Which car batteries are better to choose?

6 best car batteries

A new car battery is purchased for several reasons. Firstly, the old one could fail or almost completely lose its working capacity. Who would like to “light it up” every morning? Secondly, such a purchase is necessary when restoring some very old car that you got in one way or another. Thirdly, a new battery is required if you have installed some serious power units on your car. For example, this could be a powerful audio system or a winch. Let's take a look at the best models, the purchase of which will not disappoint at all.

Which brand of car battery to choose?

Nowadays, car batteries are produced by a huge number of companies. At the same time, there are three most common car battery standards on the market. Gel products cost the most money, work at any angle of inclination, and their performance is maintained even with regular deep discharge.

Lead-acid batteries have been around for many years. They are cheap to produce, but can easily be damaged by repeated deep discharges. And AGM batteries can be called something between a gel and a standard battery. They only don't work when turned upside down. Unfortunately, they are afraid of both overcharging and deep discharge.

In Russia, car batteries from the following companies are in greatest demand:

But they are not the only ones who produce high-quality products, as our article today will convince you of.

Best gel car battery

Optima Yellow Top 55 Ah

Gel batteries are produced by a minimum number of companies. The products of the American Optima are in greatest demand. All because it was this company that developed the ideal technology for spiral stacking of plates and patented it. The products of this manufacturer are well recognizable not so much because of the colors, but because of the characteristic round cans.

The starting current of the Optima Yellow Top 55 Ah battery reaches 765 A. Other types of batteries can only dream of this parameter! It is in this regard that those car enthusiasts who install a powerful audio system make their choice in favor of this model. Even at the highest sound volume you will not feel a voltage drop. The product is also praised for its resistance to vibration and overload. And finally, this battery is small and light, which also evokes positive emotions.

Advantages:

Small sizes;
Minimum weight (19.9 kg);
Works in any position;
Not afraid of serious overloads;
Produces electricity with very high current strength;
Very long service life.

Flaws:

Not everyone can afford it;
Specific requirements for charging conditions.

The best AGM batteries

Cars with displacement engines have one serious drawback. There is often no room for a large battery under their hood. Fortunately, technology is advancing and battery sizes are gradually shrinking. A good example of this is the Tudor AGM from Exide Technologies. This is an excellent battery that performs ideally on cars with a start-stop system. This predisposition is facilitated by a short-term load output of 680 A.

The battery is designed for cars with a displacement engine. On a standard car with a 1.5 or 1.6 liter engine under the hood, you simply will not appreciate all the advantages of the product. He also has another drawback. The battery quickly uses up all its capacity. Therefore, it should not be purchased by those people who regularly turn on the built-in car speakers at full volume if the engine is not running. In a word, this is a specific battery, which should be remembered.

Advantages:

Can produce high current for a short time;
Takes charge very quickly;
Has compact dimensions;
High reliability;
Ideal for vehicles with a start-stop system.

Flaws:

There is no point for use in a "subcompact";
Afraid of deep discharge;
Capacity drops very quickly under load.

Bosch 5951

The German company Bosch has been producing various components for cars for several years. One of her best creations at the moment is the Bosch 5951 - a battery that is distinguished by its extraordinary resistance to long-term discharge. Even if you drive your car extremely rarely, rest assured that you will definitely not encounter a dead battery. The AGM battery is also capable of gaining a charge very quickly while the vehicle is moving.

However, the product is not without its shortcomings. Firstly, some car enthusiasts may not have enough capacity, which here is only 56 Ah. Secondly, a certain sadness is caused by the starter current, the strength of which is only 480 A. And there is also no so-called control “eye” that allows you to find out how charged the battery is at the moment. All this allows us to recommend installing the product only in small cars.

Advantages:

Under normal use the service life will be very long;
Almost no discharge during inactivity;
Recharges almost instantly;
Relatively low price tag.

