Understanding Car Batteries: Types, Lifespan

How Exactly Does a Car Battery Work?

We know that the function of a battery is to provide electricity to power up a car, but here’s how this powerful little box works – when you start your engine, a chemical reaction in the battery is converted into electrical energy to power up your engine, lights, and accessories.

When your car is running, the battery is kept charged by the alternator. This allows the car battery to provide a steady electrical current during your drive which keeps other electrical components running. The battery is also kept charged by the alternator so it has enough juice to start the car up the next time you drive.

 

1. Wet or Dry Cell Battery

Contrary to popular belief, all car batteries actually have wet cells (the electrolytes are in liquid form) in them. The differentiating point is whether the battery requires maintenance or is maintenance-free. They are called lead-acid batteries since they have positive and negative lead electrodes immersed in an electrolytic solution of sulfuric and water.

Although maintenance-free car batteries do not require the occasional top-up of electrolytes (which conventional maintainable batteries do), owners will still need to regularly check the terminals for corrosive build-up. This corrosive build-up, which can reduce the lifespan of a car battery can be in the form of a white powder that is caused by overcharging, overfilling the battery, electrolyte leakage, and chemical reaction in the copper clams. The only downside to it a maintenance-free car battery is its lifespan – It doesn’t last as long as conventional maintenance batteries.

2. Gel cell & AGM Battery

While the standard car battery lasts about two years, there are two other types of car batteries that can last up to five years. These are known as Gel Cell and Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. A gel cell battery has silica (sand) to turn the acid electrolyte in the battery into gel form which makes it spill-proof. In an AGM battery, glass mats are placed between the thin lead plates (electrodes) to cushion them. In turn, manufacturers can squeeze in more glass mats and lead plates into a single battery. This leads to more power 

Both these batteries hold their charge better, don’t degrade as easily, and even hold up better in storage. Although these car batteries last longer, they often cost twice as much or more than common wet and dry cell batteries. That said, Gel Cell batteries typically cost more than AGM ones.