Florida Heat + HV Battery = ???

I would get the windows tinted with the ceramic tint that really cuts down on interior heart, it isn't cheap but worth it!

Also if you buy used, I'd probably clean the battery fan to make sure its clean and in tip top shape.

 

try to park in the shade. warm battery at arrival and cooking all day definitely reduces life span. a/c while driving eliminates that part of the equation.

 

the tint, and window shades will help a lot, it's hard to define the problem, but we have plenty of florida members.
anecdotally, we do see more failures across the south than the north i believe.

another important thing is to keep the battery cooling fan and grille clean and clear.

 

I would try to not drive super aggressively near the end of a drive, that can heat up the battery and have no way to cool when the car is turned off.

Yes what Bisco said, being in south FL you want to keep down the humidity as well, over time it can corroded the battery. We have a member with a 2004 that lived in Arizona its whole life and never had one problem till he sold the car about a year ago. They don't have a salty humid are though. Just keep that in mind.

But also Prii batteries are though as hell and can take a beating!

 

I've got a 2004 Prius that was built in 2003, it still has its original battery that still has amazingly amout of capacity and performance left, even I'm shocked!

 

That battery is almost 15 years old!

 

Many people such as @Raytheeagle use a Prolong reconditioning system from Hybrid Automotive. @jeff652 is fairly active here.

Here is a link to the deluxe package. Prolong® Deluxe Reconditioning Package

 

I live in Nashville Tennessee, so pretty north, but it still gets up past 100 degrees in the summer.

Also, too slow or smooth can actually tax the battery as well, because the car will cycle the battery more and use all electric power, just to keep that in mind when driving in extreme heat.

The key to efficient Prius driving is not draining the battery, but making the gas engine run efficiently, after all it is a gas powered car. Just food for thought. What year Prius are you getting?

 

Their profile says 2004 Prius II

 

I have used the Prolong setup and it works well!

Have the charger and Intelligent Discharger for our 2010 Prius II with 168 k miles and going strong . It’s a great way to maintain your hv pack.

As for heat avoidance in a hot area, crack your windows to allow the heat inside out. You can also put the cover over the cargo area to avoid direct sun light.

Hope that helps .

 

Opps! It's been said the 2004 are bullet proof, ya know!

 

Perhaps, but not heat proof.

 

A tint doesn't have to be DARK to be good.
Some block mostly the Infared (heat) waves and less of the visible light.
I think that is what the "ceramic" reference is about.

The real key is to not leave it sit out in the direct sunlight all day long.

But yes, a cold battery will last longer than a hot one, in general.
That one fact, however, will NOT convince me to move back where I have to shovel snow 4 months a year !!!

 

Not practical here if the vehicle sits out.
It rains most every day in the summer scattered around the state.
And cracked windows let IN critters, which also abound.

And there is nothing you can do externally to reverse the chemical changes that are accelerated by excessive heat.