Types of Car Batteries

Lead Acid Battery

One of the most common types of car batteries today, especially for gasoline cars, is a lead-acid battery. These batteries operate using a combination reaction of lead and lead oxide with a water and sulfuric acid electrolyte.

Given its liquid nature to the electrolyte, evaporation is a common concern for car users. Therefore, to keep them running without impacting performance, regular maintenance checks and distilled water top-ups are necessary.

This car battery is further divided into two subcategories -

Deep Cycle Battery - Also known as the marine battery, these wet car batteries are sealed, reducing the risk of evaporation and making them long-lasting. They are commonly used for electric cars and perform best on off-roading routes.

SLI Battery - Another type of lead-acid battery is SLI, or Starting, Lighting, and Ignition. Most car manufacturers commonly provide these batteries with the cars as they give the car an instant push to get started. Once done, the alternator is responsible for running the car end-to-end.

VRLA Battery

Valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries are another popular category of car batteries. These batteries are designed with a compact and closed outlook with no scope of any gas escaping the battery, making them extremely safe. This makes for an ideal option for cars with limited space for battery.

However, even with these compact design benefits, given that this battery is sealed, no maintenance or repair services can be completed for them.

This car battery is further divided into two subcategories -

Gel Cell Battery - This car battery category also contains a liquid electrolyte but in gel form. Due to this gel nature, these batteries can tolerate high temperatures, physical shocks, evaporation, and spillage. Overall, they have a long life, are free of corrosion, and are safe to use with minimum maintenance.

Absorbed Glass Mat Battery - Another category under VRLA batteries is absorbed glass mat battery. These batteries are also liquid due to the presence of electrolytes. However, they come with glass mats that restrict the movement of liquid within the battery, reducing the risk of spillage.

Lithium Ion Battery

If you are looking for green options to keep the environment healthy, lithium-ion batteries are the safest bet. These car batteries promise high energy, well-maintained temperature, minimal discharge and top-notch efficiency.

These batteries are more common for electric vehicles. However, given that they are so environmentally friendly, the car battery prices for this category, including repair and recovery, are on the higher side.

Sodium Ion Battery

Even with the brilliant performance of lithium-ion car batteries, due to the scarcity of lithium around the globe, a new alternative with similar benefits is a sodium-ion car battery. The element sodium is available in abundance, making it an affordable alternative to lithium.

Electric cars with sodium-ion batteries are more affordable, as sodium is readily available. Moreover, these batteries are also more environmentally friendly with the same performance, making them a better option.

Silver Calcium Battery

Silver calcium batteries are a type of lead-acid battery with improved durability and performance. Lead-acid batteries use some sort of grid to differentiate between the negative and the positive plates. However, with silver calcium batteries, the lead is combined with small amounts of calcium and silver, making it more inclined towards the positive plate.

Moreover, the presence of calcium in these batteries reduces the risk of corrosion and ensures better performance in high temperatures due to its high tolerance. These batteries also impact the car vibrations by reducing the discomfort for the driver and passengers.

Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery

Nickel-metal hydride batteries are a rechargeable car battery option renowned for their eco-friendly and versatile characteristics. They can be recharged multiple times, ensuring continuous high performance on the road.

It is a popular choice for hybrid cars as it can hold more energy as compared to lead-acid batteries. Moreover, these batteries can perform efficiently in varying temperatures, making them a great sustainable option.

To find the best car battery for your car or judge whether the pre-installed car battery is a good choice, you must look at the following factors:

• Always choose a car battery that has proper handles and support to make it easy to move and change when needed.

• Never buy a car battery with a manufacturing date older than 6 months. You must check the car and battery manufacturing date.

• Go for car batteries that come with some sort of warranty for performance to get necessary repairs or services within the warranty period to reduce unexpected expenses.

• Check the user manual that comes with your car to check what car battery has been installed and its various benefits and features to be informed regarding any specific gaps.

• When choosing a new car battery, assess the space available for the battery and pick the one that fits perfectly.

• Pick a car battery with a high Ah rating, as lower ratings can significantly impact battery life.

• If you are on a tight budget, go for the standard lead-acid batteries to keep your car running without exhausting your finances.

The choice of a car battery can significantly impact your car’s performance. However, even with the right battery, accidents can occur out of the blue. In such cases, having car insurance is extremely beneficial.

According to the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, having a third-party car insurance policy is mandatory. This policy protects you from any damage or loss incurred by a third party or their property due to your insured vehicle.

However, this car insurance does not cover any damage or loss incurred by your insured vehicle. To protect your car, you must explore comprehensive plans offered by Tata AIG and buy car insurance online at the earliest.

Our comprehensive plans offer various benefits like customisation flexibility, NCB cover, cashless claims and much more. If you are wondering what is NCB in insurance, it is a reward we offer to all car insurance holders for every claim-free year. These rewards can help you with reduced premiums at the time of policy renewal.

The world of car batteries is constantly evolving with the introduction of new technologies. The current goal for car battery designers and manufacturers is to provide users with sustainable and power-driven car batteries for the best driving experience.

If you are planning to buy a new car or want to change your car batteries, you must familiarise yourself with the different types of car batteries to choose the best one. You must have all the knowledge prior to making the final decision to enjoy long-lasting car batteries.

What do L and R signify in car batteries?

The letters R and L indicate the position of the positive terminal of a car battery. The L indicates the positive terminal on the left side, and the R represents the positive terminal on the right side.

How to clean the car battery terminals?

It is always recommended that a professional technician do battery-related work. However, if you wish to clean the battery terminals yourself, you can use water and baking soda. Remember to wear gloves when you do so to avoid any adverse reactions.