Will the car charge if it is started but not moving?
2 Answers
When the car is started but not moving, it can charge the battery. All vehicles are equipped with a generator, which starts generating electricity as soon as the car is started. Below is more related information: Introduction to the battery: A battery is a type of cell, also known as a storage battery. Its working principle involves converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Typically, the term "battery" refers to a lead-acid battery, which mainly uses lead and its oxides as electrodes and a sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte. A battery is a type of cell that can be reused after being discharged and then recharged. There are lead-acid batteries, nickel-iron batteries, and nickel-cadmium batteries, among others. In a lead-acid battery, the positive electrode is lead dioxide, the negative electrode is lead, and the electrolyte is a sulfuric acid solution. During discharge (use), the positive and negative electrodes react with sulfuric acid to form lead sulfate. When the concentration of the sulfuric acid solution drops to a certain level, the battery must be recharged. When charged with an external power source, the electrodes and solution can be restored to their original state, allowing the battery to be used again after charging. Principle of charging: After the vehicle is driven, because driving requires pressing the accelerator, the engine speed increases. As a result, the generator receives more power, leading to an increase in the generator's output. Consequently, the charging amount to the battery also increases. However, charging is not unlimited. The battery is equipped with a sensor; if the sensor detects that the battery is fully charged, it will stop charging the battery. At this point, the generator supplies power to the vehicle's electrical equipment.
As a mechanic with twenty years of experience, I've seen too many car owners ask this question. Indeed, idling the car can charge the battery, but the efficiency is extremely low! At idle, the alternator speed is only around 700 RPM, and the charging current might be less than 10A. If the battery is already severely depleted, idling for two hours won't charge it as much as driving for ten minutes. Especially for cars with auto start-stop, if the charging management system detects insufficient battery voltage, it will directly disable the start-stop function. Once, a car owner with an aging battery idled for three days and still couldn't start the car—it was only resolved after jump-starting and driving on the highway for half an hour. My advice is: if you notice difficulty starting the car, don't rely on idling to charge the battery. Either replace the battery or use a charger to replenish the charge promptly.
