Lexus ES300h Hybrid Battery Replacement Guide: Ni-MH vs NCM Lithium, 244.8V Pack, OE Numbers, XV60 Differences & 2026 Wholesale Pricing (2013-2026)

The Lexus ES300h is the luxury-sedan cousin of the Toyota Camry Hybrid and one of the most reliable premium hybrids ever sold. From its introduction for the 2013 model year through the current seventh-generation XV60 chassis, the ES300h has used a Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system centered on a 244.8 V Ni-MH traction battery — or, on certain 2018+ facelift and eighth-gen builds, an NCM lithium-ion pack at the same voltage class with 34 modules. As the ES300h fleet crosses 10-12 years in service, replacement traction packs have become a meaningful aftermarket category for distributors in the GCC, Southeast Asia, Russia/CIS, and Latin America where used ES300h imports are common. This guide consolidates OE part numbers, voltage classes, module counts, 2026 FOB wholesale pricing, and the seven-step sourcing checklist we use ourselves at LIANLI TECHNOLOGY when shipping ES300h battery packs to B2B customers worldwide.

1. Why the Lexus ES300h Hybrid Is a Major Aftermarket Opportunity

Three structural reasons make the ES300h an unusually attractive replacement-battery product line in 2026:

• Premium-segment longevity. Lexus owners keep their cars longer than the industry average — the median ES300h in operation is now 8.4 years old, and roughly 18% of the global fleet is over 12 years. With Lexus no longer manufacturing OEM Ni-MH replacement packs at scale (PEVE shutdown in late 2024 reduced cell supply), the aftermarket gap is widening every quarter.
• Same core architecture as the Camry Hybrid. The ES300h uses the same 244.8 V / 34-module Ni-MH architecture as the XV40 / XV50 Camry Hybrid, which means the supply chain, tooling, and install procedures are already mature for most rebuild shops. Distributors carrying Camry Hybrid inventory can extend naturally into ES300h with minimal SKU overhead.
• Higher willingness-to-pay customer base. Lexus owners expect OEM-grade quality and are willing to pay a 20-40% premium over equivalent Toyota-branded products. For a distributor, this means the ES300h product line carries healthier gross margin than the comparable Camry Hybrid line.

For wholesale buyers, the practical implication is that ES300h traction-battery demand is recurring, premium-priced, and structurally undersupplied as we move through 2026.

2. Generations and Battery Specifications (XV60 7th-gen)

The ES300h has effectively had one chassis generation — XV60 (7th generation, 2013-2018 pre-facelift and 2019-2026 facelift) — but within that generation there are two distinct pack configurations based on build year and market. Knowing which configuration your customer owns is the single most important variable in quoting correctly.

2.1 Seventh Generation Pre-Facelift — XV60 (2013-2018, "First ES300h")

The original 2013-2018 ES300h used a 244.8 V Ni-MH pack built from 34 prismatic modules, with usable energy around 1.6-1.8 kWh. This was the first ES300h and shared much of its architecture with the XV50 Camry Hybrid of the same era. The pack lives behind the rear seatback. The most common OE part numbers for this generation are G9280-0T100 (full pack assembly), with internal subassemblies carrying sub-variant numbers like G9510-10010 for the matching BMS / ECU components.

2.2 Seventh Generation Facelift — XV60 (2019-2026, "Updated ES300h")

The 2019 facelift of the XV60 ES300h is the most produced ES300h variant globally, including the eighth-generation ES250h / ES300h / ES350h lineup that launched in 2025 on the same TNGA-K platform. Most 2019-2024 ES300h units shipped outside Japan and the U.S. are still Ni-MH at 244.8 V, but the 2025+ eighth-gen ES300h moved to a higher-voltage NCM lithium pack around 259 V (sometimes listed as 268 V nominal in service literature). For wholesale buyers, the key point is that the 244.8 V pack remains in active production for the seventh-gen facelift and is interchangeable with the pre-facelift pack at the BMS level.

2.3 Lexus ES300h Battery Type — Ni-MH vs NCM Lithium-Ion Trade-Off (Long-tail Reference)

Buyers researching "lexus es300h battery type nimh vs li-ion" should know: across the entire 2013-2026 production run, both chemistries have been used, but the dominant chemistry in the global aftermarket is Ni-MH. Approximately 92% of the ES300h fleet currently on the road uses a 244.8 V Ni-MH pack (34 modules), and the remaining 8% — almost all 2025+ eighth-gen — uses NCM lithium-ion at a slightly higher voltage. For distributors, this means Ni-MH inventory should make up roughly 80-85% of stock-keeping units, with NCM lithium drop-in packs reserved for the eighth-gen and for the small but growing retrofit market on pre-2025 builds. The 2025+ eighth-gen is too new for meaningful aftermarket demand as of mid-2026, but inventory planning for it should start now.

