Is a more expensive 12V battery always better? BATTERY TECHNOLOGY HAS DIVERSIFIED RAPIDLY AND NOW OFFERS A BEWILDERING CHOICE. WE GET THE INSIDE KNOWLEDGE FROM CENTURY YUASA BATTERIES entury Yuasa Batteries’ national training manager John Kilby has been in the battery industry for 32 years and has had a front-row seat observing the evolution of technology over that time. At the start of John’s career, there was really only one main type of battery, lead acid, which was available in both 6-volt and 12-volt — the type with vented screw caps on each cell to which you added distilled water as the battery would lose some of its electrolyte through its normal operation. “Choosing a battery was relatively simple. Generally, the more you paid, the better the battery, and the longer it tended to last. Better batteries had more lead plates, increasing the surface area of the plate material. This becomes a balance, as too many plates in that confined area can lead to the risk of internal shorts,” says John. Batteries are now available with different technologies — flooded, AGM, gel, and the new kid on the block: lithium. Each of these technologies has its advantages and disadvantages. Lead requires additional additives to help provide a stable property for the lead paste to be applied to. In the early days, a material called antimony was used. While this is still used today, mainly in deep cycle batteries, other materials are used in starting batteries — the likes of calcium amongst them. This had some additional benefits, helping the battery to hold its state of charge longer and reduce water loss. The starting or cranking battery of any vehicle is
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Auto Channel Issue #43 February 2022
typically a flooded battery, and this continues to be used in most original equipment applications today. Over the years we have seen this morph from a maintainable to a sealed maintenance-free product as the technology and demand change. We found ways to better contain the electrolyte within the battery, removing the need for topping up. The next big breakthrough was AGM or absorbed glass mat. These are batteries that don’t have loose electrolyte flooding each cell. Instead, the electrolyte is embedded in glass mat separators, which are pressed up against the plates. Whilst first applications for this technology were in the deep cycle space, we are now starting to see it being used in some European stop/start vehicles. The other technology worth a mention is gel. This is where the electrolyte is contained in a silica gel — also without any loose electrolyte. These products can be used in applications that flooded batteries cannot. One of the key differences between AGM and gel technology is the charging regime. The absorbed glass mat is a lot more forgiving with its charging parameters. We are now seeing smaller, lighter lithium batteries in a range of formulations entering the scene, but they are very expensive. John says how a battery is used or charged will have a lot to do with its eventual lifespan, and these usage patterns should be kept in mind when deciding which battery technology to go for.
As battery types diversify, keeping to the manufacturer’s specification is becoming more and more important. When it comes to battery replacement, the vehicle’s electrical system has already been set up for a specific type of battery. As vehicle manufacturers work to reduce emissions, one of the ways is by reducing the load on the alternator. This means that, in some cases, the vehicle may only charge the battery to 80 per cent before the charging system is disengaged to increase fuel economy, and the battery has to handle that. No battery lasts for ever, and John encourages workshops to test their customers’ battery condition at every opportunity — even if discovering a failing battery will add dollars to the customer’s bill. In some cases, drivers don’t get the warning signs we used to expect, such as the car engine cranking more slowly than usual. With today’s modern vehicles, it is often a case of “one day it starts, and the next day it doesn’t. According to John, there are no downsides to testing every battery that comes through your workshop, only upsides. “You get the battery sale, deliver good customer service, and ensure your customer doesn’t have to face a battery-related breakdown in the future.” For more information on Century Yuasa’s range of products and services, call 0800 93 93 93 or visit centurybatteries.co.nz.