While much of the summer in the UK was a washout, the start of September was a real scorcher, which was great for us, but not so much for car batteries, as Colin Cottrell, Marketing Manager at LKQ Euro Car Parts explained: “Extreme heat will accelerate the onset of battery failure, leading to problems like weakened battery plates which can limit the amount of charge stored and supplied. “Meanwhile, the heat generated from the alternator when combined with soaring outdoor temperatures can push a charging system to its limits. However, it’s often not until the weather changes that these problems become noticeable to the driver. On a cold day, chemical reactions in a battery slow and in turn it generates less electrical current. “This, coupled with an increase in reliance on more energy intensive features such as the heater, headlights and wipers, means that engines need more power to get going in the autumn and winter months, which is why we tend to see an uptick in battery failures in colder weather.” Planning ahead Colin continued: “A surge in battery-related issues is easily avoidable. We recommend investing in the latest battery charging and testing equipment, and ensuring battery testing is carried out as standard whenever a vehicle is brought in for servicing and repair. This will guarantee garages stay ahead of the game, opening up an opportunity to build trust with the customer while boosting profit through increased battery sales. LKQ Euro Car Parts has an extensive battery range as part of its Starline brand, with 71 references covering conventional, absorbed glass mat batteries (AGM) and enhanced flooded batteries (EFB) and 99% of the UK car parc.” For more information, please visit: https://omnipart.eurocarparts.com/omnihub/garagesupport/batteries Encouragement Ecobat Battery is looking to encourage garages to make the most of the battery testing opportunity. Ecobat Battery Technical Manager Christopher Jones explained: “To encourage workshops to introduce a battery testing culture, Ecobat Battery can, through its motor factor customers, provide them with point-of-sale support material that includes battery testing report cards, counter displays, A4 leaflets and A2 posters, which are available in a choice of Lucas, Exide, VARTA or Numax branding.” 44 AFTERMARKET OCTOBER 2023 BATTERIES AND CHARGERS www.aftermarketonline.net John continued: “Despite it taking just a couple of minutes, workshops rarely do a battery test, which is a wasted opportunity. Ecobat Battery has found that 27% of vehicles that enter independent workshops either need their batteries recharged or reconditioned, and a further 11% need a replacement. It is little wonder that 40% of roadside breakdowns are due to battery failure, which is business lost to independents and gained by the national breakdown services.” On why batteries fail, John said: “Even when disconnected, a typical lead acid starter/lights/ignition (SLI) battery will self-discharge at the rate of 0.1-volts per month, which means that a fully charged battery at 12.7-volts will be discharged to the point that it would struggle to start an engine at 11.8-volts) in just nine months. “Opening and closing the vehicle without driving anywhere puts more pressure on the battery as it can draw as much as 50-amps to do so, and should there be a parasitic drain because of a problem somewhere in the vehicle’s electrical system, the issue is further exacerbated. When these real-life scenarios are combined with cold weather however, the pressure on the battery moves to an entirely new level because, even without these ongoing issues, when the temperature drops to freezing, the battery can lose up to 35% of its power, which is why cold weather shows up battery problems so intently.” John added: “These combined effects along with reduced car usage means that whatever the weather, the future remains bright for the replacement battery sector.” For more information, visit: www.ecobatbattery.com Above: RPPL1000 Lithium Jump Starter from Ring Automotive JUMP-START: BATTERIES AND CHARGERS Find out about the latest batteries and products, and how focusing on this areas can help give your business a jump up to the next level
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