Battery: Description and Operation

General Information

NOTE:

The battery is one of the most important electrical components in the modern automobile. A battery that provides trouble-free service has a great influence on customer satisfaction. To ensure trouble-free service and optimum service life, batteries must be checked, serviced and maintained as per the instructions.

Apart from starting the engine, the battery has other tasks. It acts as a buffer and also supplies electrical energy to the complete vehicle electrical system. In addition, the cyclical and capacity demands on the battery have increased due to additional safety and convenience features (electrical consumers) being installed.

The automobile battery has undergone many technical changes and improvements, and development of new battery technologies continues. However, due to physical and chemical limitations, it is not yet possible to consider automobile batteries as being totally maintenance free.

A new generation of maintenance free batteries uses physically and constructively optimized, lead-calcium coated positive electrodes. Advantages include minimal electrolyte consumption and servicing requirements, as well as improved charge stability over a longer period of time. Simplified checking of these batteries is also achieved with the charge indicator ("magic eye").