What is a Car Battery?

The car battery converts chemical energy into electric current that powers the car. The battery stores this energy and releases it upon ignition to start the vehicle.

Most traditional car batteries have a liquid component called electrolyte that needs to be topped up with distilled water. Newer low maintenance or zero maintenance batteries do not have a liquid and require less upkeep.

How Car Batteries Work

Car batteries convert chemical energy into electrical energy used to start the engine and run other electric components. They also store the electrical charge necessary to maintain power in the car’s accessories and systems when the engine isn’t running.

Inside your battery are six smaller energy-producing units called cells. Each cell has 16 lead plates. Half of the plates are treated with lead dioxide and hold a positive charge, while the other half are covered in lead sponges that maintain a negative charge. There are conducting metal strips that run across the negative and positive plates to keep them from touching and shorting out. Each cell produces roughly 2 volts of electricity.

The battery contains a liquid electrolyte solution that is two-thirds water and one-third sulfuric acid. When you turn on your car, the negative lead plates in each cell react with sulfate ions (SO42-) in the electrolyte to produce lead sulfate and release electrons. This creates an electric current that runs to the positive plate, creating a second reaction and producing more electrons. This process repeats over and over, generating a continuous flow of electrons that powers the starter motor and other electric components when your car is turned off.

The chemistry in your battery is reversible, which is why it can be recharged and used over again. It can even be used to jumpstart your car if the alternator isn’t working.

Types of Batteries

There are many different types of car batteries out there, each with their own advantages and drawbacks. However, most of the batteries perform the same basic function. They store chemical energy and convert it to electricity when the ignition is turned on. In addition, they provide power for the electrical systems of the vehicle.

One of the most popular car battery types is a standard lead-acid battery. This type is also known as a wet cell battery and some have vents that allow for car battery the escape of corrosive gases, steam or condensation. However, this type is now often replaced by absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries that do not contain any open vents and are less likely to leak or damage the vehicle’s interior.

AGM batteries have a unique separator that prevents the positive and negative plates from touching each other, which can short-circuit them. They are a popular alternative to standard wet cell batteries.

Another common type of battery is a lithium-ion battery. This type of battery has several benefits including low self discharge rates, fast charging and longer driving ranges. This type of battery is the standard for electric and hybrid vehicles. However, this type of battery is expensive and requires large amounts of lithium which is an extremely rare metal. Therefore, extensive research and development is underway for a replacement that uses sodium instead.

Lifespan of Batteries

A car battery’s lifespan depends on how well it is maintained and when it is replaced. In general, it can last between three and five years. But, as with many other parts of a vehicle, the lifespan can be shortened by environmental conditions and driving habits.

When buying a battery it’s important to pay attention to the cold cranking amps (CCA) rating. This indicates how much of a jolt the battery can deliver at very cold temperatures. A battery with a higher CCA number will start your car more easily, even after losing some of its charge over time.

Another thing to consider when shopping for a battery is the build date. It’s an alphanumeric code that’s usually affixed to the top of the battery case. The code consists of the month, day and year, with the letter designations being A through L (January, February and so on). Batteries that sit on a shelf for long periods of time lose some of their power over time.

It’s also a good idea to get a battery that is the right size for your vehicle. Choosing the wrong battery could result in it not fitting securely or not providing sufficient power to your engine and other onboard electronics. Be sure to check your owner’s manual or a retailer’s in-store fit guide before purchasing a new battery.

Recycling Batteries

Car batteries are not rechargeable, so once they stop working, it’s time to recycle them. They contain dangerous chemicals, and dumping them in landfills pollutes the environment. Fortunately, recycling prevents this, as well as saves valuable resources and money by not having to mine new materials.

The battery recycling process begins with disassembly and sorting. The lead is melted down and poured into ingots to create reusable metal, while the sulfuric acid gets neutralized into water or converted to sodium sulfate, a common product used in detergent, glass, and textile manufacturing. The plastic and lead components are then remelted and recycled to create new batteries, beginning the cycle all over again.

A small percentage of batteries may still have life left in them, and those can undergo a thorough refurbishment and return to the end user in pristine condition. This helps to avoid the need for new mining, which can have many negative effects on the environment and people, including ev battery makers toxic metals polluting soil and waterways, as well as causing health problems for miners in third-world countries.

You can drop off your old battery for recycling at most automotive stores, scrap yards, and metal recycling centers. You may even get paid for the battery, depending on its size and weight. This is called direct recycling, and it’s a relatively new method of battery recycling that doesn’t involve heating or acids.