3. Ni-MH vs NCM Lithium Trade-offs for ES300h Buyers

Every wholesale buyer eventually faces the question: should I inventory Ni-MH modules, NCM lithium drop-in packs, or both? For ES300h specifically, the answer leans more toward lithium than for the Highlander Hybrid, because the ES300h BMS firmware is generally more receptive to lithium drop-ins.

For most B2B distributors, we recommend a roughly 60% lithium / 40% Ni-MH inventory mix for ES300h — higher lithium ratio than for Highlander Hybrid because of the BMS receptivity and because ES300h owners skew toward premium upgrades.

4. Realistic 2026 Pricing for Wholesale Buyers (FOB Pricing)

The table below lists representative 2026 wholesale FOB prices for Lexus ES300h traction batteries and rebuild kits. Prices assume a 20-unit minimum order, FOB Ningbo / Shanghai, payment by T/T 30/70 or irrevocable L/C at sight. Volume breaks are available above 100 units per shipment.

Pricing notes: ES300h pricing in 2026 is roughly 15-20% above equivalent Camry Hybrid products because of the premium-segment positioning and the smaller production volumes. NCM lithium pricing has stabilized after the Q4 2025 / Q1 2026 cell spot-price spike because we now source cells on 6-month forward contracts. Ni-MH cell pricing is stable because there are still three major suppliers competing.

5. 7-Step Buyer's Checklist for ES300h Battery Sourcing

1. Identify the build year and confirm Ni-MH vs lithium. Have the customer photograph the build plate on the existing pack and the VIN. Match against the XV60 pre-facelift (2013-2018) vs facelift (2019-2024) vs 8th-gen (2025+) tables above. Do not skip this step — even within the XV60 family, the 2025+ lithium pack has a different voltage signature and connector pinout.
2. Decide Ni-MH rebuild vs NCM lithium drop-in. Ni-MH is the conservative choice for 2013-2017 builds where the BMS firmware is older and may reject lithium without initialization. NCM lithium is the better long-term value for 2018+ facelift builds.
3. Verify BMS compatibility on lithium conversions for 2013-2017 builds. For ES300h builds from 2013-2017, the original BMS firmware expects Ni-MH voltage curves. Dropping in a lithium pack without dealer-level Toyota Techstream initialization is the single most common cause of a "car will not start" complaint after an aftermarket ES300h battery install.
4. Request a Cycle Test Report and Capacity Certificate with every shipment. Every ES300h pack — Ni-MH or lithium — should ship with a printed cycle test (we use 5 cycles at 0.5 C charge / 1 C discharge between 20% and 80% SOC) showing measured capacity is within 3% of nominal.
5. Specify packaging for export. Ni-MH cells ship as non-DG batteries on a pallet with anti-vibration bracing. Lithium packs ship as UN3480, Class 9, with the appropriate MSDS, UN38.3 test summary, and DG declaration for air freight (or IMDG for sea freight). Confirm your freight forwarder is comfortable before placing the order.
6. Confirm warranty terms in writing. Industry standard is 24 months or 50,000 km for Ni-MH rebuilds, and 36 months or 100,000 km for NCM lithium drop-in packs. Make sure the warranty covers cell capacity degradation below 70% within the term, not just outright failure.
7. Verify the supplier's cell source and BMS source. Reputable suppliers will tell you which cell manufacturer they use (EVE Energy, CATL, Gotion for lithium; PEVE-equivalent or FDK for Ni-MH) and which BMS hardware revision. If a supplier refuses to disclose either, walk away.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Cross-fitting Camry Hybrid packs into ES300h. While the cells are electrically similar, the BMS firmware handshake, the pack enclosure shape, and the cooling fan mounting all differ. A Camry XV50 pack will physically fit in an ES300h but the BMS will throw a permanent DTC and the car will not start.
• Selling "lithium upgrade" packs for 2013-2017 builds without firmware initialization. The early ES300h BMS is the single most common failure point for aftermarket lithium conversions. If you cannot offer Techstream initialization in your market, default to Ni-MH for those builds.
• Ignoring ventilation on Ni-MH rebuild kits. When rebuilding a pack from individual cells, the vent tube on the pack enclosure must be reconnected. If it is left off, hydrogen off-gassing can accumulate inside the cabin in a thermal event.
• Quoting without freight. A 34-module Ni-MH pack on a sea-freight pallet to East Africa from Ningbo is roughly $150-$190 in 2026 LCL rates. A drop-shipped lithium pack to the U.S. is roughly $90-$130 LTL. Always quote landed.
• Buying from cell-only "kit" suppliers without a BMS. Cell-only kits are fine for experienced rebuild shops with their own BMS diagnostics. They are not fine for retail customers. Make sure you know who is on the other end of the order.
• Misidentifying the 2025+ 8th-gen pack. The 8th-gen ES300h uses a higher-voltage lithium pack (259-268 V nominal) with a different connector pinout. If you quote a 244.8 V 7th-gen pack for a 2025+ car, the BMS will reject it permanently. Confirm the build year is 2025 or later and the chassis code is XV60 → XZ10 before quoting the 8th-gen SKU.

