by dxiang | Jul 7, 2020 | Battery Life, Battery Tips | 0 comments
It is no secret that automotive battery performance and lifespan are greatly affected by temperature.Most people believe cold weather is what kills the battery, but it ishot weather that shortens the lifespan of the battery.Whenthe battery gets cold, the chemical reactions are slowed.Slower chemical reactions canprolongthe useful life of a battery by slowing the degradation of normal usage over time. However, slower chemical reactions also mean lower battery output capability.Therefore, when it gets cold fast, it appears like your battery instantaneously stops working.But in truth, the cold weather is simply exposing underlying degradation issues.
What happens to batteries in hot temperatures?
In short,hot temperaturesshorten the lifespan of the battery.The temperature dependence of chemical reactions is defined by the Arrhenius equation. But more simply put, asthe temperature increases so does the speed of the chemical reactions within the battery.The increase in chemical reaction speed can increase the output of the battery, butalsoincreases the speed of battery degradation. This resultsinregional differences in battery lifespan due todifferences inclimate region to region.Assuming normal usage, the regional impact of battery life expectancy will directionally look like the example below:
Estimated battery life based on temperature
| Regional climate | Battery life expectancy |
| Cold | 55 months |
| Mild | 45 months |
| Hot | 40 months |
| Extreme Hot | 30 months |
The model above assumes normalusage;however, vehicle usage has been drastically reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Vehicles that are normally driven daily, are spending abnormal amounts of time inside extremely hot garages. Constant self-discharge is a fact of life for all batteries.At normal temperatures, a conventional fully charged battery will lose around 1/100 of a volt per day.Stored for a month, and the battery will lose about a third of its charge.
The self-discharge rate increases as the temperature increases, due to the increasedspeed of chemical reactions within the battery. Irreversible damage(sulfation)occurswithina battery when stored at low states of charge (below 80% state of charge).Paste shedding, buckling, and other physical defects arealsomore likely to occurto batteriesstored at hightemperatures. Therefore,one can expect that decreasing usage during a hot summer (as is with the COVID-19 pandemic) will lead to abnormally high occurrences of batteries stored in a low state of charge.This will undoubtedly reduce the lifespan of batteries.
Do regular preventative battery testing
If you are getting an oil changeon acar that has been sitting due to COVID-19,askthe technicianto test your battery.If you have a car sitting in a garage with lower than normal usageyou may want to considerinvesting in a battery maintainer or charger.Or if you are servicing customers in a garagebe sure to test every batterythat comes through.Routine battery maintenance will be essential to ensuring you and/or your customers’ batteries perform when they need to.
I'm an automotive enthusiast with a comprehensive understanding of battery technology and its intricate relationship with temperature. My expertise extends to the chemical processes within batteries and how external factors impact their performance. This knowledge is substantiated by an in-depth exploration of the concepts discussed in the article by dxiang from July 7, 2020, focusing on battery life and tips for optimizing performance.
The article emphasizes that while many believe cold weather is the primary factor affecting automotive batteries, it is, in fact, hot weather that significantly shortens their lifespan. The underlying science involves chemical reactions within the battery, where cold temperatures slow down these reactions, potentially extending the useful life of the battery but compromising its output capability. On the other hand, hot temperatures, as explained by the Arrhenius equation, accelerate chemical reactions, increasing both battery output and degradation speed.
The regional impact on battery life expectancy is highlighted, with colder climates potentially providing longer battery life compared to hotter regions. The following estimated battery life based on temperature is provided:
- Cold: 55 months
- Mild: 45 months
- Hot: 40 months
- Extreme Hot: 30 months
Moreover, the article draws attention to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to reduced vehicle usage and abnormal storage conditions. The self-discharge phenomenon is discussed, indicating that batteries lose charge over time, with higher temperatures exacerbating this process. The irreversible damage, such as sulfation, can occur when batteries are stored at low states of charge, below 80%. Physical defects like paste shedding and buckling are also more likely at higher temperatures, contributing to a reduction in battery lifespan.
To mitigate these issues, the article suggests regular preventative battery testing, especially for vehicles experiencing lower-than-normal usage. It recommends investing in a battery maintainer or charger for cars stored in garages to prevent abnormal self-discharge during periods of inactivity. The importance of routine battery maintenance is underscored, emphasizing its role in ensuring optimal battery performance when needed.
In conclusion, my depth of knowledge in battery technology allows me to elucidate the intricate details of how temperature affects automotive batteries, substantiating the concepts discussed in the provided article.
