Winter is a real stress test for a car battery. However, some batteries last only 2–3 years, while others last up to 10 years. The difference often lies not in luck, but in the right choice and competent maintenance. Following basic rules can almost double the battery life.
Below are five key principles that directly affect battery life.
1. Battery Weight Matters
It's worth starting at the purchase stage. Even if the car is new and equipped with a factory battery, sooner or later it will have to be replaced. And when choosing a new battery, there is a parameter that is often ignored — the weight of the product.
If you open any marketplace and look at, for example, 60 Ah batteries, you can see a price range from 3,000 to 10,000–12,000 rubles. At the same time, cheap models often weigh 12–12.6 kg, while higher quality ones weigh 15–18 kg.
The difference reaches 4–6 kg, and this is not "extra plastic", but lead in the plates. In light batteries, there is simply less of it, which makes the plates thinner and less resistant to loads. During a cold start, they experience maximum current, and such elements can deform or even short-circuit. No matter how much you charge such a battery, its resource is initially limited by the design.
2. Battery Technology Directly Affects Service Life
Today, three main types of car batteries are available on the market.
WET (classic lead-acid) — with liquid electrolyte and unprotected plates. This is the simplest and most affordable option.
EFB — advanced lead-acid batteries with liquid electrolyte. Their plates are more massive and additionally placed in microfiber packages. This solution reduces shedding of active mass, reduces the likelihood of short circuits and slows down sulfation.
AGM — a more technological option. Here, the electrolyte is absorbed into an absorbent fiberglass and is not in a free state. It cannot leak or evaporate, and the design itself allows you to place more plates in the same volume. This increases the starting current and capacity. As with EFB, the plates are less prone to shedding and sulfation. Today, AGM remains the most advanced mass solution. Gel (GEL) batteries are gaining popularity, but have not yet become widespread in cars.
If the task is to obtain a resource of 7–8 years or more, up to 10 years, it is wiser to choose AGM, despite the higher price. EFB can last 5–7 years. And inexpensive and lightweight WET batteries may not last even two years.
3. Cold Starts and Short Trips Are the Main Enemy
Even a properly selected battery quickly loses its resource under adverse operating conditions. The most destructive factors are frequent cold starts and short trips in winter.
At a temperature of −20 °C and below, the battery gives off a significant amount of energy to start the engine. However, it cannot replenish it immediately: the electrolyte becomes viscous, and the ability to accept charge decreases sharply. The battery needs to warm up for normal charging.
It is important to understand that we are talking not only about the engine temperature, but about warming up the entire underhood space. At −25 °C, this can take 30–40 minutes. On a trip lasting only 20 minutes, the battery does not have time to fully charge. This leads to chronic undercharging, which causes sulfation of the plates and reduces battery capacity.
The solution is simple: during a period of stable frosts, it is worth taking trips lasting 60–90 minutes at least once a week. During this time, the battery warms up and is able to fully restore the charge.
4. Preventive Charging in Winter
For maximum service life, it is useful to carry out regular recharging in the cold season. The battery is removed and charged at home using a specialized device.
Such prevention can add up to 30% to the service life. Even during a long trip in winter, the battery rarely warms up to the optimal +20…+25 °C for charging. Usually it only goes into the positive temperature zone, which is not enough for full recovery.
If the temperature stays at −20 °C for a long time, it makes sense to remove the battery and charge it. At variable temperatures (−20…−10 °C), it is enough to carry out the procedure once every 1.5–2 months. During the cold season, this is usually 2–3 times — including late autumn and early spring, when there are also severe frosts.
5. Charging with Recovery Elements
Over time — usually after 5–7 years — even with good care, the plates become covered with sulfates, that is, salts of sulfuric acid. These crystals reduce the working surface of the plates, worsening the battery characteristics.
Normally, sulfates dissolve during charging, but large crystals eventually cease to break down effectively. In this case, charging devices with recovery modes help — they are often referred to as "SAVE" or "battery saving".
In such modes, the charge is supplied according to a special algorithm that promotes the destruction of sulfate deposits. This does not guarantee complete recovery, but often allows you to extend the life of the battery for another one or two years. Even noticeably weakened batteries sometimes return to working condition after such a procedure.
First you need to choose a high-quality battery with sufficient weight and suitable technology, and then operate it correctly. With proper maintenance, even an ordinary lead-acid battery with liquid electrolyte can last much longer than expected.