Hybrid Owners: Don't Get Zapped

With the number of hybrids on the road these days there are a lot of drivers who will want to do some of their own maintenance and repair work. This is always a good thing, but it's important for these drivers to be aware of the differences between their hybrid electric vehicles and a traditional gas-powered car or truck. For the most part, repairs and maintenance adhere to the same principals as their fossil-driven forefathers, but there is a serious safety consideration when it comes to the high voltage batteries found in today's hybrids. For example, take the most popular hybrid, the Toyota Prius. The battery pack array in the back of the Prius can send between 200 and 275 volts of electricity through your body at up to 80 amps. If it's not your lucky day, this can kill you. That being said, Toyota has gone to great lengths to protect you from high voltage. All high voltage cables are bright orange (as in danger, danger). When the main switch is off, there is no juice in the high voltage part of the system provided the car is functioning correctly. The Prius also has a "service plug" that consists of a plastic plug that, when removed from the battery area, makes it physically impossible for current to leave the batteries. I could tell you how to do this, but for safety reasons you should learn about it from a service manual that will give you an in-depth explanation.
The point is this: if you are going to service your hybrid, be aware of the added danger of high voltage. It's not like you're going to touch the wrong thing under the hood and get zapped, the system is far too protected for that. But knowledge and safety go hand in hand, so be sure you know what you're dealing with before you dive into any repairs. article about the danger of electric/hybrid vehicles shocking you.