Car batteries

Car Battery Buyer’s Guide – make sure your car starts when you need it to

Car batteries are consumable goods that gradually wear out no matter how often or seldom you use your car. Most people realise their car battery needs to be replaced when its capacity is reduced and the starting power deteriorates. Since the battery is a crucial component in the car, it’s important that the battery you choose suits your car. That's why we've created this Buyer’s Guide.

How big is the car battery?

The new car battery must correspond to the size of the standard equipment, otherwise it will not fit in the battery holder. You should therefore measure the length, width, and height of the old battery. You should also measure any protruding terminals.

Which car battery is suitable for your car?

Once you’ve figured out the car battery size you need, it’s time to decide which type of car battery best suits you and your car. In Biltema’s range, you will find e.g. AGM, AMF, Lithium, EFB, SMF, and Silver-calcium batteries.

Where are the car battery terminals located?

Some cars have shorter battery cables than others, which means that the battery terminals must be in the right place. The specified terminal positions show the location of the battery’s positive terminal. At terminal position 0 or R, the positive terminal is on the right-hand side, and at terminal position 1 or L, the positive terminal is on the left-hand side.

How high cold start power do you need?

The battery’s cold cranking amps (CCA, A or EN) indicates the number of amps that the car battery can deliver in the first 30 seconds at a temperature of about -17.8 °C. The new car battery must have a CCA value equal to or greater than the value specified in the car’s instruction manual, otherwise there is a risk that the engine will not start. If you often start your car in cold temperatures or only drive shorter distances, it may be worth your while investing in a battery with a higher CCA value.

How many amps should the battery deliver?

The capacity of the car battery is measured in ampere hours (Ah), that is, the number of amps the battery can deliver in an hour. The more powerful your car, the higher the required battery capacity. The easiest way to choose a car battery with the right capacity is to start from the old battery. You can also calculate the capacity you need by finding out how many amps are required to power the car’s equipment, then multiplying it by the number of hours the equipment will be used.

What voltage should the car battery have?

For the car battery to provide the engine with sufficient power and not damage the other electrical components, the battery voltage must be the same as the other equipment. For example, most passenger cars have a 12 V system and should therefore have a car battery with a voltage of 12 V. If the battery has a higher or lower voltage, the components may stop working or be damaged.