Stealing Toyota Prius Batteries Is Now A Thing
if only they used half the effort to legit ends they could make a good living.
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Stealing Toyota Prius Batteries Is Now A Thing
if only they used half the effort to legit ends they could make a good living.
According to google, a Prius battery pack weighs 117 lbs. Probably not an easy thing to pull off (at least, not quickly).
I don't know how people get away with these things. I'm always baffled when I hear about a whole parking lot of catalytic converters being stolen at night and nobody knows until the morning, makes me think that the thieves pay off security or they are the security, how could you hide all that noise?
Can add those up there with concreate blocks and portable grilles(both were taken from my property but who I dunno).
117 lbs x .30 current lead battery pricing.. Worth going to jail for $35.10? Wow. ID-10-T error!Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto
Just does not make any sense to me either
Yep jails are full of idiots. Hate a thief.
you guys REALIZE they are NOT recycling the battery packs right??? They are selling on Craigslist for $800-1000 for the pack...since the replacement cost of those packs for the Prius is about $1800. Now the REASONS they are doing that is the Prius' in question are about 8 yrs old...right about the time the battery packs (YES, your battery packs in Hybrids wear out just like other LI-ION batteries) have to be replaced. The Prius has been around long enough in the marketplace to hit it's 1st big maintenance cost.
Just thought I might share as I read the stories about it. 150 pound battery pack is portable enough...they can get it out in about 15 min and cart it off for a potential profit of $800-100 NOT $36 as recycled li-ion batteries.
They aren't lead battery's, they're li-ion and like the above poster said probably being sold on Craigslist. Most yards don't take LI-ion battery's anyway and when they do the prices are lower then lead acid usually.Quote:
Originally Posted by sledge
Local buyer here that is at about $.65 # for Li-ion.
That's why I appreciate being a member.. Learn something new every day!
This is correct. I remember the first time I saw one , still confused about what a yellow cable was . What happened to red and black ? Surprised none of these geniuses fried themselves . My old manager told me we needed a required course to install or remove those . I never had to as the car was new on the scene back when I last worked at a dealership . Hope they get caught trying to resell them on the open marketQuote:
Originally Posted by webuyselltradestuff
I believe as a safety measure (from what I have read), there is a place on the cables that are labeled "CUT HERE" where the fire department can cut them safely in case of a wreck/fire....especially since li-ion batteries tend to explode when they get to a certain temp. But yes, you are right...it is not for an amateur to replace the pack. I do internet sales at a Honda dealership, but I have never asked any of the techs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Metalbestos
They also could at least be smart enough to use an insulated pair of cutters.
I wonder how many people buying Prius know they'll have to replace the batteries?? Probably the 2nd and 3rd owners get stuck doing this. I wonder if you're the original owner how much in gas savings you've had over the life of the car gets eaten up replacing the batteries? What's the carbon foot print/toxic exposure of those big LI-CON batteries to the x number gallons of fuel saved? I bet the average tree hugger doesn't know and probably doesn't want to debate about it when asked. Not saying hybrids are bad, just that life is more complex than a lot of advocates would like to admit...