February 2022

A s car batteries enter the winter, they do so already carrying a heavy burden. A spokesperson for Bosch said: “The extensive equipment of modern vehicles with many electrical consumers has enormously increased the stress on batteries. Air conditioning, Stop/Start systems, driver assistance systems plus servo assistance of steering and brakes is nowadays far above what the alternator can deliver. Winter is a period of increased power consumption. Rear window and seat heating, lighting systems and the fan often run simultaneously and at the highest level. During a winter check, the mechanic will quickly find out if a weakened battery has to be replaced. “In this situation, the car battery bridges the lack of energy. In addition, the battery is by repeated charging and discharging, for example on short distances, cyclically extremely stressed. Therefore, workshops should check the battery during the visit. If necessary, the battery can quickly be charged or replaced.” Bosch’s spokesperson added: “When choosing a new battery, it is important to consider its performance and service life. With Bosch’s S3, S4, S5, S4 E(2) and S5 A(3) battery types, work-shops have a wide selection to choose from. In addition, using the universal battery charger BAT 645, workshops can reliably charge and test all types of lead-acid batteries.” Important VARTA has for many years recommended that every car coming into the workshop have its battery tested, as Andy Cook, Senior Technical Trainer at VARTA observed: “It’s not just about generating revenue for your business, it’s also ensuring that the customer has a battery in good working order, which is particularly important over the colder winter months. “With over a third of vehicles now having a Stop/Start system, it’s vital that a workshop has an up-to-date tester, that can also accurately test absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries and enhanced flooded batteries (EFB). If it’s an older tester that doesn’t have the capabilities to test AGM or EFB batteries, then it’s worth upgrading the tester; otherwise the test results will likely be inaccurate.” For more information, visit the VARTA Partner Portal: www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/varta-partner- portal/log-in Advice Practical advice for customers is key, according to ECOBAT Technical Sales Manager John Bentley: “Many workshops will have been in the position where they have informed a customer that their vehicle’s battery has come to the end of its life and needs replacing, and the owner’s immediate 40 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2022 BATTERIES AND CHARGERS www.aftermarketonline.net Many car batteries will be on the edge of failing, and with winter piling onto the post-lockdown problems, you need to be thinking about testing and charging PLUG INTO TOMORROW response is; ‘I only need the smallest and cheapest battery you have’. “There are two ways to resolve the matter. The first is regular charging, the second to upgrade the battery with a design that is able to withstand multiple deep discharge cycles. For those owners that can park on their own drive and have a little practical hands-on aptitude, charging the battery on a regular basis using a modern smart charger, such as an ECOBAT EBC1UK, will keep the battery in peak condition and is the easiest and cheapest option. However, many motorists are not in this position, so to upgrade the battery is the only sensible alternative. Conventional batteries will generally be available in three categories, budget, value-for-money or top-of-the-range, so given this scenario, the recommendation should always be to go for the very best, in as large a capacity as is practical.” John added: “Although most members of the trade will be familiar with AGM and enhanced flooded battery EFB batteries, many motorists are not. The onus is therefore on the workshop manager to explain.” Essential functions Commenting on the opportunity, Colin Cottrell, Marketing Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts said: “We’re in the depths of winter, and batteries are renowned for their sensitivity to cold weather. Garages should be prepared for an influx of vehicles with struggling batteries coming through their doors over the next few weeks. “Technicians must take care to accurately diagnose the root cause of any battery problems. For example, a battery Above: Battery testing, as recommended by VARTA