Batteries in a hybrid. What happens to them when/if they die?

[Super Blue 72]

You are correct, they do not have to be pluged in, but there are a few people who found out that if they do charge them over night, then their mpg is greatly improved. 

How do you charge them overnight?  Do they come with a plug too?  Or can you put some AA batteries in the ashtry over night or something? 

Seriously, how do they charger overnight?   

[Jacksboys]

Im not sure of all the details, but I have read in a coupe places that there was an adaptor made to allow the batteries to be charged overnight. 

[Pistol Gripper]

Here's a thought:

There were 6,570,000 automobile accidents in 2002 ( only statistic I could find easily )  Suppose half the cars were Hybrids, that makes 3,285,000 involving batteries.   I know the batteries are supposed not to leak in a "normal" collision ( anyone ever have one of these ? ) Let's assume that 10% generate enough impact to dump the batteries, that's 328,500 clean-ups on aisle 5 for Hazmat to deal with.

Lovely,

P.G.

[jeryst]

How do you charge them overnight?  Do they come with a plug too?  Or can you put some AA batteries in the ashtry over night or something? 

Seriously, how do they charger overnight?   

There are aftermarket companies that make kits that allow them to be charged. Toyota also annouced that within a year or two, the cars will include the necessary hardware to charge them. They must have realized that the aftermarkets would make a fortune.

[ChallengerHK]

What I want to do know is how much heat is generated by the depletion/recharge process.  Ever talk on your cell phone while it's plugged into a charger?  Sonuvapregnant dog gets HOT...

I did a program on the second group of pilot vehicles for the Escape Hybrid a few years back.  I don't know if this was retained for the production version, but those vehicles had a second air conditioner whose only function was to keep the battery cool.