discharge-charge cycles is about 5 million cycles (as stated by the manufacturer). When the battery (small) from which the internal combustion engine starts is dead, it is permissible to “light it” from another car, or charge it so that it can crank the car’s starter.

Find out the charging time of your battery

It should be noted that the car has an ordinary car battery with a capacity of 35-60 Ah, and an electric motor, which includes: an electric motor, a generator, an HV battery and a gearbox with a planetary gear.

How many batteries are there for a Toyota Prius? The answer to this question is the number of batteries inside the electric motor, consisting of 26 batteries, each with 6 batteries inside.

Place for battery in car

Where is the battery for Toyota Prius? The batteries are in the trunk. The small one is installed where the right rear fender is, and the large one is installed behind the seats (rear).

The battery is charged in several ways: when the brake pedal is pressed and the car slows down, thanks to the generator, using the car's energy (kinetic), or from a 220-volt network. A small battery is charged, like ordinary batteries with a small capacity, with a conventional charger.

The manufacturer of hybrid equipment is Panasonic and Toyota. Joint production and development allow us to constantly improve the system, and each new generation carries the most modern technologies, concentrated and assembled in one car.

How to use? 5 simple rules

Prius WILL NOT DRIVE WITHOUT GASOLINE! The surest way to kill a battery is to try to drive a car without gasoline. Of course, the automation will turn off the ignition when the battery is critically low, but the “smartest” ones then turn the car on again and try to drive.
The battery cannot be charged. NEVER CHARGE THE BATTERY! If for some reason your car runs out of battery, do not try to charge it. If it happens that the battery charge is critically low, start the internal combustion engine using a regular battery (yes, the Prius has a regular battery and a starter specifically for these purposes), the Prius will do the rest itself.
Avoid overcharging or discharging the battery. It’s good if the battery on the screen does not fill up or empty completely when driving, it is better that one bar remains. Full filling is also not a reason to panic.
When operating the machine in mountainous areas with long climbs, use mode B for descent. This will help avoid overcharging the battery and save the brakes.
If you are going to carry out any body (welding?!) work, be sure to turn off the VVB. For these purposes, there is a disconnect switch in the trunk under the shelf located behind the rear backrest on the left (if you look along the car).

Let's summarize the results of checking the Prius battery:

Let’s immediately make a reservation that at sub-zero temperatures the car needs to be warmed up very well: drive actively for at least 10 km, otherwise the results of tests 3 and 4 will be significantly lower.
If in the second and third tests the VVB showed itself to be excellent, then the fourth test need not be done, the battery is alive.
If the consumption is high, or is not clear, and the VVB did not pass the test in the second and third tests, then you don’t have to do the fourth either, it’s better to go for diagnostics. Or refuse the purchase. Or give us a call to find out what our current Prius high voltage battery replacement cost is.
If one of the tests, the second or third, showed results below normal, then it must be repeated. And do the fourth test. If everything is OK according to them, then one low result popped up by chance and can be ignored. But if there are repetitions, then VVB is tired. Refuse to buy, or bargain so that its future repairs pay off. Call us and find out the cost of repairing the VVB Prius.
If checking the Prius battery resulted in a hybrid system error indication, stop the tests and proceed as indicated in step 3.

In conclusion, we will please you with the fact that in this way you can check the Ni-MH VVB of almost all Toyota/Lexus hybrids, so as not to get a dead battery. But a more accurate condition of the VVB can only be determined through professional diagnostics.

How to choose?

Of course, it is impossible to achieve complete confidence that VVB will live happily ever after, but there are a number of tests that will help you avoid buying low-quality VVB.

So, you got into the car and there is a dashboard in front of you. First, you need to turn on the viewing mode of “energy flows” - where the battery is drawn.

If the battery is currently charged, then turn off the climate control (air conditioning or heating, it doesn’t matter) and start moving at a low speed, 10–20 km/h, without pressing the gas sharply. Continue driving until the engine starts.

The battery should discharge gradually, there should be no sudden dips. Then turn the climate control to maximum and wait for the battery to charge. It should be fully charged or one, maximum two bars less.

If the internal combustion engine is working, but the battery refuses to charge above half, then there is a high probability that the internal combustion engine is faulty.

Also, the VBB is faulty if the battery was charged normally, but within 5–10 minutes it lost its charge by several points.

What to do when the HV battery is exhausted.

Leaving the vehicle alone for 2 - 3 months, remember, this may cause the HV battery to discharge.

When this happens, replace the HV battery.

