How Long Does A Car Battery Last?
How long does a car battery last?
Your car battery is not only vital for getting your car started, but also for using other features such as lights, mirrors, windows, heating/cooling and infotainment systems. Having a battery in good working condition is more essential than ever before, with the volume of technology that’s now commonplace in modern vehicles.
Cars have more technology installed requiring electrical power to operate than ever before. Some of these electrical devices include the ignition system, starter motor, engine controls, cabin controls (heating and cooling and lighting), car security, infotainment systems and most recently, assisted driving systems such as parking sensors and cameras, lane control systems, automatic braking – the list just continues to grow
A car battery supplies the required electronic current to your starter motor and ignition system to crank your engine and get your car started. In addition to starting your car, your battery also plays an important role as an additional power source when the alternator has insufficient power. Finally, it also acts as a reservoir, holding electrical power for when your car requires it.
We are so used to a battery working properly that we often forget its importance until it dies. There are few worse feelings as a car owner than turning your key or pushing the start button to hear a clicking sound, struggling starter motor or even worse, complete silence. Chances are you’ve experienced having a flat battery in the past if you’re a seasoned motorist.
In-spite of taking good care of your battery, it won’t last forever. Question is, how long does a battery last?
‘Normal’ car battery lifespan
Your driving style, where you live and how you maintain your battery, amongst many other factors, will determine the life expectancy of your car battery. Driving under ‘normal’ conditions i.e. optimal temperature, humidity, full charge cycles and power loading you can expect a battery to last anywhere between 3 and 5 years.
The problem is ‘normal’ conditions aren’t representative of most car owners. Instead, it’s often more realistic to look at the battery life expectancy from a worst-case scenario. This factors in poor driving style and the worst operating conditions for a battery, including using multiple technologies at once. With these more realistic conditions in mind, a battery lifespan of between 2 and 3 years is expected.
Factors that affect car battery life
To maximise the life of your car battery it’s important to understand and consider the following factors.
Extreme temperatures
Car batteries operate most efficiently when the temperature is between 18-30°C. When temperatures are significantly higher than this optimal range, the battery’s cycle life will be negatively impacted. When temperatures fall significantly below the optimal range the battery’s capacity is reduced.
Lifecycle
Different battery types will have different lifecycle totals and therefore expected lifespans. For example, lead and absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries typically have a lifecycle of up to 700 uses. However, gel batteries typically last much longer and have a far higher cycle life of up to 5,000 cycles. Both lifecycle totals reflect the battery operating under normal conditions.
Depth of discharge (DoD)
Depth of Discharge is a subject area which is not easy to explain! However, we’ve tried our best to simplify how to describe its impact upon your car battery life. When you are using lots of vehicle technology simultaneously your battery is put under additional strain to supply the power required. Therefore, the more power supply needed, the faster the battery lifecycle will reduce. On the other hand, if you are limiting the power required, you can expect your lifecycle to be extended.
Recharge voltage and rate
The speed that a battery recharges isn’t constant. For example, a battery may charge to 90% over 7 hours but require an additional time period to charge to full capacity. For this reason, it’s important to use a charge controller to regulate charge rate and voltage when recharging a battery.
Any Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) battery will fail earlier than expected if it’s overcharged frequently. For reference, a fully charged AGM battery will have a voltage range between 14.4-14.6-volts. A fully charged gel type battery will have a voltage range between 13.8-14.1-volts. A battery that has been totally discharged will be between 11.8-12.0-volts.
Corrosion
Regular inspection and maintenance are key to prolonging the life expectancy of your car battery. When moisture exists within the engine bay your battery terminals can become corroded, reducing your batteries lifespan. A toothbrush, baking soda and some good old elbow grease is a great way to help keep your terminals clean and help your battery last longer.
Journey length
Generally, shorter commutes and trips can prematurely age your battery. Every time you start your car a large amount of battery power is required which must then be replenished by your car’s charging system. Shorter journey lengths don’t present an opportunity for the battery to become fully charged again. Inefficient charging will reduce the expected life of your battery.
Age
No matter how much attention you put into inspecting and maintaining your car battery you will reach a time when it simply reaches the end of its life. At this stage you will need a replacement battery.
Extending the life of your car battery
Whilst many of the factors provided above are out of your control, there are a few tips that we recommend to extend the life of your car battery:
- Avoid frequent short journeys
- Regularly inspect your battery’s condition
- Limit the use of technology when your car is idling, or the engine is not running
- Check your car’s electrical system is operating efficiently and pinpoint any problems
If you need a replacement battery, we can help. We supply high-quality, low-cost used car batteries with stocks covering almost any battery type. VRLA, AGM and start stop batteries are available from leading manufacturers including Bosch, Exide, Varta and Yuasa. Every car battery for sale comes fully charged and with a free 12 month warranty for complete peace of mind.