Car battery service is an important part of your car maintenance routine. Replacing the battery every 5-8 years will ensure that it continues to work properly, and you never have to worry about being stranded on the side of the road in Longview, TX. This article from our team at Peters Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat talks about how to know when you should replace your battery, what type of batteries are available, and why preventive maintenance is so important for your vehicle.
There are two main types of batteries for cars, which are defined by their construction. A traditional lead-acid battery is made up of 6 cells that each contain 2 plates inside them. Each plate is composed of 2 different materials (lead and lead dioxide). As the battery discharges, chemical reactions occur between the chemicals in the plates and the sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution to produce a flow of electrons from one plate to another, creating a current.
The other type of battery uses Lithium-Ion technology. In fact, 12-volt lithium-ion batteries are becoming more and more popular as auto manufacturers look for ways to increase energy storage capacity without adding weight or size to their vehicles. The process is very similar to the lead-acid battery, but instead of producing lead dioxide in each cell, Lithium-ion batteries create a film that covers the negative electrode.