AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES

The first automobile was created in the mid 1700’s and was steam-powered. The first automobiles with internal combustible engines began appearing in 1880’s. Ford worked through nearly the entire alphabet before the Model T became the first mass produced vehicle to roll off an assembly line. In all these cars, none had a battery. There’s been a lot of innovation within the automotive industry, but the battery isn’t one of them. Batteries didn’t become standard equipment until around 1920. Before that, engines were hand-cranked and the charge needed for ignition was provided by a device called a magneto. Headlights were typically gas powered lamps and horns were either bells or a manual bulb horn. When the first batteries were introduced, they were pretty high maintenance. They didn’t hold a charge well, needed frequent re-charging and fluids needed a regular check. The batteries were also vulnerable to damage either from vibration or extreme weather temperatures. From triple-A’s to diesel engines, all batteries are designed to store and deliver electrical energy. They also operate on the same principle with a positive and negative end combined with a conductive material, or electrolyte. For car batteries, when the electrolyte, sulfuric acid, is released and makes contact with the lead plates, ions are released which results in electric current. One of the differences between car batteries and (most) triple-A batteries is they are re-chargeable. This is accomplished by simply reversing the ion flow. Once the battery has provided the initial jolt to start the vehicle, most of the electrical generation occurs in the alternator. Besides powering most interior and exterior electrical needs, the alternator also re-charges the battery to full capacity for the next engine start. The battery remains engaged while the engine is running, however, to provide back-up power. For example, if the car is experiencing high electrical demand while the vehicle is at low idle, or parked.

Lead-Acid Batteries

The first car batteries aren’t too much different than they are today, relying on the same chemical reactions to create the charge needed for ignition. These first lead-acid batteries cranked out 6 volts of energy. As engines became bigger in the 1950’s, they required more power to get started and manufacturers soon were installing 12 volt batteries to handle the bigger load. While smaller cars retained the 6 volt batteries, 12 volt lead-acid, flooded batteries became, and remain, the most popular battery type for most automobiles. Lead-acid battery technology has stood the test of time, providing years of dependable engine-starting power inexpensively. Lead-acid batteries are sufficient for most suburban drivers, but there are a few negatives. Vibration and extreme weather temperatures can be a challenge for many automobile components. A common misconception is extreme cold is a battery’s worst enemy, but extreme heat can be even more damaging. Not to say extreme cold doesn’t take it’s toll. When temperatures drop to well below freezing, the conductive electrolyte solution can freeze, potentially damaging the thin lead plates. In extreme heat, the liquid electrolyte can evaporate, significantly reducing the amount of electricity it can produce which can reduce the battery’s designed life expectancy. Greater heat also promotes corrosion. When not in use, a byproduct of the battery chemistry is hydrogen. Hydrogen is fairly harmless, but in an unvented area, it can become flammable. But the biggest downside to lead-acid batteries is the acid, specifically sulfuric acid. In addition to the logistics issues, sulfuric acid is highly toxic and dangerous to humans and the environment alike. On human tissue, sulfuric acid can quickly cause burning, blisters, blindness and even death.

AGM Batteries

Even with all that, manufacturers had been unable to develop a better battery option until the 1980’s when Absorbent Glass Mat, or AGM, batteries were created. While still relying on the lead-acid chemical interaction, AGM batteries reduce the amount of sulfuric acid and encases it within absorbent fiberglass. This decreased the risk of accidental leakage of sulfuric acid, but AGM batteries also increased battery performance in other areas. Less sulfuric acid means a lighter battery, weighing up to half that of lead-acid batteries leading to greater fuel efficiency. The encased components are naturally more durable for less vulnerability to vibration. AGM batteries hold a charge longer. When the car isn’t in use, the battery gradually loses power. This is due to various electric components like the computer, clock and security light. If the car sits long enough, the battery won’t have enough power to start the car. While lead-acid batteries can reach this point in a few weeks, an AGM battery can go up to six months and still retain enough charge to start the vehicle. Not only can AGM batteries hold a charge longer, they can store more energy and recharge faster than their lead-acid counterparts. AGM batteries also last longer. While a lead-acid battery will typically be good for 3-5 years, AGM batteries can provide charging power for 4-7 years depending on car and environmental conditions. In extreme heat, AGM batteries don’t do much better than lead-acid batteries in temperatures over 120° F. But with sealed components, AGM batteries perform significantly better in extreme cold with an operational temperature range starting at below 0° F. One knock on AGM batteries is the cost, often 2-3 times that of a lead-acid battery. Battery life expectancy and greater efficiencies offset much of this added cost, but in northern latitudes where extreme cold can be sustained for days or weeks, AGM batteries might be a desirable option.