What Is an Automotive Battery?

Car batteries provide power to start the engine and help power things like the stereo, GPS and wipers when the engine is off. They also act as a surge protector for your vehicle’s computer and electrical system.

A battery is filled with corrosive acid and should be handled in a well-ventilated area. Car batteries come in various sizes, terminal configurations, mounting systems and polarity. They are rated by ampere-hours and cold cranking amps (CCA).

Voltaic cells

The battery of an electric car is what makes it possible to run everything from the power windows to the radio. The battery is composed of several electrochemical cells that consist of half-cells, or electrodes with a positive and negative side. When the two half-cells are connected together, they produce the voltage that powers the motor of an electric car.

Cells can be arranged in different ways depending on the design requirements of the battery. Cylindrical cells, for example, have a high number of cells that are tightly packed together. This allows for larger energy storage capacities and higher power outputs. Alternatively, cells can be arranged in prismatic and pouch-style batteries.

In your battery, the voltaic cells are enclosed in a plastic case that also contains woven sheets and heavy terminals that prevent the plates from touching and short-circuiting. Inside the battery, the cells have a thick paste of manganese oxide and carbon black as well as a graphite rod that acts as the cathode. The entire assembly is submerged in a sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte.

Electrolyte

A solution of water and sulfuric acid fills the cells in traditional lead-acid batteries. Its interaction with the electrodes creates a chemical reaction that stores and releases energy. Electrolyte also promotes current flow by promoting the movement of ions between the anode and cathode. Ions are electrically charged atoms that transfer electrons through the electrolyte to complete the battery’s circuit.

The movement of ions is what enables the battery to supply power to a car’s engine. But, the relatively slow rate of tesla lithium ion battery ion transport limits a battery’s capacity.

Yan and his team are working to improve the electrolyte to speed up ion-transport rates. They developed a high-concentration electrolyte that allows for greater ion mobility by using a lower-temperature solvent. This approach helps the battery operate in cold weather and reduces the gas production that shortens a battery’s life. The researchers say their new electrolyte can be easily produced with materials readily available in industry, ensuring it could be used in existing battery chemistries and manufacturing processes. They published their results in the journal, Matter.

Plates

A car battery transforms chemical energy into electrical current to power your vehicle’s accessories and start the engine. Unlike single-use batteries, such as AAs used in remote controls, auto batteries are rechargeable. This means they can be used and discharged thousands of times over their lifetime. However, repeated deep discharging can cause a battery to deteriorate. Eventually, it will lose its ability to produce electricity.

A battery’s lead-acid design uses plates of lead alternating with car battery wholesale distributors other materials immersed in an electrolyte solution of one-third sulfuric acid and two-thirds water. When you turn the ignition, the acid reacts with the active material on the plates to create ions and generate an electric current.

Starter batteries have thin plates for high instant current capability, while marine and deep cycle types have thicker plates to provide a corrosion reserve. The plates are separated by short, heavy straps to prevent them from contacting and shorting each other. Some batteries are designed with handles built into the lids for easier handling and placement. Others feature ledges on the top of the case for a secure fit.

Separators

During charging and discharging the battery separator allows lithium ions to move through it between the anode and cathode. At the same time, it must prevent electrical current from passing between the electrodes unless there is flowing electrolyte. This feature is crucial for safety reasons as direct contact between electrodes may generate heat energy instead of electricity.

The separator must also have adequate thermal properties to ensure that it doesn’t melt at an operating temperature and provide sufficient mechanical strength to avoid stretching during the winding process. It must also have good electrical insulation properties.

The separator is a non-conductive piece of material designed to separate the positive plates from the negative ones in the battery cell while allowing the electrolyte to flow freely. It also protects the battery from deep discharges, which are largely responsible for battery failures. BSWM 160 DUAL is an ideal separator for vehicle batteries. It isolates the accessory battery from the main battery, so that accessories don’t deplete the car battery while the engine is off. This way, your battery stays charged for longer.

Terminals

Battery terminals are the metal electrical contacts that connect battery cables to your vehicle’s battery. They’re an important part of your car’s battery, but they’re also susceptible to corrosion and other damage. Fortunately, they’re fairly easy to replace for only a few dollars each.

Generally, battery terminals are made of highly-conductive lead or brass, which makes them easy for electricity to travel through. But some are made of materials like zinc and stainless steel that offer better protection against corrosion in harsh environments.

The type of battery you have in your vehicle will affect the kind of terminals you need. For example, some have side terminals, which are located on the side of the battery instead of the top post. This saves space under the hood, but they may not work well with all vehicles.

Some battery terminals and lugs are solderable or crimpable, while others have a wingnut or stud design for quick cable connections. They are usually color coded for identification and are tin plated for improved corrosion resistance. They are available in various gauges and sizes to accommodate many different applications.