…

This is what the repair manual for the 11th Prius recommends for the bourgeoisie. Regarding the phrase When this happens, replace the HV battery. I don’t quite agree, because I know that the life of the battery can be restored.

If you have a Prius 10, add the following item when charging the battery:

4.1. Press the button on the charger on top of the battery and wait for the HV High Voltage Battery to finish charging.

What more can I say?

Write, call.

Visitor comments:

Anatoly

2007-05-24

If the auxiliary battery must be replaced, replace it only with 12 volt batteries specifically designed for use in the PRIUS." The only difference between the original battery is that it is not a starter battery. Feel free to change to a 12-volt starter if it is suitable in size and terminals. In the 10th body, recharging from the auxiliary battery is enough for one or two cranking of the internal combustion engine. But... recharging occurs if the battery can hold the load, otherwise the control unit turns off charging and turns on the “error” LED. Therefore, when charging, I used a charger connected to the auxiliary battery. A high-voltage battery left charged for several months will not discharge because... it is completely disconnected from the network when the ignition is turned off, and the consumers are powered by an auxiliary battery, which is subject to discharge.

maxmotors

2007-05-25

The high-voltage battery is disconnected from the network, but not from its computer. Through it the elements are discharged.

Vyacheslav

2007-06-20

Something I still don’t understand is how to charge a high-voltage battery, where to connect the wires, where? for how long, etc.? It’s clear where to press the button, but I didn’t understand the rest. Please explain.

Konstantin

2007-09-25

On an 11 Prius, you can try charging the battery from a similar Prius, through a separate connector through a light bulb. Like, “light a high-voltage cigarette.” It works, but I don’t recommend doing it without proper training. 8(

Anatoly

2007-12-09

“The high-voltage battery is disconnected from the network, but not from its computer. The elements are discharged through it.” A very, very controversial statement. Especially considering that when the hybrid and internal combustion engine are turned off, the VVB control unit has nothing to “control”. From my own experience, I can say with absolute certainty that after almost 3 months of being parked without cranking (in winter), a small battery died, and the VVB remained with exactly the same charge level as when parked. And it started without the slightest problem after “lighting up” from another battery. For new drivetrains, I’ll explain: a small battery is tested for voltage when the ignition is turned on - if it is less than 11 volts, the HV ECU does not give the command to connect the VVB and start the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is started by an electric motor from the VVB, and the small battery only closes the contacts on the VVB for connection to the on-board network.

formula100

2007-12-15

“From my own practice, I can say with absolute certainty that after almost 3 months of being parked without cranking (in winter) ... the VVB remained with exactly the same charge level...” Dear Anatoly. 1. Do not forget that self-discharge occurs for any battery. Its speed depends on various factors and can vary significantly. I'm not even talking about the history of the car's operation. 2. The fact that you “took a risk for 3 months. and DID NOT lose” does not mean that it will always be like this, but most importantly FOR ALL cars. For some, these 3 months. could be a missed opportunity. This is especially true for the VVB on NHW11, which recover much worse than the VVB on NHW10.

Alexander

2007-12-28

The additional battery died. They replaced it with a new one, exactly the same. The car won’t start, the electric motor doesn’t turn. At the service station they say that the high-voltage battery is dead. The level indicator shows that it has a little charge. There was nothing they could do at the service station. HELP with advice, what can be done? Toyota PRIUS 2001 NHW 11. Thanks in advance.

Alexander

2008-05-19

charge

Name Dmitry

2008-06-19

On the 11 Primus, charging the VVB can be carried out in passive mode, just light the auxiliary battery with a charger and turn on the ignition and the VVB charge will begin to increase. We connected the scanner and we could see how the charge was rising. It took a long time, but this is better than trying to charge with a high current.

Tatiana

2008-07-31

Hello! I have a Prius NHW10. The battery level indicator shows either full charge or then empty. The turtle is on fire. The battery cooling fan is running. The car doesn't drive. Diagnostics does not show errors. Please help me with some advice. Kirov region.

2008-08-01

This is your medicine, my dear.

vladimir

2008-11-02

To the doctor! Definitely... Your battery is quite old! And some elements require replacement. I won’t explain to you how to carry out diagnostics to identify these same elements... To the doctor! Nizhny Novgorod region. Dzerzhinsk.

Vyacheslav

2009-01-08

VVB shows half or more than half and the turtle lights up at -10 and below and goes out when you drive more than 20 km model 1999 NHW10 engine 1NZ

Vladimir

2009-03-06

Hello! I have a Prius in the 11 body. It won’t start at the station, they said that the explosive died in it, there is different voltage on the elements. Is it possible to revive it and how to do it? thanks in advance.