Flaws:

Do not overcharge or allow deep discharge;
Small capacity;
It will perform poorly in a car with a large engine.

Best Lead Acid Batteries

Aktech (AT) 55A3

This battery was created in Irkutsk. It is intended primarily for domestic cars. However, it is also used by owners of some foreign cars that have a 1.6 liter engine under the hood. With this parameter, a starter current of 425 A is quite enough. It is noteworthy that the car battery performs well even in severe frosts, as proven by tests in specialized publications.

Unfortunately, in Irkutsk they don’t know how to create masterpieces. The main disadvantage of the device is that it uses up its capacity very quickly. If the generator in your car is damaged, then you may well not make it to the nearest car service center. But this drawback is present in almost all lead-acid batteries. Usually they do not pay attention to it, since deliberately draining the battery to zero is required only in extremely rare cases.

Advantages:

Serviceable battery design;
There is a built-in hydrometer;
Produces high starting current even in cold weather;
Adequate price tag;
There are modifications with different capacities.

Flaws:

Discharges quickly;
You should not discharge “to zero”;
The strength of the starter current will not suit everyone.

Multu Silver Evolution 55 (450)

This battery is produced by the Turkish company Multu. Until some time, its products were the leader of the Russian market. It should be noted that the Turks regularly improve their car batteries. Silver Evolution 55 (450) is practically ideal; here the manufacturer has squeezed absolutely everything out of lead-acid technology. The Turks produce plates in a special way, which has significantly reduced battery self-discharge. This also resulted in the product being resistant to sulfation. All this allows the battery to operate for a very long time, regardless of the conditions of use.

Oddly enough, specialized publications rarely give this battery the palm. This is explained by the fact that in single tests competitors perform better. But with constant use, they regularly make themselves felt with one or another problem. And the product from Multu works stably, providing a starter current of 420 A. The driver rarely remembers the device under the hood. Against this background, even the fact that the battery is maintenance-free is not at all annoying - the owner does not have access to the filler plugs.

Advantages:

The battery boasts resistance to sulfation;
The price tag is quite reasonable;
Long service life;
Almost no discharge at rest;
There is a hydrometer with a color scale.

Flaws:

The capacity is only 55 Ah;
The starting current is not the strongest.

TYUMEN BATTERY STANDARD

In our country, there is little point in looking towards car batteries from a foreign manufacturer. Domestic companies also cope well with their task. We have already mentioned a product from Irkutsk earlier. An excellent alternative to it is TYUMEN BATTERY STANDARD. The battery produced in Siberia performs well both in summer and winter. The product produces a starting current of 500 A. This allows you to start the engine even if you have filled in oil with a low-temperature viscosity of 15W.

The product from Tyumen is intended only for serviceable cars, including those with a powerful engine. If you install it in a car that “eats up” the battery at night, then you should expect trouble. The fact is that this battery does not like to go “zero” - during such operation, the active mass of the plates is lost, as a result of which the working capacity decreases. By the way, you can find several modifications of this battery in stores. All of them differ from each other primarily in their capacity.

Advantages:

There are versions with different capacities;
The starting current is high;
Affordable for many car owners;
Works reliably even in severe cold weather.

Flaws:

Discharges quickly enough;
Strong sensitivity to deep discharge;
Short service life.

Which car battery to buy

1. Optima Yellow Top 55 Ah can be called the ideal choice. Yes, this gel battery is specifically charged. But this is its only serious drawback. Otherwise, this product performs well. We especially strongly recommend this battery to those who are planning to acquire powerful car speakers.

2. It is recommended to purchase Tudor AGM for those who own a car with an engine whose volume exceeds 1.8 liters. Owners of such a vehicle will appreciate the possibility of short-term release of electricity with high current strength. The only drawback of the product is its fast discharge.

3. Bosch 5951 - on the contrary, it is designed for small cars. This is evidenced by the low capacity and relatively low starting current. Among the advantages is the fact that products from the German company rarely fail, serving their owner for many years.

