The impact of extreme temperatures on batteries: how cold affects performance

It is a fact that temperature affects batteries. Even batteries for e-bikes, smartphones, etc. do not go hand in hand with low temperatures. It's no fun when you have to hit the road during extreme winter times and find that your battery turns out to be dead. Too low temperatures (below -10°C) reduce performance and decrease battery life. With us, we don't generally experience extremely low temperatures, but we can ensure that our batteries last longer than one winter. This way you are also prepared if you are going to a colder area for an extended period of time. In this article you will find out why the cold affects batteries so much and how you can master both winter and starting problems.

Influence of temperature on batteries

The lower the temperature, the slower the chemical reaction in the battery. This means your battery will produce less electricity in winter than in summer. Consumers require the same power as in moderate temperatures, while battery performance decreases. The battery reaches its limits and may even become overloaded. Cold makes it harder for electrons to flow from one contact to another. In other words, the battery does not work as well. Old batteries suffer greatly from this, but new batteries and rechargeable batteries also have this problem with cold. So this also explains the starting problems that often occur at low temperatures. The comfortable temperature is between 16°C and 22°C. In this temperature range, the reaction is regular. Of course, this applies as much to starting applications as to other systems. The effect of cold on mileage is particularly noticeable in electric cars.  

How can you best maintain your battery in winter?

Charging the battery

If you want to charge the battery in winter, we do not recommend doing it at temperatures below -10°C directly on the vehicle. It is better then to disconnect the battery, let it come to room temperature and only then connect the charger. Only then can the battery absorb the charge and perform the corresponding chemical reaction correctly. If your vehicle has been stationary for more than 3 weeks, it is also best to hang the battery on the charger. This will prevent the battery from draining unnecessarily and thereby being damaged. A maintenance charger is ideal for this purpose.

Reduce temperature loss

A protective film for batteries can limit temperature loss when used in cold areas.

Additional control

Before the onset of winter, we recommend that you have an additional check of your battery and electrical circuitry during annual maintenance.

Good preparation is half the battle

To be fully winter-ready, make sure you have a good set of jumper cables in your car. Only buy jumper cables with a thick copper core and sturdy clamps. We recommend this because the starting current of a vehicle is very high which often causes it to go wrong with less quality cables. Furthermore, jumper cables are never risk-free and can damage fragile electronics. The best solution to this is a good battery charger. At Autobat, we are happy to help you in our store with expert advice on choosing and purchasing the appropriate battery charger for your vehicle.

What difference can you already make while using the battery?

First of all, after starting the engine, drive slowly until the engine has warmed up. You should also turn off all equipment that uses a lot of battery power, such as air conditioning and the start-stop system (if your vehicle has them). Also, before starting, depress the clutch pedal. In newer vehicles this is mainly to start the engine, but not in older vehicles. With the clutch disengaged, the gearbox gears do not move, which requires a lot of energy from the starter battery, especially if the gearbox oil is cold. 

What many people do not know is that an unlocked vehicle also consumes energy. So always lock your vehicle, even if it is in a garage.

Only on longer trips of at least 25 km without stopping much, the battery has the opportunity to recharge. So limit short trips as much as possible (freeway is ideal). If you travel short distances with your car more often, we recommend recharging with a battery charger from time to time.

In addition, we also recommend that you use engine oil of the latest generation. It remains thinner at lower temperatures, which makes the cold engine spin more easily and requires less energy from the battery. Positive side effect: according to manufacturers, synthetic oil can reduce power consumption by up to 25%.

A few more tips:

• Definitely do not leave the ignition on when listening to the radio only!
• If this is possible for you, it is best to park the car inside or under a carport.
• Place a trickle charger on the battery when you travel and the car is stationary for a period of time. This is an inexpensive device that will ensure the battery is not dead when you return from vacation.

Suffering from a difficult start?

1. Press the clutch pedal while starting the engine.
2. Keep your headlights on for a few minutes to activate the battery, then turn them off until the engine is running properly.
3. Turn off as many energy guzzlers as possible such as the heater, lights, air conditioner, radio, seat heater,...
4. Still unsuccessful after two start attempts? Then wait 15 minutes and then try again. However, the start attempts should remain short.

A properly maintained battery is the best precaution against temperature-related damage. If the battery is usually properly charged, overcharging due to excessive current draw has little chance.

We cannot influence temperatures, so we must adapt to them. We can do this by performing regular maintenance and staying attentive while using the battery. For the rest, it is important to purchase the right battery. So when choosing the right battery, keep your circumstances in mind. We are happy to help you with that!