Driving practices that help recharge, extend battery life

As summer tapers into cooler fall weather, drivers may notice a change in their vehicle performance. The way you drive also can affect the life of your vehicle’s battery.

How can you get the most of your vehicle’s charging system?

According to Isidor Buchmann, Founder and CEO of Cadex Electronics, Inc. and author of Battery University, battery failures are caused more often by driving habits than by battery defects, which includes trip length and use of accessories.

“Heavy accessory power when driving short distance prevents a periodic fully saturated charge that is so important for the longevity of a lead acid battery,” Buchmann said.

All the conveniences in modern vehicles contribute to battery drain—electronic door locks, electronic seat warmers and headlights that shut off automatically. Battery drain is especially heavy when driving short distances, Buchmann said.

Buchmann also identified armed car alarms and accessory usage when the vehicle is not operating. Short trips around town—such as dropping off and picking up the kids from school or running other errands—do not allow the battery to fully recharge.

In contrast, long distance driving permits the battery the time to recharge. The vehicle’s recharging system has time to replace power used in previous driving excursions.

Buchmann offered the following suggestions to extend the life of your vehicle’s battery:

• Combine errands. Avoid frequent trips that are short. By combining errands, you’ll save fuel and help your battery recharge.
   
• Use your vehicle for long-distance trips on occasion. That “Sunday drive” through the country or along the highway helps recharge that battery.
   
• Cut use of accessories such as cell phones connected to the vehicle sound system and other accessories whenever the vehicle is turned off. They can drain the battery and shorten its life.
   
• Don’t leave your headlights and interior on for extended periods of time when the vehicle is not running. They can quickly drain battery life.
   
• Look for signs your vehicle’s battery may be failing. <<See related article>>
   
• Get a battery inspected in late summer and early fall.