How Long Does a Car Battery Last For?

By Colin M

One of the most overlooked components of any vehicle is the car’s battery. This moderately-sized block of power source supplies your starter motor as well as the ignition system with the electrical current your car needs to crank your engine. It also serves as an additional power source during instances when the power supplied by the alternator is simply insufficient to meet increased demands. It also serves as a great electrical reservoir. However important your car’s battery is, it will never last forever. So how long does a car battery last?

The ‘Normal’ Lifespan of Your Car’s Battery

Car enthusiasts and experts have greatly varying opinions as to how long car batteries last. Some would say it should last a good 5 years while others would claim you could very well extend it up to 6 or even 7 years. It’s worth noting that all of these figures are taken under ‘normal’ conditions. When we say ‘normal’ we actually mean the right temperature and humidity, the right full charge cycles, and right power loading. Sadly, our idea of ‘normal’ is having all the electronic gadgetry inside our car in full operation, driving in the worst possible road conditions, and a whole lot more.

So, how long do car batteries last under these conditions? Given the poorest driving habits under the worst operating conditions imaginable, you’d be lucky to have your battery running for a minimum of two years, 3 years max.

Factors that Can Impact Car Battery Life

It is imperative to examine the various factors that can significantly impact car battery life to better understand it.

  • Cyclic life

Different types of car batteries come with different numbers of use cycles. For instance, it is known that flooded lead acid batteries or those with absorbent glass mat (AGM) systems typically have a use cycle of about 300 to 700 with normal usage. Gel batteries, on the other hand, can have significantly higher use cycles in the range of 500 to 5000 cycles, again with normal usage. The fewer the number of use cycles, the shorter the lifespan of your battery.

  • Depth of discharge effect

Let us try to simplify the effects of depth of discharge. Every time you use an electronic device on your car – the AC, stereo, daylight running lights, GPS system, windscreen wipers, and many others – you are actually consuming a lot of your battery’s power. The accessories can deplete it of its power reserves a lot faster than when you’re using as few electronic gadgets as possible at any given time. The point is that the more power that is drawn from your battery, the greater is the reduction in its life cycle. Persistent over or under-charging can significantly reduce battery life.

For instance, we mentioned that a typical AGM battery will have about 300 to 700 use cycles. However, with 100% battery capacity withdrawal, you’re essentially reducing the use cycle to only 200. Compare this with only 10% of your battery power being used by your car electronics and you can extend the same AGM battery’s use cycle to 3200.

  • Temperature

This has got to be one of the most important factors that can have an impact on the life of your car’s battery. Ideally, batteries operate best in a temperature range of 65 to 90° Fahrenheit. Unusually high temperatures can lead to a significant reduction in the battery’s use cycle. Extreme temperatures can lead to a dead battery if not properly managed. Unusually low temperatures also lead to a reduction in the battery’s overall capacity. As such, maintaining optimal operating temperatures is crucial to ensuring the longer life of your battery.

  • Rate and voltage of recharge

The speed of charging a car battery is not uniform. For instance, if a battery would take about 12 hours to become fully charged, it would take about 7 hours to charge it to about 90%. The remaining 10% will be charged over a period of 5 hours, or roughly 40 per cent of the total length of time it would take to have the battery fully charged. It is for this reason that a charge controller should be used when you are recharging car batteries to help regulate the charging rate and the voltage.

Excessively overcharging your VRLA battery can lead to its ultimate failure. Note that if you have an AGM battery, a fully charged status should be between 14.4 and 14.6 volts. For a Gel battery, you’re looking at 13.8 to 14.1 volts. If your voltmeter reads anywhere between 11.8 and 12.0 volts, that means your battery is already fully discharged.

  • Driving habits

As absurd as it may sound, your driving habits can significantly impact your battery life. Generally, if you drive shorter trips daily, the faster your battery’s condition will deteriorate. Every time you start your car, it requires a huge amount of electrical power from your battery. This will have to be replenished by your car’s charging system. Excessive vibration can lead to the breakdown of internal battery parts, further reducing its lifespan.

Now if you have very short commutes or even very frequent brief trips, you are actually not allowing your car battery to get fully charged. This leads to undercharging resulting in acid stratification. To put it simply, the more frequent and shorter trips you have, the more that you are not charging your battery very well. This leads to a very short battery life. So instead of looking at a 5-year battery life, you’re now potentially looking at 3 years max.

How to Extend the Life of Your Car Battery

Extending the life of your car’s battery is not really a straightforward thing since there are certain factors that you simply cannot control. Maintaining a healthy battery is crucial for the overall performance of your vehicle. While this may be true, you can observe the following tips:

  • As much as possible, avoid going on frequent short trips.

  • Regularly inspect your car’s battery for signs of corrosion and other potential problems.

  • Regularly clean the battery terminals to prevent corrosion and ensure a good connection.

  • If your engine is not running, don’t turn on your car’s electronics.

  • Have your car’s electrical system thoroughly inspected for operating efficiency.

  • Consider purchasing a replacement battery from a reputable seller with a good warranty.

  • Be aware of the warning signs that indicate the need for a new car battery.

Determining how long your car’s battery will last is actually dependent on a host of factors. While many of these simply cannot be controlled, you can nevertheless improve your driving habits to make the most out of your car’s battery.

How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Last?

Electric car batteries are a pivotal component in the rapidly evolving automotive industry. On average, the lifespan of an electric vehicle (EV) battery ranges from 8 to 15 years, depending on various factors such as the make and model of the car, driving habits, and environmental conditions. Manufacturers typically provide warranties that guarantee the battery will last at least 8 years or 100,000 miles. However, advancements in technology and battery management systems are continuously improving durability.

The longevity of an electric car battery is influenced by its type, with lithium-ion batteries being the most common in modern electric cars due to their efficiency and long life. Regular maintenance, proper charging practices, and avoiding extreme temperatures can further extend battery life. As the industry progresses, the future looks promising with ongoing research aimed at enhancing battery technology, which could soon see electric car batteries lasting even longer and becoming more reliable than ever before.

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