4. Residents of the Far East, Siberia and other northern regions can be advised to purchase Aktech (AT) 55A3. This battery works reliably even in extreme cold. This fact has been confirmed by tests in a variety of automotive publications.

5. If you are interested in a lead-acid battery, then pay attention to the Multi Silver Evolution 55 (450). This instance will not require replacement for a very long time. It also boasts a low level of self-discharge.

6. TYUMEN BATTERY STANDARD should suit owners of cars with almost any engine, since the battery has a high starting current. But don’t expect long-term use - each discharge “to zero” will inexorably reduce it.

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10 Best Car Batteries

There can be many reasons to look for a new battery for your car. The main one is extreme wear and tear or failure of the old one: people quickly get tired of constantly removing the battery to recharge or “lighting up” the car in the morning. When modifying a car, it is often necessary to install an additional battery or a more capacious one to replace the standard one - this is necessary to power the winch of an SUV or the powerful audio system of a show car.

What do you need to know when choosing a battery? Firstly, its design options:

Lead-acid batteries are the simplest and oldest type. They consist of six jars in which lead plates are immersed in a solution of sulfuric acid. Such batteries are cheap, and the ability to replace the electrolyte allows you to “reanimate” them in a number of cases. A number of models, however, are produced maintenance-free (without the ability to unscrew the caps of the cans). They withstand overcharging, but with a deep discharge they can irreversibly lose capacity or even stop accumulating charge (the plates are destroyed).
Gel batteries, instead of liquid electrolyte, use acid thickened with silicon compounds. Thanks to this, they are not only sealed, but also continue to work at any angle of inclination. Gel batteries are able to remain operational during deep discharge, but are more demanding on charging conditions. In addition, their price is the highest.
made using AGM combine design elements of both standard batteries and gel batteries: they use a liquid electrolyte that impregnates the filler (usually fiberglass) between the plates. They can work at almost any inclination (turning upside down is not recommended). AGM batteries are resistant to vibrations, since the filler prevents the plates from collapsing. But, unlike regular and gel batteries, they are sensitive to both deep discharge and overcharging at the same time.

For an old car, a cheap lead-acid battery is the best option. The owner of a new car who has no reason to fear a malfunction of the generator can be advised to use a battery made using AGM technology: despite the demanding conditions of the charge/discharge cycle, it will provide higher starting current and faster charge recovery. Due to their high price, gel batteries most often become an element of car tuning. Due to their high current output and tolerance to strong discharges, they are often used to power powerful audio systems (the standard battery is responsible for powering the main electrics of the car).

You also need to know the polarity of the battery , that is, the order of the terminals on its body. Most car models have power cables that are too short or awkwardly placed to accept the wrong type of battery. If you turn the battery with its terminals facing you, then a battery with direct (“Russian”) polarity will have the positive terminal on the left, and a battery with reverse (“European”) polarity will have the positive terminal on the right.

The starting current of the battery, indicated on its label, can be measured using different methods:

EN (European measurement method): the maximum current that the battery can deliver for 10 seconds at a temperature of -18˚C and a voltage of at least 7.5 V is measured;
DIN (German Industrial Standard): at the same temperature, the average current is measured for 30 seconds, and the voltage must not fall below 9 V;
SAE (American standard): current is measured at -18˚C for 30 seconds, maximum voltage drop is 7.2 V.

As can be seen from this description, the most stringent measurement method is the DIN standard (a battery delivering a current of 365 A according to DIN will be marked 600 A according to the EN method). When choosing a battery, you should focus on this indicator, which will allow you to count on a confident start in winter.

Since car batteries within the same product line can have different polarities, capacities and prices, we will take the most popular option as the basis for the rating: batteries with a capacity of 55 to 70 Ah.

