Car battery buying guide
Car batteries are unsung transportation heroes. These heavy, black boxes rest quietly under the hood, ready to provide the
essential electrical charge needed to fire up an engine and begin driving. Without a healthy battery, your car is just a large,
metal sculpture parked in the driveway.
- Getting started
- Types
- How we test
- Brands
How we test
Our battery-life test is based on a standard recently adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Our test includes partially draining and then recharging each battery almost 3,000 times over a 10-week period, during which the battery must meet voltage and amperage limits based on real-life demands. The highest scorers maintained higher voltages and were able to withstand more cycles.
In addition to our endurance tests, our reserve-capacity test measures how long an auto battery can supply power if the charging system fails or if you leave your headlights or accessories on. The lowest-scoring models in our test should provide 1½ hours of power. Higher-scoring models can supply power well past two hours.
We also test for cold-cranking amps. That's the measure of current that's available at 0º F and is the primary indicator of cold-climate performance. CCA has long been a major selling point for batteries. But we believe that the industry's claimed CCA doesn't reflect real-world conditions because batteries are charged at a higher voltage than the 14.5 volts provided by most vehicles' alternators. Our CCA test is based on more realistic charging voltages and amperage demands, and our results show each battery's relative cranking power, regardless of the manufacturer's claims.
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See also:
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Special Section:
Guide to car maintenance