Name Andrey

2009-12-04

Below minus 10, the high-voltage battery loses the density of the electrolyte, the automation blocks the operation of the battery. It is enough to warm up the interior, warm air will pass through the interior and exit through the openings behind the rear seat, wash the high-voltage battery and go outside. As soon as the battery warms up, its charge will start and the battery will reach operating temperature, and only after that the turtle will go out and the hybrid installation will turn on. Well, before that, gasoline goes into the pipe while driving. Keep the car in a warm garage with a temperature of at least minus 5 degrees. ideally from zero to +10.

Dirty dog

2010-01-15

Prius in the tenth body. The small battery is discharged, the condition of the large one is unknown... I’ll go to the garage and while I’m removing the head, I’ll charge the small one. It’s not clear how to charge the big one. Everyone gets off with general phrases: “you connect it to a small charger, press a button and that’s it.” What current should I give? How long does it take to charge? How many times in a row should I charge?

Dirty dog

2010-01-15

2010-06-04

This thankless and unpromising task is remote repair. The picture is like making a battery and an engine.

Edil

2010-06-04

Dear Maxmotors, I am a car enthusiast from Kyrgyzstan. I bought a 2001 Prius NHW11 in France. brought by thrall to his hometown. A few days later, a problem was discovered - when driving after 15 minutes, the engine speed increased sharply and the car remained capable of moving only with a roaring engine. After stopping and restarting everything became normal, but after a while everything repeated itself. The tester showed the following error P3000. Then one day I noticed that under the hood the brake fluid level exceeded the max mark. I used a syringe to remove the excess (about 0.5 liters) and level the brake fluid level to the max mark. After that the real nightmare began. After a successful start of the internal combustion engine, the car drove 800 meters and stalled. All attempts to start the internal combustion engine resulted in it starting and after 6-8 seconds of operation the internal combustion engine slowly stalled. Then the following errors appeared: P3190, p3191, p3000, p3101, b2799, c1259, p3006, p3022, p3023. I tried to replenish the previously removed excess brake fluid, but this did not help. Since then the car has not started. In connection with these circumstances, Dear Maxmotors, I ask you to help with practical advice. All this is depressing and the fact that in our city and even in the republic there are no professionals who have at least some idea about cars of this type. And to get to you I need to cross 2 borders and 3500 thousand km. So I ask you not so much for help, but simply for your attention and your opinion about the current circumstances with me and my car.

killa

2010-06-24

Edil has a sad story. Unfortunately, I can only recommend a few links where they might be able to help you. I ask the moderators not to delete links to third-party resources, because delaying repairs is like the death of VVB for Edil. https://priusforum.ru/forums https://hybrids.ru/ I sincerely hope that there will not be one less Prius in the world.

Edil

2011-03-14

I haven't been here for a long time. killa2010-06-24 thanks for the advice, it helped a little. Now I’m driving a Prius, which I made with the help of craftsmen. The reason was not the brakes (“Then somehow I noticed that under the hood the brake fluid level exceeded the max mark. I used a syringe to remove the excess (about 0.5 l) and leveled the brake fluid level to the max mark. After that, the real nightmare began . The car, after a successful start of the internal combustion engine, drove 800 meters and stalled. All attempts to start the internal combustion engine led to the fact that it started and after 6-8 seconds of operation of the internal combustion engine it slowly stalled. Then the following errors appeared: P3190, p3191, p3000, p3101, b2799, c1259, p3006, p3022, p3023."), and in the fly it got stuck and stuck to the flow meter sensor. So the Prius stood for a long time (until the fly was removed and another VVB was found) several elements failed. I ordered it, changed it and now no problems. As for the brake fluid, it also remained above o. I didn’t touch it, I was very glad that the car was driving.

Seryoga 111

2011-04-24

what to do if the engine is screaming, the turtle is on fire, the car is on fire! I know him and doesn’t travel more than 16 km/hour. Thanks in advance!!!

Vyacheslav

2011-07-08

Tell me please. Is it possible to replace the VVB with an assembly of Leoch DJW 12-7 traction batteries

Munara

2016-12-08

Good afternoon, dear ones! I have this problem. 2005 Prius. The car has been parked for about a month. Once every 2-3 days I started it for 30 minutes during this time. And today, for some reason, the doors did not open, did not respond to the remote control, and even pressing the button did not open. I had to open it with the key. I couldn’t start your car either, red wax appeared! sign on the front panel. Well, after trying to do it again, these signs also disappeared. It's like my car died). Please advise, is the small battery discharged or do the key batteries need to be changed?