7. Recommended Products from Our Catalog

Below are the Lexus ES300h traction battery products we currently ship from our Ningbo warehouse, with cross-references to the OE part numbers above. All products carry a 24-36 month warranty and a printed capacity certificate.

• Lexus ES300h Hybrid Lithium-ion Battery Pack — 244.8 V 34-module — drop-in replacement — NCM lithium, $980 FOB at MOQ 20.
• Toyota Camry Hybrid XV50 Lithium-ion Battery Pack — 244.8 V 34-module (cross-reference) — shared cell architecture for inventory cross-listing.
• Toyota Camry Hybrid XV40 Lithium-ion Battery Pack — 244.8 V 34-module (cross-reference) — for older Camry / ES300h cross-fit audits.

Note: For ES300h-specific BMS subassemblies and the 2025+ eighth-gen lithium pack, please contact our sales team directly with the customer's VIN — we maintain a broader active SKUs list beyond the public catalog.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

8.1 What type of battery does a Lexus ES300h Hybrid use?

It depends on the build year. The 2013-2024 Lexus ES300h (seventh-generation XV60) used a 244.8 V Ni-MH (nickel-metal hydride) traction pack built from 34 prismatic modules, with usable energy around 1.6-1.8 kWh. The 2025+ eighth-generation ES300h uses an NCM lithium-ion traction pack at 259-268 V nominal. Across the entire ES300h production run, Ni-MH is the dominant chemistry in the global fleet (~92% by vehicle count) because the seventh-gen ran for 12 model years on the same Ni-MH architecture. For replacement sourcing, the most common part number to quote is G9280-0T100 for 2013-2024 builds and G9280-0T200 for 2025+ builds.

8.2 What is the Lexus ES300h Ni-MH battery voltage, cells, and configuration?

The 2013-2024 ES300h Ni-MH traction pack operates at a nominal voltage of 244.8 V (sometimes listed as 245 V or 244 V in service literature — the discrepancy is rounding, not an actual different pack). The pack is built from 34 prismatic Ni-MH modules connected in series, with each module containing 6 cells at 1.2 V nominal. Total cell count is 204 cells (34 × 6). The pack weighs approximately 35 kg and lives behind the rear seatback. Capacity is roughly 1.6-1.8 kWh usable, which is sufficient because the ES300h is a full hybrid (HEV) that runs on the engine for highway duty and only uses the battery for low-speed electric assist and regenerative capture.

8.3 What is the Lexus ES300h battery type — Ni-MH vs li-ion?

Across the entire 2013-2026 ES300h production run, both Ni-MH and lithium-ion chemistries have been used, but in very different proportions. The 2013-2024 seventh-gen XV60 fleet is overwhelmingly Ni-MH at 244.8 V, with only a small share of late-production lithium-equipped builds. The 2025+ eighth-gen ES300h moved to NCM lithium-ion at 259-268 V nominal. For wholesale buyers, the practical takeaway is that Ni-MH inventory is the foundation of the ES300h product line in 2026 — roughly 80-85% of stock-keeping units should be Ni-MH, with the remainder as NCM lithium drop-in packs for the eighth-gen and for retrofit upgrades on 2018+ facelift seventh-gen vehicles.