The best batteries for a car

A car battery can become unusable at any time, and since no car will start without it, you have to buy a new one. Owners often look for the best car batteries from reliable, well-known manufacturers. In order not to play the lottery when choosing a suitable model, experts named the best companies and their offers, based on the main quality criteria, after which the 2019 rating was compiled. The review includes lead-acid, calcium, and AMG models.

Which brand of car battery is best to choose?

Why is it important to understand what are the best batteries for a car, and what should you avoid? The performance of the vehicle, ease of operation, and most importantly, the device is purchased for more than one year of service depend on it. The rating, compiled by experienced experts, as well as car owners, featured models from the best brands and brands, namely:

Varta is a German company that has been operating since 1887, but it became especially popular after joining the American company Johnson Controls. The main advantage is affordable prices, annual volume of more than 40 million units.
Delta is a Chinese brand of a wide series of batteries with different functionality, parameters, and prices. The company has been operating for more than 40 years, and its range covers not only automotive electronics, but also network equipment, projection systems, LED solutions, telecommunications, etc.
Robiton – thanks to 10 years of experience in the production of power supplies, the Russian company has broken into the list of leaders. The main criteria are quality, thoughtfulness and reliability.
Tyumen Batteries (TyumenBattery) is a domestic manufacturer that produces 4 lines of batteries at once, namely Tyumen Asia, Tyumen PREMIUM, Tyumen Siberia, Tyumen STANDARD. Great demand for such products has been observed for over 5 years.
AlphaLine is a Korean company that officially became the flagship of the local vehicle support industry in 2014. More than 7 million products are produced annually. The main advantage is the introduction of X-Frame technology, and only global giants can boast of it.
Alcor is another Russian company founded in 2005. Equipment for the production of batteries and other devices is purchased from global suppliers from the States and European countries. Later, a breakthrough was made in 2014 when the company introduced Punch technology.
Delkor is a young company from Korea that is considered popular all over the world due to its decent quality of products and loyal pricing policy. The activity has been going on since 1986, today the main production is aimed at 2 lines - Standard and Premium.
Mutlu is a Turkish brand that demonstrates a wide range of products and the best prices, accessible information content, and the presence of different models on the market. The main production is aimed at 3 lines - Start-Stop, Asia and Calcium Silver.
Exide is a huge transnational corporation that produces the best batteries for cars, according to critics and experts in many countries, with factories in the USA, Australia, India, and Europe. Today, the share of such goods on the world market is 22%. It is also a title sponsor of racing competitions and a supplier of batteries for NASCAR drivers.
Atlas is a Korean company founded in 1944. Today it is the leader in the production of starter batteries in the country. Certification of goods allowed us to open access to the world market and further improve the technological process.
Banner - the company was founded in Austria in 1937, within a few years it became a leader in the production of dry-charged models, and later developed technology for battery housings - welded polypropylene. Certification and many awards build an impeccable reputation.
Moll is a German company that was founded back in 1946. From then until today, it has been a mid-ranking family company, with which brands such as Mercedes, Audi, and Porche cooperate. The main production slogan is high-quality products with zero defects.

Car battery rating

The list of the best offers of the current year allows you to narrow your search to determine which battery is best for your car. To compile a list of companies and models, technical and quality characteristics, functionality, assembly and the corresponding price were taken into account. The emphasis was also placed on the following criteria:

Car battery capacity;
Dimensions and polarity of the battery;
The current flowing to the starter;
Type of service (maintained, low-maintenance, unmaintained);
Battery specifications.

It is equally important to study the manufacturing date, label and instructions from the manufacturer in advance. Reviews from those who have experienced the reliability of such a device will also recommend a decent car battery.

Test of 20 budget batteries: half failed!

With an old battery there is no life.

The crisis has hit everything, and the battery market is no exception. Buyers look first of all at price. Even owners of prestigious cars are in no hurry to splurge on expensive batteries such as AGM and EFB, which everyone predicted unconditional dominance a few years ago.

