How Does A Car Battery Work and How to Keep it Maintained?

A car is quite a complex machine with thousands of parts, all of which are interconnected to each other. These parts ensure that the car is working properly and gives the driver maximum performance. One very important car component is the engine, which is completely dependent on its battery. If there is an issue with the battery, then the engine will also not work properly. In this blog, we will be discussing in detail about car battery, how it works, and ways to avoid a flat car battery.

Understanding Car Battery

One can call the battery the powerhouse of the car. The primary function of a car battery Nottingham is to provide the engine with the electricity and power needed to start up, as well as provide the electricity supply to all the electric components of the vehicle like headlights, taillights, interior lights, etc. Their work is quite simple, they convert chemical energy into electric energy which in turn powers the complete vehicle.

Types Of Car Battery

There are a variety of car batteries available in the market, serving a variety of purposes. Here is a detailed breakdown of the types of car batteries, their functions, and their pros and cons:

Lead-Acid Battery

These are the most commonly used car batteries, which generate electricity through a chemical reaction between lead and lead oxide. The main reason for them being the most common type of battery is their affordability and availability.

With their own set of benefits, they have their drawbacks as well, which include their shorter lifespan and being heavier than other batteries, the weight of which puts more load on the engine. These are divided into 3 sub-categories, which are- Flooded Lead-Acid, SLI (Starting, Lighting, and Ignition) Batteries, and Deep Cycle Batteries.

AGM Battery (Absorbent Glass Mat)

This battery, in many ways, is similar to the lead-acid ones. AGM batteries are spill-proof due to the presence of a glass mat, which absorbs the electrolyte. This battery increases the performance of the vehicle, has a longer lifespan, and can be set on a high level.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

The recent automotive industry has seen an increase in the use of lithium-ion batteries due to the rising demand for electric vehicles. As EVs require charging for constant use, these batteries are rechargeable, and the energy is stored in them using lithium ions moving between the anode and cathode, which are the positive and negative electrodes.

These are quite lightweight and can store a large amount of energy in, making them the perfect fit for electric vehicles that can’t take heavy loads. One major setback of having lithium-ion batteries in your vehicle is that they can compromise the overall safety of your vehicle. Many cases have been reported in which, due to overheating, the battery caught fire, leading to damage to the vehicle.

Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) Batteries

This type of battery can mostly be found in vehicles that are hybrid and don’t have much use of an internal combustion engine.

Gel Cell Batteries

This battery has many properties similar to the AGM, like being spillproof and vibration resistant.

Factors That Affect The Battery Life

A battery, like all the other components of a car, has a fixed lifespan, which gives you the best performance. But with the passing of time and several other factors, their life can be affected. So, here are some of the biggest factors that contribute to the lifespan of a car battery:

• No Regular Maintenance Of The Battery

Maintenance of the battery is one of the most important factors for the lifespan that you can get from it. To properly maintain the battery, you can follow steps like checking and ensuring that there is no corrosion on the battery, keeping the battery charged properly, and don’t forget to turn off the lights, indicators, or any other part that can use battery power even when the car engine is not running. You can also get a car service Nottingham so that you can identify any issue with the battery before you face any sudden breakdown. 

• Ageing Of Battery

The first factor to affect the lifespan of a car battery is ageing. As told earlier, the battery is like the other components of your vehicle, and this has a typical lifespan of around 3 to 5 years. This is the lifespan of the commonly used lead-ion battery, and if your car has a different battery, then its lifespan might be less or more than this, depending on the one that you have.

• Driving Short Distance

Another big factor that can affect the lifespan of the battery is the distance that you cover with your vehicle. Various studies have shown that if you frequently travel short distances with your vehicle, especially in cold weather can lead to the faster draining of the car battery, which can cause permanent damage to it.

• Don’t Stop Using Your Car

If you don’t use your car for a long period, then the engine might go dead due to no usage for a long time. Therefore you should ensure that the battery is used from time to time.