Battery Life Calculator: How Long Does A Battery Last
In our article discussing Ah and Wh , we got a ton of questions about the longevity of batteries. The question How long does a battery last? was a predominant one. To help everybody trying to calculate how long will a battery last, we have created a Battery Life Calculator.
Its quite useful knowing when a battery will die on us. Example: If we go camping and depend on batteries for all our power needs, and we have no other means of generating electricity.
Before we check out the Battery Life Calculator, lets note that figuring out how long will a battery last is pretty simple in theory . We use this equation for battery drain time:
Battery Life = Battery Capacity / Load Current
Example: How long will a 100 Ah battery last if we hook it up to a 1 Ah electric device? Well, battery capacity = 100 Ah, load current = 1 A, thus such a battery will last for 100 Ah / 1 A = 100 hours.
Basically, a 100 Ah battery means that such a battery can provide 100 A of current for 1 hour. It can also provide 1 A current for 100 hours. Or 0.1 A or 100 mA for 1000 hours.
It seems quite simple, right?
If you have 100 capacity units and you connect it to a device that requires 1 capacity unit every hour, it will drain the battery in precisely 100 hours.
How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Last
Even as the popularity of electric vehicles continues to grow, one question remains: How long do the batteries in electric cars last?
Potential owners and those who drive electric cars wonder about the lifespan of EV batteries. The reason: The power source for an electric car is an expensive component to replace. As the industry builds more vehicles with battery packs, lifetime management of a battery is an important hurdle. For now, conservative estimates for battery longevity in new electric vehicles stand at about 100,000 miles.
Proper care can help extend the life of batteries. We know of many examples of EVs with hundreds of thousands of miles using the original battery. Read on to learn more about electric car batteries and their life expectancy.
Stay Between 20 And 80 Percent Charge
Just like you shouldnt plug your vehicle in every night, you also shouldnt top it up to 100 percent when you dont have to. A lithium-ion battery is designed to store large amounts of energy with a charge that ebbs and flows. However, frequently draining the cells too often or filling it up fully can, over time, reduce the batterys capacity as a whole. The common advice is to stay between 20 and 80 percent charge and never let the battery die completely.
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How Do You Make Your Car Battery Last
Even though you can only safely rely on an average 4 years from your battery, there are many reports from users in various regions and weather conditions that have had the same car battery for as long as 6 years and more. Considering the warning signs above its relatively simple to get the most out of your battery:
- Physical Inspections a quick 10-second check on your batterys physical state weekly when you fill up with fuel.
- Deep Cycle Charge this only happens when you drive for longer than 1 hour on average, longer if possible. Your battery charges slower than you think even though it has a huge capacity for discharge, so a longer drive allows the alternator to charge the battery effectively.
- Electrical System Usage try no to use your electrical system excessively when the car is not running, this drains the battery charge substantially and will require proper deep cycle charge to recharge the battery. Excessive use will most certainly damage your battery.
Battery Light Is On After A Jumpstart
The biggest telltale sign of a bad battery is the battery light â a red warning light in the shape of a car battery â or the “check charging system” warning displays on the gauge cluster after getting a jumpstart. This means the self-diagnostic system detects abnormal power flow in the charging system, and that could mean it’s time for a battery replacement.
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Car Stalls Once You Remove The Jumper Cables
The charging system requires a complete healthy circuit to run. If your battery is bad and breaks the circuit, the power can’t make it to critical components required for the vehicle to run. Once you attach jumper cables, it creates a new, good circuit. However, once you disconnect the jumper cables, that good circuit breaks, forcing your car to shut down. This is a common sign of a bad battery that needs replacing.
Does Your Cars Electrical System Respond Like It Should
Even a car with a highly defective battery will function properly once its running, since much of the charge for the battery will come from the engine. This makes the best time to test your cars battery shortly after you switch your vehicle on.
Your car can still start quickly, even with a failing battery. However, features that have significant power demands that are powered by the battery, like headlights, may not function as well as they should.
Try starting your car at night with the headlights switched on. Are they dim? If the headlights look overly dim, put the vehicle in park or neutral and rev the engine. If the battery is failing, the headlights will get brighter as you apply the accelerator.