It’s even somehow awkward to talk about amperes, coulombs and degrees if the mass consumer chooses what is cheaper. On the other hand, budget products often have poor quality, and the savings can cost a pretty penny... This time we decided to focus on inexpensive batteries.

Is the battery cheaper?

At first, the search for the most inexpensive batteries of the most popular size 242x175x190 mm gave a modest result - only five products priced from 2,610 rubles for a Podolsk battery to 3,002 rubles for a Tyumen battery. Not enough for a full examination. They raised the price bar to 3,500 rubles - six more batteries were added. But what about without big foreign names - Varta, Bosch, Mutlu? In addition, domestic batteries close in price to them, for example, AkTech, were left behind. Along the way, it turned out that some eastern brands set prices for their products that were not at all “crisis”: the most expensive battery was not Bosch at all, but the Korean Solite for as much as 5,000 rubles!

As a result, we collected two dozen batteries. Let's see how price relates to amp hours and coulombs.

The purchase was carried out in a retail network in April – May 2016. The research results relate only to this sample and cannot serve as a basis for evaluating all products of a particular brand.

MAIN CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING BATTERY QUALITY

Reserve capacity. Shows how long a car will last with all power consumers turned on (headlights, windshield wipers, ventilation system) if its generator is damaged. Measured in minutes. The higher the result, the better.

Reduced starting energy with declared current. Characterizes the battery energy in starting mode. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better.

Reduced starting energy with a single current at –18 and –29 ºС. Allows you to compare the current characteristics of all batteries under the same conditions, regardless of their rating data. Simply put, the higher the energy, the, other things being equal, the more attempts to reliably start the engine. It is measured in kilojoules. The higher the result, the better.

Acceptance of charge at constant external voltage. Shows the battery's ability to recover after a deep discharge. In practice, a battery that accepts charge better than others will also charge faster when traveling. All batteries passed the test.

Note. Technical measurements were carried out by specialists from the Research Center AT 3 Central Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The test results relate to a specific sample of batteries and cannot characterize all products of the same name as a whole.

Will that do?

The overall impression of the test results is painful. There are three main reasons for the disorder. Firstly, sellers are still slipping in stale goods, albeit with guarantees, smiles and seals. Secondly, it’s unpleasant that in the Russian frost, out of twenty brand new batteries, eleven failed. Thirdly, out of two dozen batteries, only two really fought for victory - Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic. Their gap from their opponents turned out to be serious. Moreover, curiously, the advantage is obvious both with and without price.

Take a look at the first columns of the table, which shows the reserve capacity of brand new batteries. In brackets we give the actual “volume” of electricity for which the buyer pays. By analogy with gas station: you ask to fill the tank full, but the gas station attendant only splashes on the bottom. But there is a difference: a gas station “error” will not lead to anything terrible, but a discharged battery, as the pros say, “goes sour.” Often this is irreversible: it loses capacity and becomes inoperable. We were ready for this, so before starting the tests, as usual, we charged all the batteries to capacity. And you need to do this before you install the battery on the car. Our measurements confirm this.

Now about the “overpayments” for the brand. A miracle did not happen: all the little-known batteries accumulated together at the bottom of the table. The most annoying thing is that the prices for many of them are not cheap at all. There is clearly no point in overpaying for such imports. And the first half of the table was filled with familiar names - we advise you to focus on them.

OUR TIPS

First of all, we determine the size of the battery . It must be guaranteed to fit in its workplace - in the engine compartment or trunk. At the same time we determine the polarity . An old battery will help here: look - is the plus on the right or on the left? Often the length of the wires does not allow connecting a battery of the “wrong” polarity.

When choosing a battery brand, we strongly recommend that you be guided by the list of our winners of recent years. Don't be fooled by the low price - there are no philanthropists on the market. The brand determines the value. As a rule, with the same dimensions, serious companies offer batteries of different energy capacities (for example, different declared amperes and ampere-hours). It’s better to take the maximum, even if it’s a little more expensive.

