How long does a car battery last and what does it depend on?

Factors affecting car battery life

Weather conditions

Leaving the car running in extremely hot or cold weather will affect the chemical components inside the battery, which can lead to damage or weak power supply. When parking in the hot sun, it is necessary to have an insulating tarp to cover the battery to protect it and prevent fading of other parts.

Car usage habits

Driving behavior also greatly affects the life of car batteries. Many drivers, after leaving the car, do not pay attention to whether electrical devices are turned off, for example, forgetting to turn off the car lights, air conditioning system, etc., which will cause the battery to lose power quickly.

A long time without using the car also leads to the battery being weak or so weak that it cannot be started. Or just driving a short distance, because the battery needs to be fully charged, the car needs to be operated normally and continuously for about 20 minutes (under normal charging system conditions). Therefore, if you often travel short distances, turn off the engine and start it often, the battery will quickly lose its life.

Adding too many accessories to the car such as electronic devices, lights, etc. can cause the load to increase, causing the battery to run out of power in a short time and reduce its lifespan. In addition, if these devices are not calculated and installed properly, they will be a threat not only to the battery but also to the car's electrical system.

Maintenance conditions

If you do not regularly service your vehicle, you will not be able to know how much solution is left in the battery, whether the two battery terminals are clean, and how to replenish and clean them in time. This will cause the battery to operate less effectively and its lifespan will be significantly reduced.

For example, in a real-life situation: If your car is accidentally flooded, trying to start the car will cause water to flow into the wires, plugs, etc., causing great damage to the power source. In this case, if you do not have your car checked and maintained in time, the battery will easily be damaged and will no longer function as well as before.

What is the average life of a car battery?

The answer depends on each case and how each person uses it. Normally, if the car battery is regularly maintained and the battery charging system works normally, the life span can be extended to 100,000 km, equivalent to 4 years of use. In fact, the life span of a car battery is only about 2-3 years. When the battery life cycle ends, it needs to be replaced immediately.