This is a great way to check if your battery is starting to fail. A completely broken battery is even easier to spot: when you turn the key in the ignition or push your cars ignition switch, it wont start at all.
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We’d Bet It Will Outlive Your Iphones
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You, your mom, your auntie, your third cousin, and your future child likely have or will have to replace a car battery at least onceeven if we live in space. Its a part of life as an automobile owner, and unless youre a city rat who relies solely on public transportation, its an issue that arises every few years.
But how many years is the correct amount of time between replacing a battery? Its not like this is a AA that dies after a weeks worth of Pokemon Blue on the Gameboy Color. The typical 12-volt car battery is more complex than you might think, and its health is affected by numerous factors.
Read The Drives detailed Garage Guide To Battery Life as we discuss positive terminals, electrolytes, and acid and answer the question, how long does a car battery last?
Common Signs Your Car Battery Is Failing
While its important to know how long a car battery will last, its also important to see the signs of a battery that needs to be replaced. There are several clues that will tell you the battery is starting to fail before it completely dies. Some of the most common things to look for include:
- A bad smell One of the most common things you will notice is the smell of Sulfuric acid. This is a rotten-egg type of smell and often means your battery is being overcharged or has an internal issue.
- Slow starting If you have to turn the key a few times to get the vehicle to start, its likely your battery starting to fail. Eventually, the car wont start and you will be stranded. If you notice this issue, get your battery tested.
- Signs of corrosion or leaking The top of the battery might have corrosion on it or you might notice signs of leaking. If this is the case, its time to replace your car battery.
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Average Battery Lifetime And Charge
Batteries live a mysterious and misunderstood life. While some batteries offer clues that failure is coming, many do not. While wed all like to have an avid array of warnings that battery failure is coming, its good to first prevent some of the big issues causing battery failures, and next, react quickly when clues present themselves that something may be wrong.
Its important to remember that no battery lasts forever, but certain things can reduce the life of a battery, and sometimes very quickly. Whether youre keeping your car in storage all year or driving it every day, youll still need to replace your battery at some point. Typically, a car battery will last between three and five years. Pushing a battery longer than five years, even under perfect driving conditions, could cause your battery to fail without notice. For that reason, many manufacturers recommend a replacement schedule of five years.
When your battery is reaching three or more years old, consider having it tested. AutoZone can quickly test your battery, along with your charging system to make sure that your battery is working properly, and the charging system is getting the battery the charge needed to maintain it when running.
Figuring Out Your Own Numbers
Battery longevity and performance are measured in controlled environments to get comparable results between various tests. However, driving in the real world comes with a lot of variables.
Before relying too much on official numbers, consider your driving habits, the distance you drive regularly, and how well you take care of your Tesla batteries.
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How Long Does A New Car Battery Last
Once you replace your vehicles battery, its lifespan depends on how long it can hold its charge as well as how long its capable of being recharged. Once it cant be recharged, its dead. If youre always driving in ideal conditions no extreme temperatures and no excessive humidity its believed that a new battery can last as long as six years.
Maintain Optimal Battery Temperature
Electric vehicle batteries that are liquid-cooled retain charge and last longer because they maintain average operating temp. So, parking your vehicle in a moderate temperature environment is an effective way of increasing the batterys lifespan.
If you live in a region with warmer temperatures, always park your vehicle in a shaded area or a garage. This will help maximize the battery lifespan.
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Add Heat Protective Blanket
Many vehicles include a heat-protective blanket or some type of shield around the battery. This is an important piece of equipment, but many drivers will eventually remove it. If your vehicle doesnt have one, you can add it without a lot of cost.
These essential parts protect the car battery from all of the heat generated from the engine under the hood. Without this, the battery has to endure extreme conditions unnecessarily, which will reduce its life.
Signs Your Car Battery Is Failing
The car battery plays an integral role in powering your vehicle and helping the engine start. Batteries are one of the car’s electrical components. It gives a zap of electricity that turns on the other electrical elements of the vehicle, allowing it to drive to work. Therefore, you need to keep a close eye to ensure it is in perfect condition.
A dead battery can lead to multiple problems, such as your accessories not working properly, dim dashboard lights, etc. People living in areas with cold weather might find themselves facing issues with their batteries at times.
The battery doesn’t last forever, and you will need to look for a replacement battery after some time. But how do you find out if it is time to replace your vehicle’s battery. There are a few warning signs of a failing battery or an alternator that you need to watch out for.
To help you out, we will discuss the five signs of a failing battery. But before that, let’s understand what a car battery is and its role in powering the electrical components of your vehicle.
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Avoid Excessive Heat Or Cold
We all know the feeling of trying to start a car on a very cold day. Cold can take its toll on car batteries, and the result can leave you stranded. But, did you know that excessive heat can take a bigger toll?
Heat can significantly decrease the lifespan of your car battery.
Extremely hot weather can cause the liquid on the inside of your battery to evaporate, along with causing internal damage to the battery itself.
It does not matter if your car is parked or running, the heat can affect it all the same. If you do live in a hot country, it is recommended that you have your battery tested two years after purchasing, and every two years after that.
This compares to four years after purchase for those who live in colder climates, and every year after that.
If we could keep our batteries at a consistent temperature, then we could prolong the life of our battery. That, however, is not always possible.
The ideal temperature range for prolonging the life of your battery is 65-90 Fahrenheit .
Both high and low temperatures can decrease the life of your battery.
I would recommend storing your vehicle in a garage whenever you can. Keeping your car battery at the optimum temperature will help to extend the life of your battery.
Test The Battery Often
You can figure out that the car battery is dying before it leaves you stranded. By testing the battery regularly, you gain a heads-up on the health, so you can replace it before it dies.
Test the battery every season with a multimeter to ensure its holding an appropriate charge. You can also load test it or take it to your local auto parts store for a free check. If the battery is starting to fail, consider replacing it right away, especially if you are about to encounter extreme temperatures.
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Problems With Electrical Components
Another sign to identify issues with the batteries is electrical malfunctions. If you face electrical issues, such as door locks not functioning or power windows not responding to button prompts, it is an indication that your car has a dead battery.
Moreover, seat heaters and car stereo also point out that your old battery needs replacement. Weakening battery power has an impact on the electrical parts of your car.
If you want to confirm if the issue is with your battery or the particular electrical part, you can check them individually, including your electric seats. In the case where all the electrical components are not working properly, you need to replace the old battery.
You can visit an auto shop near you to check out the components in your car powered by electricity. They can show you the battery consumption of these components from the new battery from the last one.
How Does Charging Affect Your Electric Vehicle’s Battery
It may seem self-explanatory, but when EV batteries are plugged in, they charge. When youre driving, they discharge. But this cycle has a lot to do with how long your battery lasts.
The battery packs inside electric vehicles being to degrade over time with consistent charging/discharging which decreases the amount of charge the battery can hold. And, the more you do this cycle, the longer itll take to recharge your battery.
Whats more, if you are using Level 3 DC fast-charging stations often, youre also shortening your batterys life expectancy. Due to their high voltage, these stations can charge up an EV battery in about 30 minutes to about 80% capacity.
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What Will Be The Replacement Cost If My Car Battery Dies
For a regular car battery, you can expect to pay between $250 and $400 to have it replaced. This will include the labor and will vary, depending on your vehicle and where you are located.
For electric vehicles and hybrids, expect to pay much more to replace the batteries. They are far more important to the vehicle and will likely cost between $2,000 and $2,600 to replace each battery.
What Are The Causes Of Car Battery Damage
A car battery can get damaged by multiple factors. Most notably, cold climates are the biggest cause of car battery damage. Whether you are living in areas with hot temperatures or cold climates throughout the year, both can harm car batteries.
The driving habits of a person can also take a toll on the car battery’s health. If you leave the lights on, even if the car is idle, it will cause the battery to drain quickly. As a result, it can cause serious damage to the battery and other critical components.
Moreover, if the age of the battery is more than 6 or 7 years, it is likely going to wear down soon. Car batteries have a lifespan of 72 to 84 months and need a replacement after that time frame. If you continue to drive with an old battery, it can ultimately damage the engine or other parts.
Furthermore, deriving short distances does not give the alternator enough time to recharge the battery. The battery will start to lose its energy soon and will need a replacement.
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