Under the Hood: An Inside Look at Car Batteries

UNDER THE HOOD; An Inside Look at Car Batteries HOW CAR BATTERIES WORK Most car batteries are lead-acid A car battery issues a surge of current for a short time Thin lead plates increase surface area for the surge of power After the engine is started, the alternator powers the car Many batteries only use 20% of their capacity in their lifetimes ADVANTAGES OF LEAD-ACID BATTERIES 140 In use for over 140 years Durable and reliable Can withstand extreme temperatures Offer long lifecycles Provide the most Environmentally friendly energy per pound Some other types of batteries "forget" how much power they have when they are charged repeatedly 98% of lead-acid batteries are recycled No memory problems HISTORY OF LEAD-ACID BATTERIES 1859 French physician Gaston Planté invents the rechargeable storage lead-acid battery • Used for keeping railroad cars' lights on while at the station • Provided alternate power source for utilities 1881 Camille Faure improves the battery's storage ability · Faure also invented the basic lead-acid battery for automobiles Mid- 1970s Scientists develop a version of the lead-acid battery that operates in any position • Called "absorbent glass mat batteries," they contain microfibers that prevent the acid from spilling • Unlike in other batteries, acid is not mixed to form a gel • More powerful and longer-lasting than gel batteries Today Lead-acid batteries are more dependable than ever • Rarely need jumpstarts • Longer lifespans · Affordable when they do need to be replaced • Used in hybrid vehieles as well as conventional gasoline models Provided by: Sources: www.pbs.org/now/ahows/223/electric-car-timeline.html auto.howstuffwarks.com/questiona19.htm www.leadacidbatteryinfo.org/resources.htm www.leadacidbatteryinfo.org/lead-acid-batteries-and-alternative-energy.htm blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/08/20/how-do-car-batteries-work/ INTERSTATE BATTERIES www.batteryprosma.com 2: