No battery lasts forever, for the simple reason their energy capacity fades as they age. It’s a part of life, and electrochemistry is not exempt. None-the-less, there are things we can do to make our sealed auto starter batteries last longer. These are largely in our hands, as batteries are maintenance free outside of occasional visual inspections.
Are Auto Starter Battery Standards Slipping?
We don’t believe that’s the case. If anything, the quality should be improving. Although a stubborn 7% of purchasers do report auto starter battery problems that are down to factory defects. Perhaps it’s a question of asking questions before you purchase. We are proud of our reputation at UPS Batteries and will gladly share.
A new generation of issues are rearing their heads as our society evolves. We don’t sell this particular type of battery, although we are aware of these trends:
- Heat-related problems seem to be increasing as North American summers heat up with global warming.
- Starter batteries are taking strain from in-car systems, which draw high current and prevent full recharging.
It goes almost without saying that better-quality batteries should withstand these pressures longer.
Why All Car Batteries Eventually Fail
Even the best battery loses some of its capacity energy as the months and several years pass, particularly in cold weather. However, a smart driver might be able to get another half year out of it, by driving mindfully.
Stop-start driving with frequent crank-starts puts an additional load on auto starter batteries, which may not have time to fully recover. The battery strains to do its job and this could shorten its useful life.
Remember, finally, that a battery can only start your auto a certain number of times before it becomes to weak to continue. Reward it by retiring it to the recycling depot, not the scrapyard, because its materials still have useful work to do.
More Information
Reasons for Capacity Loss in Batteries
