What is the estimated lifespan of hybrid vehicles?

A car’s lifespan depends on plenty of things: how many wear‑and‑tear parts it has, how hard those parts work, battery life, engine type, and how well it’s maintained. Its motorisation — and how it operates day‑to‑day — also plays a big role.

Hybrid vehicles, which combine thermal and electric power, have a number of features that naturally support a long service life. 

Every car relies on several mechanical parts to operate. These will wear over time, requiring regular maintenance and even replacement if necessary. These are commonly known as "wear parts": brake pads; clutch; 12V battery; water pump; filters (water, oil, air); etc.

Hybrid vehicles simply have fewer of these parts than 100% petrol or diesel models. For example, Dacia's hybrid 155 engine doesn't require a clutch, so it's one less part to monitor and one less thing to replace from time to time.

Another point to note: hybrid cars* are most often fitted with a timing chain rather than a timing belt. A timing chain is designed to last the life of the vehicle. A timing belt, on the other hand, needs replacing at least once every 5 to 8 years, and that job can cost up to £1,000 or more. 

Lastly, regenerative braking also helps reduce wear. By recovering kinetic energy during braking and deceleration — and turning it into electricity — the system slows the car without friction. That means less wear on brake discs and pads.

_{*this applies to Dacia hybrid models} 

A hybrid car uses two types of energy to get around: electrical and thermal. To do this, it's equipped with at least two motors: an electric motor and a combustion engine, which most often runs on petrol.

While on the move, this type of vehicle alternately uses one or the other of these engines, or both at the same time.

You might think that having two motors means more complexity, more maintenance, or a shorter lifespan. In reality, it’s the opposite, for two reasons:

• The combustion engine in a hybrid works less often than in a 100% petrol car, so its parts wear more slowly. This is especially true for full hybrids and plug‑in hybrids. Mild hybrids benefit less because their combustion engine is always running.
• In terms of service life, an electric motor is rather advantageous, as it has fewer parts than a petrol or diesel engine.

There's another decisive factor in the longevity of a hybrid: its battery. 

Hybrid cars are equipped with two batteries with different functions and capacities:

• a high-voltage traction battery (100 to several hundred volts), which stores the energy generated by the combustion engine and regenerative braking, then transfers it to the electric motor;
• an ordinary 12V battery, which supplies power to the car's electronic equipment (on-board computer; radio; headlights; airbag modules; temperature sensor, etc.).

The 12V battery is the same as the one found in a combustion-powered car. Its service life generally varies between 4 and 5 years, whether on a hybrid, petrol or diesel car.

On most current hybrid models, the traction battery is a lithium-ion type. The life of these batteries was initially estimated at around 1,000 to 1,500 charge/discharge cycles, equivalent to 8 to 10 years' use. By observing their actual service life from the many vehicles on the road, it is now estimated that they reach closer to 2,000 cycles, or around 15 years, which exceeds the average service life of the vehicles themselves.

More often than not, because a hybrid’s traction battery lasts around 15 years, that’s the usual benchmark for the car’s overall lifespan. Depending on the model and how it’s used, many hybrids can exceed this.

Hybrid cars are not less resistant than 100% petrol or diesel cars; on the contrary, they tend to last longer. 

Here are a few tips to increase the life of your car. Some are specific to hybrid powertrains, others apply to all powertrains.

• First and foremost, respect the manufacturer's recommended maintenance intervals.
• Particularly before long outings, check that your tire pressure corresponds to that specified in your vehicle's maintenance booklet.
• As often as possible, park your car in the shade during the summer months, and in a warm place during the colder months.
• Remove any unnecessary load.
• Adopt the principles of eco-driving: limit sudden acceleration; anticipate slowing down; start off smoothly...

As the full hybrid models produced by Dacia are equipped with lithium-ion batteries, their estimated lifespan is the same as the average vehicle lifespan, i.e. around 15 years and more depending on use.

The warranty period for batteries is based on their cost price. The more expensive they are, the longer the warranty period.

The 1.4 kWh traction battery associated with the hybrid 155 powertrain is guaranteed for 8 years or 99,000 miles, and is systematically replaced in the event of failure or battery capacity below 70%.

With no clutch system (on the Dacia Hybrid 155), a combustion engine that isn’t constantly in use, regenerative braking that reduces wear on the brakes, and a durable traction battery with a robust distribution chain, hybrid technology is designed with longevity in mind. These features — common to most full hybrids — can have a positive effect on long‑term durability. Following the recommended maintenance schedule and adopting good driving habits, such as eco‑driving, can help extend the vehicle’s service life even further.