8.4 What is the typical wholesale price for a Lexus ES300h replacement battery in 2026?

For a wholesale buyer placing a 20-unit minimum order, FOB Ningbo / Shanghai, 2026 pricing breaks down as follows: Ni-MH rebuild kit for the seventh-gen XV60 (2013-2024) is $780 per pack; NCM lithium drop-in pack for the seventh-gen XV60 is $980 per pack; NCM lithium pack for the 2025+ eighth-gen is $1,820 per pack. Prices assume payment by T/T 30/70 or irrevocable L/C at sight. Volume breaks above 100 units reduce pricing by roughly 10-15%. ES300h pricing carries a 15-20% premium over equivalent Camry Hybrid products because of the smaller production volumes and the premium-segment positioning.

8.5 How long does a Lexus ES300h battery last?

OEM Ni-MH traction packs in the ES300h typically last 12-18 years or 200,000-280,000 km in temperate climates, and 10-15 years in hot climates (Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, tropical Latin America). Aftermarket NCM lithium drop-in packs from reputable suppliers last 8-12 years or 200,000-300,000 km because of higher cycle life, but they require BMS firmware initialization on 2013-2017 builds. Most ES300h owners who replace the traction battery do so between year 10 and year 15 of vehicle life.

8.6 Can I upgrade my older Lexus ES300h from Ni-MH to lithium-ion?

Yes, but only on 2018+ facelift seventh-gen builds. The 2013-2017 pre-facelift seventh-gen has a BMS firmware revision that is more sensitive to voltage curve changes, and while a lithium drop-in can be installed, it requires Techstream-level initialization and is not commonly supported by independent shops. For the 2018-2024 facelift, the upgrade is straightforward and uses the same BMS handshake as the OEM lithium-equipped ES300h. The 2025+ eighth-gen is already lithium, so the upgrade is essentially a like-for-like replacement.

8.7 Which Lexus ES300h battery part number do I need?

Match the part number to the build year: 2013-2024 seventh-gen XV60 (both pre-facelift and facelift) uses G9280-0T100 as the primary OE pack part number, with G9510-10010 as the related BMS ECU part number. The 2025+ eighth-gen uses G9280-0T200. The single most common error in ES300h battery sourcing is quoting a Camry Hybrid part number (G9200-30030 or G9200-47030) for an ES300h build — those are similar in spec but the BMS handshake differs, and the BMS will throw a permanent DTC even though the cells are electrically compatible.

9. Next Steps

If you are a wholesale buyer or distributor evaluating Lexus ES300h traction batteries for your market in 2026, here is the fastest path from inquiry to shipped order:

1. Send us your target generation mix (seventh-gen XV60 pre-facelift / facelift / 8th-gen), expected annual volume, and destination port.
2. We prepare a formal FOB quotation with tiered pricing at MOQ 20 / MOQ 100 / MOQ 500.
3. We ship a paid evaluation sample (1 unit) so your installation shop can verify the pack on a customer vehicle before placing the bulk order.
4. Bulk orders ship 5-14 days after payment, with capacity certificates and cycle test reports enclosed.

For ongoing customers we also offer bonded warehouse options in Lagos, Dubai, and Rotterdam — please ask your account manager for details.

10. Related Guides from LIANLI TECHNOLOGY

• Toyota Camry Hybrid Battery Replacement Guide: Ni-MH vs NCM Lithium, OE Numbers (G9200-30030, G9200-47030, G9200-0T100), XV40/XV50/XV70/XV80 Generations, Aftermarket Sourcing & 2026 Wholesale Pricing — the platform sibling of the ES300h, sharing the same 244.8 V / 34-module Ni-MH architecture.
• Toyota Prius Hybrid Battery Replacement Guide: Ni-MH Cell, Module & Pack Specifications, OE Numbers (G9510-52030, G9280-47010, G9200-47030), Gen 1/2/3/4 Differences, Aftermarket Sourcing & 2026 Wholesale Pricing — the foundational Toyota HEV battery guide; the Prius Gen 3 module is the technology ancestor of every ES300h Ni-MH cell.
• Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Battery Replacement Guide: Ni-MH vs NCM Lithium, OE Numbers, PHEV Differences & Wholesale Sourcing (2015–2025) — covers the AWD counterpart with shared TNGA-K architecture.
• Toyota Yaris Hybrid Battery Replacement Guide: Ni-MH vs Lithium-Ion, OE Numbers, Cost & Buyer's Checklist (2011–2025) — the small-platform companion to the ES300h, useful for entry-level hybrid markets.

For Lexus ES300h battery sourcing inquiries, contact our sales team with your target generation, annual volume, and destination port. We respond to qualified wholesale inquiries within one business day with a formal quotation.