What is the maximum lifespan of a car battery?
4 Answers
New energy vehicle lithium batteries have a lifespan of 5 to 8 years. Below are specific details about car batteries: 1. The function of a battery is to store electrical energy. Without a battery, a car cannot operate normally. 2. Typically, household car batteries are 12V, with a no-load voltage around 13V and a load voltage not lower than 11V. If the voltage drops below this level, it may cause difficulty in starting. The battery can be charged by the alternator while the car is running. If the car is parked for an extended period, it can easily lead to battery discharge, making the car unable to start. Therefore, during long-term parking, it is advisable to start the vehicle at least once a week for more than 5 minutes to recharge the battery. 3. Generally, it takes 4-5 hours to fully charge a battery, and overcharging should be avoided.
I've been driving for over a decade and have replaced my car battery three or four times myself. A regular lead-acid battery typically lasts five to six years at most, but this isn't absolute. My buddy's car battery lasted seven years because he drives two 300-kilometer long-distance trips every week, keeping the battery fully charged. For people like me who only drive short daily commutes, the battery might die in just three years. The key lies in usage habits: using a car charger to charge your phone for two hours after turning off the engine is the most damaging to the battery; when temperatures drop below minus ten degrees Celsius in winter, the battery capacity can drop by half, making it most prone to failure. Also, a heads-up: cars with start-stop functionality require AGM batteries—they're more expensive, but they'll last five years without issue. This is one area where you really shouldn't cut corners.
A car battery typically lasts three years, with six years being considered long-lasting. I pay special attention to maintenance, checking the battery terminals weekly for white crystalline deposits and rinsing them with hot water if present. If the battery case is swollen or leaking, it must be replaced immediately—delaying is too dangerous. When I used a standard battery, cold starts in winter often caused shaking, but switching to a higher-capacity battery solved the issue. I recommend testing the voltage at a repair shop every six months; if it drops below 12 volts, be alert. Also, for long-term parked cars, it's best to start the engine for 20 minutes each month to prevent rapid battery drain.
My car battery has just been used for four years, and at the beginning of the month, I noticed it was significantly slower to start. The mechanic said this is a typical symptom of aging. The new batteries nowadays use calcium alloy technology, which is better than the old ones, but they still recommend checking it every three years or so. I remember once when I went on a business trip and left the car parked in the underground garage for three months, and the battery was completely dead when I returned. Temperature really has a big impact—my friend in Guangzhou can't get more than four years out of a battery, while in Changchun, it can last at least half a year longer. Also, don’t underestimate the alternator; if it doesn’t charge properly, it can also drag down the battery.
