All-electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, so it’s easy to forget that old fashioned, gas-powered cars and trucks are still reliant on electric batteries for their operation. Easy to forget, that is, until those batteries die, either permanently or temporarily. So, it’s only natural to ask: How long do car batteries last?
The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as battery age, climate where the battery is stored and the driving habits of the car owner. While some generalizations can be made about average lifespan, no two batteries will perform exactly the same.
To get the most out of your car battery, whether it is old or new, it’s helpful to understand how different variables will affect your car battery’s life. This can lead to significant improvements in the overall lifespan, as well as better performance.
Most modern gasoline and diesel vehicles use lead-acid batteries. Inside the battery is a series of cells containing lead plates, which are submerged in a solution of sulfuric acid that serves as the electrolyte.
When activated, a chemical reaction occurs, creating a current of electricity. These relatively sturdy, reliable and cost-effective devices are called wet-cell batteries, or flooded lead-acid batteries (FLA for short). They remain the industry standard.
When you turn the key in your ignition, the car battery sends a strong, brief jolt of electricity to the starter motor. This allows the internal combustion engine to begin operating. The alternator, an electric generator powered by the now-firing engine, sends electricity back into the battery, recharging it while you drive.
In addition to the standard lead-acid flooded battery, there are other options on the market. Some of these have advantages over the standard FLA batteries.
The average car battery life is about three to five years. Some batteries can last significantly longer, however, if they are treated well and kept in a relatively stable environment.
Many batteries sold today will include a three-year or 36-month warranty, although some will have warranties lasting significantly longer, such as 80 months.
While it can be worth it to pay for the battery with a longer warranty, with the right care, you can increase your chances of getting your car’s battery to live longer, and perform better, before having to replace it.
The lifespan of a car battery is determined by several factors. The four most important elements in knowing when to replace a car battery are time, usage, temperature and vibration.
This refers not just to the age of the battery, but also how much time it spends powering the car. All batteries will degrade with age, but sitting inert for long periods will significantly diminish their lifespan.
When the car is operated regularly, it keeps the charge full and prevents the battery from going completely dead, which ensures that the battery is working optimally.
Running the air conditioning, radio, or lights while the car engine is switched off creates a strain on the battery. What’s more, modern cars tend to have a lot of extra electronics, all of which draw power.
If the engine isn’t running enough to fully charge the battery each time it’s being used, this can lead to battery degradation over time.
Excessive heat can degrade the battery, leading to a shorter battery life and poorer overall quality. However, too much cold isn’t good either; it will create more of a burden for your battery when it comes time to start the car, and it can also lead to faster discharge.
Too much vibration isn’t good for a car battery, since the agitation of the internal components can cause corrosion and gradual decay.
When you have a truly dead battery, you’ll know it right away, because the engine won’t turn over. However, the signs that a car battery is nearing the end are often less blatant. By paying attention to your car battery’s performance, you can get a good idea of when it will need to be replaced.
If you want to keep your car battery healthy, and maximize the time before you have to shell out for a replacement, there are some reliable methods to do so. Using even one of these guidelines will help, but for the best results, it’s helpful to use them all.
Short trips can put additional strain on your battery, because they don’t offer the chance for a sustained charge.
Once the car is started, the alternator charges the battery, but it takes time and elevated RPMs (revolutions per minute) to get the job done. On shorter trips, the battery doesn’t get adequate time to fully charge.
If you can, keep the temperature of your vehicle stable (which in turn will keep your engine compartment, and thus your car battery temperature, stable).
This is most easily accomplished with a garage where you can keep the car out of the hot weather. Even if you don’t have a garage, parking in the shade wherever possible will still help.
Every so often, take a look at your car battery terminals. If there’s corrosion visible, give it a clean. Always use protective gear: rubber gloves, an apron and eye protection are worthwhile precautions.
Remove the battery from the car, and scrub the terminals with a wire brush. You can purchase battery contact cleaner from your local auto supply store, or you can use a solution of warm water and baking soda.
These small electronic gadgets are often affordable and easily stored, either in your garage or in the trunk of your car. When plugged into a standard outlet, they provide a slow trickle of electricity to the battery, ensuring it has optimal charge at all times, and switching off when the optimal level has been reached.
Some devices will also include a charging function to bring a depleted battery up to full charge quickly.
A well cared-for car battery can indeed last 10 years. While most batteries won’t make it to the decade mark, it does happen. If you’re always keeping your battery charged, protecting it from temperature extremes, excess vibration and corrosion, you’d be surprised at how many years your battery will last.