Types of Car Batteries That Everyone Should Know

Car batteries come in different shapes, sizes, and designs – which one to buy?

If you are riddled with confusion over which type of battery suits your car the most, you are not alone. Surprisingly, most car owners remain unaware of the variety of car batteries that are available in the market today. As a result, they end up settling for substandard, ill-fitted, and cheap car batteries that underperform in the long run.

And let’s not forget: car batteries are an integral part of a car’s ignition system. They are responsible for supplying electrical energy to the car’s starter for cranking up the engine and powering up various car components like radio, lights, etc.

So, to help you streamline the selection process, here is a list of five common car battery types that everyone should know about.

Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries have garnered vast popularity in recent years for powering electric and hybrid cars. Engineered with superior capacity and performance, Li-ion batteries come with a secondary cell (rechargeable) design. In comparison to other car batteries, they are lighter in weight and have low-maintenance needs. Li-ion batteries have a high charge storage capacity and lower self-discharge. And on average, they can last for about three to four years.

Lead-Acid Batteries

A rechargeable battery type, lead-acid batteries are available in a wide range of capacities and sizes with a low car battery price. These batteries come with a primary battery cell design; while their storage capacity is determined by the amount of electrolyte and the size of the battery plates present inside the battery. Also, among the various battery types, lead-acid batteries have the lowest maintenance needs.

Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) Batteries

In design, VRLAs are highly advanced lead-acid batteries; they are specifically designed to be low-maintenance, do not spill when inverted or tilted over, and do not require regular addition of water to the battery cells. There are two common types of Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid battery: Absorption Glass Mat (AGM) and Gel Cell Batteries.

Starting, Lighting, and Ignition (SLI) Batteries

Majority of the cars manufactured these days are equipped with SLI batteries – a type of lead-acid, rechargeable battery that delivers power in short bursts to start the engine. SLIs are installed into the car’s charging system so they experience short cycles of charge and discharge whenever the car is running. The car’s electronic systems like radio, lights, infotainment and heating/cooling systems, and more are also powered by the SLI battery.

Wet Cell Batteries

Wet cell batteries are also known as flooded batteries as they have a liquid “electrolyte.” They are often used as rechargeable secondary batteries that get charged by the car’s alternator once the car starts. With regular maintenance, wet cell batteries can have an increased number of charge-discharge cycles for a prolonged lifespan.

Looking For a Reliable Car Battery?

AIS Windshield Experts can help! We are India’s leading car-care service providers, offering timely, reliable car battery checks and replacement services with huge network of service centres and mobile vans for door-to-door services. Our technicians are trained to work with genuine, world-class products from renowned brands like Exide, Amaron, Bosch, 3M, etc., available at an affordable car battery price for 100% customer satisfaction.

For quick car battery checks and replacements, you can give us a call at 1800-102-6364 to avail our doorstep facility, wherever you are. Also, instead of looking up “car batteries near me” on the internet, head over to AIS Windshield Experts website and shop for premium-quality car batteries and have them delivered at your doorstep within two hours of purchase!