You should not purchase products that have units of the “Ah” type indicated on the labels or in the passport. This indicates the technical illiteracy of their compilers and raises doubts about the quality.

The purchased battery must be charged. After charging and holding (keeping the battery disconnected from the charger) for 10–15 hours, the voltage should be 12.5–12.7 V. If measured immediately after charging, the readings can significantly exceed the actual open circuit voltage.

Everything is in place

To identify leaders and outsiders, we introduced a scoring system. In each type of test, the best and worst results were taken and assigned five points (maximum) and one point (minimum), respectively. Each of the remaining participants received an intermediate score proportional to their position between the leader and the outsider. For example, if, when measuring reserve capacity, the leader showed a result of 112 minutes, and the outsider showed 78, then the participant with a result of 87 minutes gets 2.06 points. If a battery fails in one test or another, it receives 0 points.

The total score based on the results of measurements is the arithmetic average of five intermediate assessments. Then we divided it by the price of the battery, after which we again brought it to a five-point scale. So the final score is essentially value for money.

The Tyumen Battery Premium and Varta Blue Dynamic batteries turned out to be unrivaled in our tests. Taking into account the much more attractive price, the “Siberian” rose to the top. If we didn't take prices into account, Varta would be first. However, the “foreign” battery has another paradoxical advantage over the Russian battery: it is easier to find on sale. It sounds illogical, but it is true, and not only in Moscow.

Conclusion? You cannot purchase a battery looking only at the price tag. Savings may backfire. It is better to spend a little time to familiarize yourself with the results of our examination. Good luck with your purchase and stable voltage in the on-board network!

Best car batteries

The battery is the most important and extremely necessary unit for a car. The service life of a battery is, on average, 4-7 years, so in the end, every car enthusiast is faced with the task of choosing a new “battery”.

In this material we will talk about the types, types and categories of batteries, their main characteristics. We will also share useful tips on choosing a battery and consider the best car batteries available for purchase on the Russian market.

Choosing a car battery: differences, nuances

Battery types by connection: “Asians” and “Europeans”

There are car batteries of Asian and European types. Let's look at the main differences:

In European-type batteries, the terminals are located in the recesses of the top cover of the case (flush). In Asian batteries - on the surface. The terminal sizes are also different:

in European cars, the “positive” terminal is 19.5 mm thick, the negative terminal is 17.9 mm thick.
in Asian cars these dimensions are 12.7 mm and 11.1 mm, respectively.

As a result, sometimes car enthusiasts tighten or change “terminal blocks” (clamps) or wires in order to install the wrong battery in their car.

In terms of length and height, European batteries are usually slightly larger than Asian ones. However, the mounting niches of many cars can accommodate different types of batteries.
However, the most important differences between “Asians” and “Europeans” are in the charging parameters: pulsed for Asian batteries and progressive for European batteries;
According to the location of the “plus” and “minus”: manufacturers offer to choose independently: many models are produced simultaneously with both direct polarity (plus - on the left) and reverse (plus - on the right)
According to the type of fastening in the seat: with special fastening sides at the bottom of the “Europeans” and with fastening with a strap on top of the “Asians”.

Today, on the Russian market, unfortunately, many counterfeits of batteries from well-known European brands are sold, which clearly does not benefit the name of this or that brand, which has been proven over the years. But as an intermediate result, it is worth noting that it is quite correct to buy a new battery, which matches the dimensions, polarity and terminals with what is offered with the car from the factory.

For a complete “immersion” in the topic, one cannot fail to mention the “Americans”: unlike all the above-mentioned differences in batteries, the terminals of American batteries are located not on the top, but on the side. But the rarity of this type of battery on the domestic market allows this type to simply be overlooked. And American cars, in the process of localization for a specific market, “acquire” one of the above-mentioned standards.

Main types of car batteries

regular/calcium (Ca/Ca);
silver-calcium (Ca/Ag);
EFB batteries;
AGM batteries (as well as their subtype - gel - GEL).

