What's the typical service life nowadays of the subject item? I've always heard three to five years. Have there been any advances in battery technology or automobile power management that increases it?
12v Automobile Battery
- Thread starter DADoES
- Start date
cfz2882
Well-known member
I think the premium AGM batts last better,but cost almost twice as a regular flooded cell-I have an AGM in my '82 Chevy and it is still strong at about 7yrs. I'd say 3 yrs is short life,but 5 is typical. I had a Delco battery i bought in 1987 last 13 years and original Ford Motorcraft batts,1993 and 1996, each also made it to 13 years 
On my 2015 subie I got just shy of 5 yrs and on his 2016 subie he got over the 5 yr mark but had to have a few jump starts till he finally gave in. One of my bike batteries barely lasted two summers and the next one, from Walmart, has been good now for over 5. . I recall reading in CR years back that batteries are manufactured for different regions in the US,, southern vs northern climates but it's not really an advertised thing, heat being the biggest factor in battery failures.
The first battery in my Smart lasted 10 years.
My Golf still has its original battery, now over 8 years old. The battery is a Varta AGM.
The car has start-stop technology, a few people told me when it was new that start-stop was stupid because it would wear out battery and starter motor in short time.
Well 8 yrs 140000km both still perfect... And the fuel economy is amazing, partly due to the stop-start.
The car has start-stop technology, a few people told me when it was new that start-stop was stupid because it would wear out battery and starter motor in short time.
Well 8 yrs 140000km both still perfect... And the fuel economy is amazing, partly due to the stop-start.
I've heard batteries of late don't have much of a lifespan. Unsure if it's planned obsolescence kicked into overdrive or what the deal it. It could be cost cutting but the price have batteries have gone up significantly in the last few years so that doesn't make any sense unless greed is now at an all time high in the battery industry.
The longest lasting battery I'm aware of was a buddy who put a marine battery in his truck that lasted 24 years before conking out. Since those type of batteries are designed for large swings in charging/discharging, I guess they hold up better. Not the best option if one lives in very cold weather though as they don't have the cold cranking amps of traditional auto batteries but fine in warmer climates. The longest life I got out of a 12v battery was 13 years.
The longest lasting battery I'm aware of was a buddy who put a marine battery in his truck that lasted 24 years before conking out. Since those type of batteries are designed for large swings in charging/discharging, I guess they hold up better. Not the best option if one lives in very cold weather though as they don't have the cold cranking amps of traditional auto batteries but fine in warmer climates. The longest life I got out of a 12v battery was 13 years.
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