[Nostromo]

Hi all

My wife and I are a retired couple and have dicided to trade-in out old Subaru Outback for a small hybrid car. After doing some on-line research, we both agreed that the Honda Jazz Crosstar Advance, a hybrid vehicle suits our requirements best. However, there is one issue about which I require advice because this will be our very first hybrid car.

We normally live in East Sussex but since retirement, we've been spending almost 6 months of the year - usually between mid-October and early April - at out family home in India. During that sojourn, we used to put the old car at a storage facility where they did all the right maintenance things. But the staff there told me that they have never looked after a hybrid and were not sure if it was safe to do so.

So, my question is - Is it okay to place the new hybrid car in storage up to 6 months when we are away as long as the staff follow all recommendations from the manufacturer?

[Santa]

I did some searching on the internet and opinions are mixed to say the least. It was pointed out that the car may have spent months being transported halfway around the world and then in stock at a dealer before being used.

The point was made about disconnecting the 12-volt battery and leaving as little fuel in the tank as possible (petrol does deteriorate), but I guess your storage people would take care of that.

The main battery will lose charge over time and it would be a good plan to charge it back up at least once a month. This may be a problem for them as they may not have a suitable charger.

[Mark07]

Originally Posted by Nostromo

[...] as the staff follow all recommendations from the manufacturer?

Hi Nostromo,

I don't blame you for wanting to get away from the British winter!

Out of curiosity, what are the recommendations from Honda?

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by Mark07

Hi Nostromo,


Out of curiosity, what are the recommendations from Honda?

I could not find any on their website. I'll keep searching.

[Mark07]

If in doubt, reach out to the dealership directly. They may need to contact their head office etc, so it may not be a quick reply.

As @Santa mentioned, recommendations from manafacturers vary about how best to store hybrid vehicles for long periods, and in particular, preparing them for use again.

[Drivingforfun]

Just a thought but does petrol in fact deteriorate more quickly if you have a smaller amount?

If you fill the tank would the deterioration have less of an overall impact?

I’m not saying this as a fact, it’s a question but based on the same thing happening with the potency of alcoholic drink - I believe leaving a larger volume means it loses its potency less quickly

[Santa]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

Just a thought but does petrol in fact deteriorate more quickly if you have a smaller amount?

It's a good question. The problem arises because the more volatile parts of the petroleum mixture evaporate first and degrade the octane level, ultimately making it useless.

It seems reasonable to think that a full tank would evaporate less than a nearly empty one but fuel tanks are not sealed, so there will be evaporation regardless, and the rate will mainly depend on the ambient temperature.

If you leave the level low, and top it up after storage, the resultant mix will be fine, but if there was sufficient evaporation to affect a full tank, there would be no room to top it up and it would have to be drained.

[Nostromo]

Update: Honda were rather vague and evasive about the feasibility of storing a hybrid car. Likewise, the staff at my regular storage facility and another not too far away expressed some uncertainty about effects on the smaller lithium-ion battery. Since we cannot change our retirement plans and do have 2 homes, my wife and I decided to give-up the idea of buying a new car altogether and look at long term rental instead. I have had some positive response about this, which I'll post on a different thread.

[AudreyWetmore]

The Honda Jazz Crosstar Hybrid combines the Jazz's versatility with a rugged, crossover-inspired design and hybrid efficiency, offering a blend of practicality, style, and eco-friendly performance.

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by AudreyWetmore

The Honda Jazz Crosstar Hybrid combines the Jazz's versatility with a rugged, crossover-inspired design and hybrid efficiency, offering a blend of practicality, style, and eco-friendly performance.

What exactly is the point of this post, which is obviously a straight quote from Honda's sales material.

I smell spam, but can't detect a motive.