By Erik Watkins

What Are The Different Types Of Car Batteries

Last updated: May 15, 2023
Type Of Battery

Any vehicle requires a suitable power source for its operation, and so do cars. If you are a newbie, you will certainly not be confused when there are thousands of different car battery types which is equipped with increasingly modern technology on the current market.

If you are stuck in this situation, this article is for you! We will provide you with useful information through the eight most common types today. Please scroll down and explore them in the most comprehensive and detailed insight.

Where Can You Find Your Battery?

If you own an older car, we’re sure the car batteries will be under the hood. Just open the hood, and you’ll easily find these products and the power wirings.

Battery Location In A Chevy Traverse
Battery Location In A Chevy Traverse

However, increasingly modern vehicles lead to the installation of the power supply of some samples also changing based on the manufacturer’s design. 

Besides the traditional location, the batteries can also appear under the car seat (inside the cabin), in the car’s trunk, and in other unexpected places. Therefore, the most effective way is still to consult the manufacturer’s information to determine the power supply’s exact location.

What Type Of Battery Is A Car Battery?

Determining which products are car batteries is never easy, whether you are a newbie or an experienced driver. So, what kind of battery do I need?

We’ve rounded up a collection of the most popular car batteries on the vehicle market. Please scroll down for info about each!

1. Lead-Acid Wet Cell 

Lead-acid batteries serve as the oldest and most popular product you can find at any auto parts store. Their battery design consisted of a canister of lead battery plates soaked in acid to release electrical energy to the motor.

This wet cell product is recognized through the structure of the top cover. This lid allows the user to open and close at will with the storage condition with distilled water throughout use.

Sealed lead-acid battery (AGM)
Sealed lead-acid battery (AGM)

2. Lead-Acid Gel Cell (Dry Cell)  

Battery manufacturers have followed the design of the wet cell energy supply and created the dry cell – a new, more modern product. It does not require any liquid acid setup for power generation, nor does it need to be preserved by distilled water.

This product is self-contained without a filling cap, so you won’t be able to open them arbitrarily.

The shake test can easily distinguish the fry and wet cells. When you stop shaking, the wet cell tends to continue oscillating (due to its liquid acid composition), while the dry cell will completely stop.

Dry vs Wet Cell
Dry vs Wet Cell

3. Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM)  

AGM products are designed similarly to the dry cell – completely self-contained and do not require any maintenance. This product uses a fine glass fiber network system with an anti-vibration structure, suitable for vehicles intended for off-road driving.

How Does AGM Battery Operate

It will be best to get this car battery labeled, as it has the same dense structure as the dry cell product. Once you stop shaking these, they will not drag any movement inside.

4. Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries

Li-ion batteries tend to be lighter and capable of holding more energy than other types of batteries. Therefore, they usually serve as hybrid and electric car batteries.

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries

Because of its ability to generate extremely powerful energy for a certain period of time, this product also appears in sports vehicles such as motorcycles, UTVs, ATVs, and other models. Manufacturers often integrate it into the components below the vehicle, so you will only see it when removing the interior trim pieces.

5. Deep Cycle Batteries  

Deep cycle batteries (also known as marine batteries) will give users two options – sealed or submerged. This acid product uses a fairly thick panel with an extremely dense active substance, which is ideal for maintaining a low and stable current for a certain period.

What Does Deep Cycle Battery Mean

If you are looking for batteries for vehicles that use trolling motors (such as beach carts and golf carts), then these marine batteries will be a great choice!

6. Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB)  

EFB batteries are classified as an optimal product with quite ideal performance. Its fully enclosed design effectively protects the liquid electrolyte inside, contributing to increased battery life and durability.

EFB batteries

This wet type can service up to 85,000 motor cranks, while normal battery ratings are about 30,000. Because of this ideal performance, manufacturers often choose it for cars that use simple stop-start technology.

7. Silver Calcium Batteries  

Silver Calcium Batteries

If you are looking for a power supply suitable for extremely hot climates, then the silver calcium battery is what you are looking for! Thanks to its ideal resilience and high-temperature corrosion resistance, it will serve your vehicle with a longer service life than other products.

According to expert reviews, this product works like an upgraded version of the flooded products. Although it still operates on an electrolyte solution and lead acid, it includes lead-calcium-silver plates (instead of the usual lead-antimony plates).

This product is self-contained and does not require maintenance like wet cell batteries. However, the need to use a higher charging voltage than conventional batteries makes its panels susceptible to damage due to sulfation.

8. Nickel–Metal Hydride (NiMH)  

NIMH products are another option you can consider for your all-electric and hybrid vehicles. They can serve users with a much longer cycle life and ideal energy density than lithium-ion batteries and lead-acid batteries.

These prismatic batteries are famous for their stable, safe, and unaffected power output. However, they tend to give off heat at high temperatures and have a higher self-discharge rate than other automotive batteries.

What Type Of Car Battery Should You Use? Flooded vs AGM

Final Verdict

Having a detailed insight into all the essential car batteries available on the world market today is never an easy task, even if you are an experienced driver. But once you’ve fully stocked up on them, you’ll have the key to determining the product that’s best suited for your vehicle.

Automotive Mechanic at PowerAll

With 7 years experience in management positions leading automotive mechanics at PowerAll, Erik Watkins wishes to share useful knowledge and information about automotive mechanical equipment.

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