Let's look at each subspecies in more detail:

Calcium batteries are batteries with durable lead plates doped with calcium. They are usually equipped with overcharge protection, serve for a long time, have a low corrosion rate, and slow down the process of water electrolysis. Such batteries also have negative sides: they are sensitive to deep charges / discharging to zero, and are not recommended for urban driving in low gears.

Silver-calcium batteries are commonly referred to as “silver”. Quite a rare type, used in some new car models with good electronics. They have the “pluses” of calcium, but quickly sit down if, for example, the driver left the lights on. They have a smaller operating temperature range than the following types of batteries.

EFB batteries (Enhanced Flooded Battery) are designed for modern cars with a start-stop mode, with a lot of control electronics. EFB technology promotes a strong starting current when the engine is turned on and copes well with a variety of electronics on board, without impairing the performance of audio amplifiers in the car's audio system.

The plates in such batteries are made of especially thick lead and are protected from the effects of sulfates. Each plate is located in its own battery compartment, and is surrounded by liquid electrolyte.

With a deep discharge, such a battery can be recharged to almost 100% without losing resources, as happens in the types of batteries described above. EFB batteries are characterized by a high starting current and a wide operating temperature range: from -50°C to +60°C; the liquid electrolyte does not evaporate; numerous charge-discharge cycles do not affect the operation of such a battery.

AGM batteries / gel (GEL) - batteries with not a liquid electrolyte, but AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) absorbed into fiberglass, filled with a jelly-like acid solution (GEL). The main advantages of these types of batteries:

high current conductivity;
long charge;
resistance to low and high temperatures;
tightness;
shockproof qualities;
usually with anti-corrosion terminals.

Such batteries are recommended for cars with “advanced” audio systems and navigation. Support “start-stop”, withstand repeated charging and discharging; have a high starting current, strong traction current, and are not afraid of deep discharges. They tolerate off-road driving well - they are resistant to vibration. The main disadvantage is the cost.

Important notes about battery costs

By cost, all car batteries can be easily divided by composition:

EFB batteries are more expensive than calcium batteries,
AGM batteries are more expensive than EFB batteries,
Gel batteries are the most expensive.

In addition to the classifications described above, there are three categories of batteries according to the number of “interventions” in them:

Serviceable Batteries: Today, those grease-coated hard rubber batteries are becoming a thing of the past. These are low-strength batteries, which, however, can be repaired. If the plates inside such a battery are shorted, they must be replaced. In this category there are also newer models ( Sb/Ca) , which require adding distilled water to the plastic case when the electrolyte level drops. Recommended for used cars.
Maintenance-free: cannot be repaired and must be completely replaced even if the electrolyte level decreases, and, moreover, if it physically leaks. Many cars off the assembly line are equipped with just such batteries. It is better for an inexperienced driver to buy such a battery if replacement is necessary. Today they are the most common.
Low-maintenance batteries are cheaper, but last a long time. Requires regular checking of the electrolyte level.

When does the battery need to be replaced?

1) When it doesn’t hold a charge (especially if you know that you charged it 100% just recently).

2) When the battery noticeably loses capacity (degrades). In this case, some of the cells lose their charging and discharging properties, which leads to a decrease in the total capacity of the battery. More often this happens in the cold season.

3) If the battery leaks as a result of technical (physical) damage.

“Garage experts” are fairly unanimous in saying that only the original battery from the factory lasts most honestly: 5-6 years. Purchased new ones often no longer serve for a similar period of time - in the best case, 5 years.

What should you know when choosing a new battery?

1) Terminal location;

2) Dimensions (do they match the mounting socket in your car);

3) Nominal capacity, A/h;

4) The magnitude of the starting current.

