The Car Battery Types
1. Flooded Lead Acid Battery (Wet Cell)
The flooded lead acid battery is the oldest car battery type, and it’s very common and affordable. It’s also called the SLI battery, which stands for“Starting, Lighting, Ignition.”
The flooded battery is a wet cell battery. It’s typically made of 6 cells with a liquid electrolyte solution of sulfuric acid and water and supplies a voltage of 12.6V at full charge.
2. Silver Calcium Battery
This battery type was designed as an improvement over the flooded battery technology. It’s still a lead acid battery with an electrolyte solution, but uses lead-calcium-silver plates instead of the lead-antimony plates in the conventional battery. It’s usually sealed and maintenance-free. The silver calcium battery is more resistant to corrosion and more resilient at high temperatures, so it has a longer lifespan in hotter climates.
3. Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB)
The EFB battery is an optimized, higher-performance wet cell battery. It uses a liquid electrolyte solution, but it’s a sealed battery, designed to take on twice the cycling endurance.
4. Deep Cycle Battery
The deep cycle battery is a type of lead acid battery and can be flooded or sealed. It uses a thicker battery plate in its cells and has a denser active material.
5. Absorbent Glass Mat Battery (AGM)
The AGM battery is a VRLA battery designed to support higher electrical energy demands in modern vehicles. It’s similar to a wet cell battery, but a fiberglass separator (a “glass mat”) absorbs the electrolyte solution and keeps it in place. This battery type performs better than its flooded counterparts. The AGM battery is ideal for vehicles with automatic start-stop applications and with braking energy recovery. However, it can cost 40-100% percent more than conventional batteries.
6. Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Battery
The Li Ion battery can store more energy and has faster charging times. It’s also lighter than conventional batteries, which is essential for the electric car. Less weight means more travel distance on one charge.
Here are some answers to car battery-related questions that you may have.
1. Do Car Batteries Come In Different Sizes?
YES; It’s essential to get the right battery size to ensure that it mounts securely in your car compartment and provides sufficient power. If you use the wrong size or one with terminals in the wrong position, your vehicle’s cables might not reach or fit correctly.
2. What Does Car Battery CCA Mean?
The most amp (ampere) ratings on a car battery is the CCA rating. Cold Cranking Amps OR CCA defines how many amps it can deliver for 30 seconds at 0°F (-18°C) — that is, how well a battery can start an engine in frigid conditions. The higher the amp rating number, the easier it is to crank the engine.
3. What Does Car Battery Reserve Capacity (RC) Mean?
The reserve capacity (RC) highlights how long a battery can run a vehicle if the charging system fails. It’s the number of minutes the battery can deliver 25A of current before the voltage is discharged down to 10.5V (and the battery is considered fully discharged).
4. What Is Depth Of Discharge (DoD)?
Depth of Discharge (DoD) indicates the percentage of the battery that has been discharged relative to the battery’s overall capacity. A car battery’s maximum DoD is the percentage of the battery that can be safely drained of power without damaging it.
5. Should I Test My Car Battery?
While not entirely necessary, it’s recommended to have your mechanic load-test your battery annually after it’s 2 years old (if you’re in a warm region) or after 4 years (if you live in a cold area).
6.Do I need to Charge my Battery?
YES - Remember, for proper battery maintenance you must put back the energy you use immediately. If you don't, the battery sulfates, which will affect performance and longevity. The alternator is a battery charger. It works well if the battery is not deeply discharged.
7. Battery Dos
- Think Safety First.
- Ensure battery is secure
- Do regular inspection and maintenance, especially in hot weather.
- Keep battery terminals clean and dry at all times
- Do recharge batteries immediately after discharge.
- Do buy the right battery that will fit your configuration.
8. Battery Don'ts
- If you are replacing by yourself Don't forget safety first.
- Don't use unregulated, high-output battery chargers to charge batteries.
- Don’t drain your battery by leaving lights or accessories on
- Never lean over a battery when charging, testing or jump-starting the engine.
- Never leave your battery standing for long periods without being charged