2016-12-08

Change the 12 volt, everything is in it

2017-03-06

How to identify a weak element? Prius NHW11. Completely replaced battery cells from model 20. The car doesn't complain about anything. But the same dynamics are not there. The battery (according to the indicator on the dashboard) is not discharged below half. In winter traffic jams, at temperatures below -8*, when you press the gas, the internal combustion engine always starts. The car moves only from a running internal combustion engine, even at a speed of 3-5 km/h, while charging the battery, which shows a full battery on the indicator. The battery is simply too lazy to participate in the process, rolling around just like ballast, which is also charged for free. In winter, at temperatures from -15 and below, the combined cycle consumption is 12.5 km/l. In spring, with positive temperatures, the situation does not improve significantly. According to the scanner, the voltage spread across the pairs is within 0.09 V. When measuring each element with the device, with the battery removed, all elements are identical in voltage up to 2 digits.

Is it possible to repair VVB?

The VVB on the Prius consists of a large number of individual elements. The advantage of this approach is the ability to replace individual cells without replacing the entire battery. VVB repairs are carried out in order to equalize the parameters of individual bundles of battery elements and bring its capacity to factory values. In this case, the battery itself is disassembled into individual elements, each of which is tested on a special stand according to a special program. After the weak cells are rejected, they are replaced according to calculations and equalization is carried out to equalize all pairs of battery cells under a certain load.

Our auto repair center carries out repairs of high-voltage batteries of hybrid cars using the most modern diagnostic stands and according to factory methods that are used at the battery manufacturer in Japan. Timely contact with specialists will save significant money. After all, the VVB is the most expensive element of any hybrid car.

Go to the online registration page for a car service.
Complain about your car.
To drink coffee.

With respect to you and your car, Vladimir Buyanov.
How to properly use a high voltage battery on a Toyota Prius? 5 simple rules

Factory specifications

In the factory version, the small battery has a capacity of 35-50Ah according to the Asian standard. The size for Toyota Prius 10, Prius 20, Prius 30 and 50 bodies is identical, and is 236 * 128 * 220 mm. Battery manufacturers are Panasonic, FB, Yuasa.

Battery in the car

In order for the batteries in the car to work properly, the following maintenance is required:

Monitor the condition of the terminals and contacts (avoid dirt and oxidation).
Monitor the battery charge and charge if necessary.
Tight fit to eliminate vibration.
Do not drive a car without gasoline.
Carry out repairs in specialized services (if there is no special knowledge).
It is not recommended to leave the car without moving for a long time.

How to solve the battery charging problem on Toyota Prius?

Now we will give you solutions depending on the problem you are facing. Here are the various problems and how to solve them:

Faulty alternator: You can try using a basic mechanics test to check it with a pressure gauge to see if it is producing power. If this does not happen, your best bet is to replace it, depending on your engine you will pay several hundred euros. This fix is possible if your generator is available.
A battery that no longer holds a charge: In this case, buying a new battery is the only real remedy. Indeed, if you have already recharged it but it is still empty because it can be replaced, count between 60 and 100 euros depending on your engine.
Ground in Electrical Circuit: If you can't start your Toyota Prius, but your alternator and battery are in good condition, you may have a ground on your wiring harness and are losing power, an electrician's check is in this condition. case required.

Salon

The new car was distinguished by excellent aerodynamics for its class, demonstrating a coefficient of 0.3. The unusual appearance was complemented by no less original interior equipment.

First generation Toyota Prius interior

A special feature of the seats was their high location (compared to other sedans). Thanks to this innovation, visibility has improved, and boarding and disembarking the driver and passengers has become easier.

In addition to driver and passenger airbags, protection in the event of an accident was provided by belts equipped with pretensioners and force limiters, as well as head restraints that protect against neck injury in a rear impact. When creating the steel body, the latest advances in the field of passive safety were taken into account.

The instrument panel in the Prius 10 was located directly under the windshield, which allowed the driver to more focusedly control the car, monitoring both the indicators and the road situation. The center console was equipped with a touch screen, on which, in addition to the status of the music system, the drive operation diagram was visible.

The impressive automatic transmission lever was located on the steering column and was not directly connected to the transmission. Its task was to send signals to the control unit, which was responsible for the operation of the power transmission system. In addition to the standard lever positions (P, N, D, R), there was a special braking mode B (Brake), in which the electric motor came into operation.

Equipment

The most affordable version of the Toyota Prius 10 already had:

glass with UV protection;
remote control of the lock;
2nd airbags;
air conditioner.

In the most expensive version, the buyer also received leather trim, a CD player and navigation.

