Quote:
Originally Posted by RedDevil
Most hybrids don't use lithium but NiMH batteries, like mine.
Now some earlier hybrids do have battery trouble, others don't.
It is entirely possible to make a hybrid with the battery lasting for 300 K miles or more, as several Prius and 2nd gen Insight owners have experienced.
The wear on the ICE should be less, just like brakes etc so less maintenance on those.
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If I was buying a hybrid, I'd spring for the PHEV type.
I know some hybrids have gone very long distances on the original batteries, but these long distance cruisers are probably more gentle on their batteries then people who drive shorter distances, and paradoxically, hybrids are more suited to shorter distance stop start use, on the highway, ICE's can do as well and sometimes better.
Although there's going to be less wear on many of the mechanical parts of a hybrid, in my experience with low mileage cars, it becomes more critical to ensure things like fluid changes are done on time.