What is battery life?

Addressing the age long question of “how long should my battery last?” has not only confused vehicle owners and drivers, but some are still struggling to find consensus on the topic.

Why is it so difficult to answer?  Is there a simple answer to this?

Is there a “one size fits all” type of answer? There are too many variables and factor that determine the longevity and performance of the battery in your vehicle.  Batteries come in all sizes and shapes made to meet OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) fitment requirements. They can vary in the terms and conditions of the warranty. They even differ in the period of warranty on them.

Generally, in New Zealand conditions provided the battery is maintained, the fitment is correct for the vehicle and the battery is kept at 100% state of charge, it is expected to last 3-5 years.  In saying that, the life you get out of your battery is very dependent on you. Let us start with looking at:-

Correct Battery choice

All vehicles come with OEM battery fitment specification. You must ensure that your next battery meets or exceeds the OEM recommendation.  Look at the case size to fit in the battery tray of the vehicle. The battery polarity is correct (terminal configuration).

Having checked the above, check the cranking amps (CCA rating), that is the ability to crank the motor.  Batteries with high cranking amps do not get stressed and over worked and hence will perform at optimum for a longer period.  

See that the battery has the required capacity (AH).  For modern cars it is very important to ensure that AH rating meets the OEM specification too. AH rating is the capacity of the battery.  When you have turned the vehicle off and finished for the day, your car battery is still at work.  It has to maintain the memory and keep alive all computers and auxiliary for when the vehicle is used next time.  Low AH rating will not be able to maintain consistent power supply for all computers in the vehicle.

Above all you need to find out if your vehicle is a special needs vehicle, that is, does it have “Stop Start” technology, does it come with AGM battery as OEM specification.  Modern vehicles come with more than 10 computers (some up to 40), one of them specifically manages your battery performance and charging system.  This is called the Battery Management System (BMS) and runs in conjunction with an Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS).  Installing an incorrect battery will cause a malfunction, not only causing the battery to fail prematurely but affect vehicle performance and electrical issues.  You can in some instances end up with expensive repairs.

Maintenance and care of batteries

We are very particular with vehicle servicing in terms of oil and filter change, tyre pressure and all fluid flush and top up.  How often do we check the cleanliness and condition of the battery connections?

It is important that you check and maintain all connections on a regular basis to ensure that the battery is receiving proper charge and can supply the correct amount of current with minimum resistance.

Most batteries now come as maintenance free. This simply means that you cannot service the internals of the battery, however, you still need to maintain the connections and state of charge.  Failing to keep the battery to 100% state of charge is the largest factor that affects battery durability and longevity.  If you are not using your car on regular basis invest in a maintenance charger (smart charger) to help you to keep the battery topped up for next time you need to use the vehicle.  Lack of use and low state of charge is a major factor in batteries failing prematurely.

A recent journal very rightly wrote “Batteries don’t die, we kill them”

Get the most out of the starting battery in terms of longevity and performance by using correct fitment and maintenance.

Feeling flat?

If you’re unlucky enough to experience a flat battery, AA Battery Service can come to you 24/7 and usually within the hour.