What Are the Factors Affecting the Lifespan of a Car Battery?
2 Answers
Factors affecting the lifespan of a car battery are as follows: 1. Deep Discharge: The molar volume of lead sulfate is larger than that of lead oxide, causing the active material to expand during discharge. The conversion of one mole of lead oxide to one mole of lead sulfate results in a 95% increase in volume. The bonds between lead dioxide molecules are inherently weak, and during discharge, the expansion of the active material on the positive plate causes the lead dioxide particles to gradually loosen. In the case of deep discharge, the volume expansion is even greater, making the active material more prone to detachment. 2. Overcharging: Charging a battery electrolyzes water into oxygen and hydrogen. Severe overcharging leads to a significant release of oxygen. Due to its strong oxidizing properties, the released oxygen can corrode the plates, causing the active material to detach and reducing the battery's lifespan. 3. Excessive Temperature: A battery's capacity increases with temperature. If the battery temperature rises while the total discharge remains unchanged, the depth of discharge decreases. A temperature increase up to 45°C is beneficial and can extend the battery's lifespan. However, during charging, if the battery temperature exceeds 50°C, it accelerates the corrosion of the plates by the acid and hastens the aging of the battery casing due to the higher temperature. 4. Sulfuric Acid Corrosion: Increasing the sulfuric acid density in the battery's electrolyte boosts the positive plate's capacity, thereby increasing the battery's overall capacity. However, it also increases self-discharge, accelerates plate corrosion, promotes the loosening and detachment of lead dioxide, and increases corrosion of the battery terminals, ultimately reducing the battery's lifespan.
From my driving experience, battery life is significantly affected by temperature and driving habits. High summer temperatures can cause the battery fluid to evaporate quickly, accelerating aging, so I try to park in shaded areas in the south to reduce sun exposure. In cold winters, the battery lacks sufficient power, making it difficult to start the engine and causing more wear. Frequent short trips are also a common issue—short-distance driving doesn’t give the battery enough time to recharge, leading to gradual deep discharge and faster capacity loss. I used to drive mostly in the city and had to replace my battery every two years, but things improved after I started taking regular highway trips on weekends. Maintenance-wise, regularly checking electrolyte levels and keeping the terminals clean is crucial—corroded terminals can cause uneven charging, so I clean them every six months. Avoid turning on high-power devices like heated seats before starting the engine, as the extra load can shorten battery life—just make it a habit. Also, excessive use of start-stop systems consumes a lot of power, so I pay attention to this when driving in the city.