The first mass-produced hybrid car

The Toyota Prius XW10 rolled off the assembly line as a production car in December 1997. Two years earlier, the concept car was presented at the Tokyo and Frankfurt motor shows. The name Prius itself (First) was necessary to distinguish the concept version from the production car.

The history of the creation of the Toyota Prius 10 dates back to 1994, when the Toyota Global21 project officially launched. The task facing the working group was to create an economical and environmentally friendly car for the 21st century. The lack of a theoretical basis for implementing the plan only complicated the task. For six months, the team went through options until they finally settled on a scheme later called the Toyota Hybrid System (abbreviated as THS).

Toyota Prius XW10 first generation before update

The body concept was developed by Californian designers from the Toyota concern. The result of the work was a five-seater sedan with an original exterior and interior design. The first prototype flatly refused to move; it took the developers 49 days to fix the problem. The launch date was postponed to 1997, which added to the extreme working conditions.

The promises were fulfilled, the hybrid went to the masses and began to quickly gain popularity. More than 70 thousand Prius 10 cars were produced from the assembly lines of two factories.

Selection criteria: what to look for

When selecting a traction battery, you should take into account the generation of the car and the date of manufacture of the device. When choosing a starter battery, you need to focus on the permissible dimensions of the case, polarity and type of terminals. The manufacturer allows the use of batteries with increased capacity or increased cold cranking current. It is not recommended to use batteries with reduced capacity. It will not be possible to install a power supply with straight polarity or an increased housing height due to the limited length of the power cables and the design of the terminals.

Popular models

In addition to the standard starter battery, the following can be used:

Solite 50Rs (internal catalog code - 65B24L), having a capacity of 50 A*h and providing a starting current of up to 470 A. The housing dimensions correspond to the mounting socket, the average price for April 2021 is 4400 rubles.
AlphaLine Standard 52R (catalog number - 65B24L), characterized by increased capacity to 52 A*h and providing a cold cranking current of 480 A. The product line includes the 55R model (index 70B24L), which has improved characteristics (capacity - 55 A*h, starting current - 500 A). The price of the basic version is about 5,000 rubles, the version with increased capacity is 500 rubles. expensive.
Bost 55R (manufacturer catalog code - 70B24L). The battery supports a current of 480 A and has a capacity of 55 A*h. The average cost in stores is about 5,000 thousand rubles.
Optima YellowTop R2.7J, differing in design. The battery is filled with electrolyte with a gel-like consistency. The battery has a capacity of 38 A*h, but provides a current in the starter circuit of up to 460 A. The disadvantage is the price - 15,500 rubles. But the battery life reaches 10-12 years, which is 2-4 times higher than that of lead-acid batteries with liquid electrolyte.

Popular battery models.

Can the battery be replaced or repaired?

Of course, you can replace the high-voltage battery like any other component, although you will have to tinker. Repair is somewhat more complicated, so let's start with replacing it entirely.

Replacement of VVB

Open the trunk, remove the false floor, disconnect one terminal of the small battery.

The raised floor has been removed, the terminals from the small battery have been removed, the high-voltage battery is visible

Important! Before closing the trunk lid, be sure to connect the small battery. Otherwise, there will be problems opening the lid.

We recline the backs of the rear seats and get to the bolts that secure them. Unscrew the bolts securing the backrests and the bolt securing the middle seat belt. We remove the backrests and sofa.

Removing the rear seat backs

Unscrew the two screws securing the high-voltage battery cover.

Screws for securing the VVB cover

We remove the upholstery, which prevents the cover from being removed from the VVB. Remove the plastic trim from the edge of the trunk. The upholstery and edging are secured with clips.

Removing the lid trim and trim

Remove the trunk side trim.

Side trim removed

Along the perimeter of the VVB, we unscrew all the bolts by 12. We remove the “ears” that secure the battery to the body on the sides.

The VVB is attached to the body with 12 bolts

Parameters of the hybrid power plant

The power plant of the Toyota Prius XW10 hybrid had the following parameters:

Engine capacity of the 1NX-FXE brand is 1497 cc (1.5 l);
torque – 102 N*m (10 kg*m) at 4000 rpm;
power – 58 hp (43 kW) at 4000 rpm;
consumption - 3.6 l per 100 km;
electric motor torque – 305 Nm.

The joint work of the internal combustion engine and electric motor, combined with good aerodynamics of the body, demonstrated confident acceleration. However, the battery charge was not enough for prolonged acceleration - a turtle appeared on the dashboard, indicating the need to reduce speed.

Prius 11