Automotive batteries are powerhouse that can deliver large amounts of electric current for short periods of time. This power is used to start your engine and also run accessories when the engine isn’t running.
Battery types include lead acid, sealed and flooded. The type that best serves your vehicle is a deep cycle battery.
Cells
The cells of your battery make it possible to power your car. Each cell contains a chemical solution of sulfuric acid and layers of plates that react upon ignition to create the voltage needed to start your engine.
The positive and negative plates contain materials that can release and accept electrons to generate the current. The electrolyte solution holds the negative plate in place and helps transfer electrons across the plates. The separator keeps the plates apart and prevents short circuits.
Cylindrical batteries use lead storage technology and contain six cells. The cells are surrounded by a protective case that seals the interior of the battery from damage. The batteries are designed with specific chemistries, and this plays a role in cost and energy efficiency. For example, nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) or nickel, cobalt, and aluminum (NMCA) are used in the batteries of most electric cars. The chemistry determines how much power the batteries can hold and how quickly they can deliver it.
Plates
A car battery is a lead-acid battery that produces the electricity that turns the spark plugs to start the engine and powers the lights, radio and other electrical components when the engine isn’t running. It uses a continuous cycle of discharge-recharge to produce the energy that fires your spark plugs.
A wet cell battery has six cells and consists of alternate plates in a lead alloy grid. The plates are coated with sponge lead (cathode) and covered with lead dioxide (anode). Each cell is filled with a sulphuric acid solution that serves as the electrolyte.
The most common type of car battery is a lead-acid, sealed for life, with flat lead plates immersed in an electrolyte solution to produce voltage. Enhanced flooded batteries are similar to lead-acid batteries and last longer, while absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries have fiberglass separators that allow the electrolyte to be stored in a dry state for quicker recharging. These batteries are ideal for vehicles with start-stop systems and braking energy recovery.
Separator
Whether you own an SUV, truck or motorcycle, proper care of your vehicle’s battery is essential. This means selecting the right size battery for your automobile and using quality auto batteries when replacement is required.
The separator is a microporous membrane that separates the anode and cathode in a battery cell. It prevents electronic conduction between the plates but allows ionic conduction through the electrolyte.
Glatfelter recently invested in a technology company called Dreamweaver International, which manufactures lithium-ion (LIB) separators based on papermaking/wetlaid technology. At 20 microns thin, these separators have been developed for use in a wide variety of applications including energy storage and electric vehicles.
Each GWh of lithium-ion EV battery production requires 7-10 million square meters of separator material, depending on the form factor chosen by cell manufacturers. The ENTEK project will strengthen and onshore LIB separator capacity for the US EV market, while helping battery manufacturers comply with the Clean Energy Inflation Reduction Act’s domestic content requirements.
Voltage
There are several types of batteries used in motor vehicles. Each battery has a different voltage and is designed differently to support specific performance needs. Understanding the differences between battery types can help you select the best battery for your customer’s vehicle and application.
The lead-acid battery is the most common type of battery and can be found in most automobiles. Inside the outer casing are plates of lead alternating with plates made up of other materials, immersed in a liquid electrolyte solution. When the ignition is turned on, the battery starts to discharge by converting its internal plates into an electrical current.
To check your battery’s resting voltage, make sure the vehicle is off and disable all extra power draws (like headlights, radio, air conditioning). Use a multimeter or voltmeter to get a reading. Place the red probe of your meter on the positive terminal and the black lead on the negative. The voltage should read around 12.6 volts when the car is off and the engine isn’t running.