Some of the parameters above are “constants” of a particular car (dimensions, polarity), some can vary within narrow limits. For example, the battery capacity should not be selected “for growth” - a standard generator simply will not be able to fully charge a large battery, which will ultimately lead to the premature “death” of the latter. A small capacity simply will not “cope” with the specific tasks of a particular car. Finally, the parameter with which you can confidently “experiment” is the value of the starting current (also known as “starting current”), which is especially important when the starter turns the engine before starting. Obviously, the larger the value, the longer it will take to spin the engine, which in turn is important for winter operating conditions.

Tips for choosing a good battery

Read your machine's owner's manual for battery specifications.
Study manufacturers' catalogs online and read reviews.
If you are completely satisfied with the original battery, try purchasing the same one.
Please take into account the above technical indicators.
If you live in the northern region, the starting current of your battery should not be less than 600 A.
The battery capacity should not exceed the capacity recommended by the manufacturer of your car. The “reserve” can be within +10-15% of the nameplate capacity.
The dimensions of the battery, lead pins and their polarity are an important point when choosing a battery. The battery you buy must match both in design and polarity.
In addition to point 7: observing the marked points, the length of the standard wire and the terminal fastening will correspond to the dimensions of the new battery.
It is better to buy a battery already filled with electrolyte by the manufacturer. It's also easier to test. This requires a detailed inspection of the cover, housing, terminals and labels. Beware of fakes (if possible), dents and cracks on the body (be sure to inspect).
If the battery has filler caps for filling electrolyte, check its level and density (not less than 1.25 g/cm 3 ), as well as the open circuit voltage at the poles/output terminals (not less than 12.5 V). This tension should be maintained for 10 seconds.
Use a load fork to check the battery voltage in the store.
The electrolyte level should be 1-1.5 cm above the top edge of the battery plates.
Check the production date of the battery you are selecting. The service life begins from the moment the electrolyte is filled, and a new battery usually lasts 3-5 years. For this reason, you should definitely not take “stale” goods, even if the storage conditions were ideal.
After testing the battery, ask the seller to enter the results into the warranty card.
Ask the store for a quality certificate for the product, check the warranty card and receipt.

Review of the best car batteries according to owner reviews

Calcium batteries

Varta Blue Dynamic D24

Lead-acid maintenance-free starter type battery. Quite hardy at low temperatures. Car enthusiasts note that in recent years many Varta fakes have appeared on the market. It is recommended to purchase exclusively from authorized dealers.

Form factor: European;
Terminals: cone (Euro), with standard placement;
Polarity: + right;
Voltage: 12V;
Battery capacity: 60 Ah;
Starting current: 540 A;
Dimensions (l×w×h): 242×175×190 mm;
Weight: 15 kg.

optimal cost;
high starting current;
tightness;
reliability;
there is a carrying handle;
withstands low temperatures.

average service life - about 3 years;
fakes are very common.

MUTLU Calcium Silver

A lead-acid battery is suitable not only for a passenger car - it can cope with a truck or minibus, as it has many modifications. The polarity of the battery of this brand depends on the modification. Silver-plated plates reduce the likelihood of corrosion and short circuits.

For passenger cars, they usually purchase MUTLU Calcium Silver 60 Ah.

High-quality model from a Turkish manufacturer.

Form factor: European;
Terminals: cone (Euro), with standard placement;
Voltage: 12V;
Battery capacity: 55-135 Ah;
Starting current: 250-920 A.

inexpensive;
reliable and durable;
maintenance-free;
good autostart;
high starting current;
long service life (about 5 years);
works normally in the winter season;
carrying handle;
there is a charge indicator;
Gifts are possible when purchasing from a dealer.

there are fakes;
inconvenient terminal protection covers.

BOSCH S4 004

Lead-acid maintenance-free car battery. The original versions from Bosch are distinguished by their durability and quality. The presence of silver-plated plates increases the service life of this battery. Many motorists, unfortunately, have purchased counterfeits of this model, so it is strongly recommended to buy batteries only from an official distributor that has permission from the manufacturer and a quality certificate.