What Are the Benefits of Old Style Car Batteries Over New Ones?
What Are the Benefits of Old Style Car Batteries Over New Ones?
Blog Article
Introduction
When defining what constitutes an "old style' car battery, versus a new style, the general consensus is that flooded lead-acid batteries are considered the "old" style, while AGM lead-acid or even lithium batteries are considered the "new" style. In terms of the benefits of these older style batteries compared to newer technology, there's really only three advantages.
The first advantage is that older style flooded lead-acid batteries, which usually come in a black box, are widely available at virtually every auto parts store or big box retailer, who sells any kind of automotive batteries. While many of these same retailers will carry some AGM lead-acid batteries, like OPTIMA batteries, in their regular inventory, they tend to be more limited in sizes and availability. Lithium-based batteries are even less commonly found in the regular inventory of brick and mortar retailers, with most being a mail-order proposition at this point and those that might be in inventory at a retail location would be very limited in sizing options.
The second advantage of a regular lead-acid battery over newer style batteries would be more specific to lithium batteries versus flooded lead-acid batteries and that's the brands behind the batteries. There are many reputable retailers selling well-established brands of flooded lead-acid batteries, many with locations nationwide. That is generally not the case at this time for lithium-based products. If warranty service is needed for a lithium battery, many brands will require that you ship the battery back for service. With many flooded lead-acid batteries, you can usually take that battery in to the retailer where you purchased it for same-day service.
The third advantage of an older, flooded lead-acid style battery over newer technologies is the up-front cost. A flooded lead-acid battery is almost always less expensive up front than an AGM battery and potentially hundreds of dollars cheaper than a lithium-based battery. However, that up-front savings comes at the cost of long-term lifespan of the battery, as AGM batteries can often last up to three times as long as a flooded lead-acid battery and lithium batteries can have a cycle life that approaches or exceeds five times the cycle life of a flooded lead-acid battery.
Reconditioned car batteries, particularly for hybrid vehicles, offer a cost-effective alternative to purchasing brand-new batteries. This article explores the various aspects of using reconditioned batteries, including their economic advantages, environmental benefits, and potential risks. We delve into the reconditioning process, compare the lifespan and performance against new batteries, and discuss the future outlook of battery technology and recycling. Report this page