One of the major concerns over hybrid and all-electric vehicles has been the longevity of battery packs and, more importantly, how much they cost to replace. Currently, most electric vehicle batteries, including Toyota's, are warrantied for at least eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. That's a long period of time to guarantee a component of any car, and longer than the time period that most original owners will own the vehicle for.

That hasn't stopped Toyota from raising the bar though. The Japanese automaker has just announced that the 2020 Toyota hybrid battery warranty will increase to 10 years from date of first use or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.

According to Toyota, that makes the new 2020 Toyota hybrid battery warranty the longest offered warranty in the industry to cover first ownership and all subsequent owners. It also covers the full range of 2020 Toyota hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric vehicles which is made up of seven hybrid models and the Mirai fuel cell model.

All other hybrid vehicle components will keep the existing coverage under the Hybrid System Warranty at 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Typically, a traditional combustion-engined car will come with a 3 year/36,000 mile or a 5-year/60,000 mile warranty.

"Toyota introduced the first hybrid vehicle in the world more than 20 years ago, but people still have hesitations about owning a hybrid vehicle," explains Heather Updegraff, General Manager, Toyota Vehicle Marketing & Communications. "Our goal is to minimize that concern and this new warranty extension for the hybrid battery is just another way we are leading the industry and putting our customers first."

It's a solid step towards increasing customer confidence in electric powered and assisted drivetrains, and throws down the gauntlet for other automakers to show the same confidence in their products.