Winter-Proofed Batteries – As winter sets in and temperatures drop, vehicle battery performance can reduce drastically, with battery failure shown to be the single biggest cause of breakdowns during the colder winter months. NRMA patrols attended to over 417,000 battery-related callouts* in 2024 alone.
When you turn the ignition key to start your vehicle, everything depends on the battery hidden in your car’s engine compartment. CTEK, a leading global brand in battery management solutions, recommends drivers prepare vehicles for winter, including ensuring car batteries are in top condition.
So… What’s Happening Under the Bonnet?
To answer this and provide some helpful tips, the experts from Federal Batteries, one of Australasia’s leading suppliers of batteries and auto equipment, have shared five pointers to keep in mind:
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The cold takes its toll on your battery.
When temperatures dip to single digits, your battery can lose up to 35% of its capacity – meaning it has less juice to turn over your engine. This happens because cold slows down the chemical reactions inside your battery, making it less efficient and more vulnerable when you need it most. Even if your battery was fine last summer, winter can expose its weaknesses. It’s like trying to run a marathon in heavy boots – you can do it, but it’s going to be a lot harder.
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You may struggle to start in frigid weather.
Cold weather makes your engine oil thicker, which puts strain on your starter motor. The battery must work much harder just to ignite your engine, demanding more current than it’s capable of delivering. If your battery is already a few years old or underpowered, this added stress can mean the difference between a smooth start and being stranded.
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Electrical demands rise with winter comforts.
In the winter, we rely more on our vehicle’s electrical features. Headlights, heated windshields, defrosting systems and heated seats – they all draw power. While those comforts are lifesavers on frosty winter days, they add to the workload for your battery. The lesson here? Be mindful of how much you’re drawing from your battery and consider checks or upgrades in the weeks or months leading up to winter.
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Why doesn’t recharging keep up in winter?
After starting your car in winter, you expect the alternator to recharge your battery – but it’s not that simple. Cold weather hampers the alternator’s efficiency, meaning it produces less power. Plus, short trips mean your engine doesn’t run long enough to fully replenish the lost charge. For an already weakened battery, this slow and incomplete recharging cycle can lead to a downward spiral.
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Old batteries feel their worst in winter.
If your battery is nearing or past the three to five-year mark, winter can be especially challenging. Older batteries often have diminished internal plates and electrolyte levels, reducing their ability to deliver quick bursts of power. When winter hits, these vulnerabilities become more obvious — your car might struggle to start, or worse, leave you stranded. Giving it a proper check-up before winter can save you from unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs down the line.
Cost of Charging vs Battery Replacement – Winter-Proofed Batteries
When you consider that getting a vehicle battery replacement can cost up to $400, you can quickly see how that will put a dent in your wallet, particularly during the current cost of living crisis. Given most batteries in new cars last three to four years on average, over your vehicle’s lifetime, you could be looking at well over a thousand dollars just on battery replacements.
Fortunately, a CTEK MXS 5.0 can offer an affordable solution. On retail for under $180, the CTEK MXS 5.0 allows you to simply connect the battery charger to your car and let it do the rest of the work. Routine battery charging, like that offered by CTEK, not only saves you money thanks to its affordable price point, but can actually increase your battery’s lifespan by up to three times – meaning more money saved in the long run!
What Should You Do? Winter-Proofed Batteries
If your battery is starting to go, the first thing you’ll notice is that the car sounds sluggish when trying to start. This is a warning sign that should not be ignored.
“We may think about checking the car’s oil, brakes, washer fluid and heater, but the humble car battery is often overlooked in our winter preparations,” said Paul Oddy, CTEK Regional Manager for APAC. “A few simple checks and a regular battery maintenance habit is all that’s needed to give you peace of mind that your battery is charged and ready to power you through the cold.”
A smart battery charger such as the CTEK MXS 5.0, with an in-built temperature sensor, can safely bring the battery up to 100% charge, whatever the weather. It works with all 12V lead acid batteries. Using advanced, patented technology to measure the battery’s power and health, it delivers the optimal amount of power to boost performance and prolong the lifetime of the battery. The MXS 5.0 also features an AGM option which maximises the performance life of most Stop/Start batteries and a special Recond mode for reconditioning deeply discharged batteries.
The battery is the heart of the vehicle – and without a regular charge, with a good quality battery charger, you are at an increased risk of a breakdown, especially in the colder months. By following the tips and guidance provided by experts to get your battery well prepared in advance, you can ensure this winter season won’t get in the way of your vehicle’s functionality.
For more information about CTEK’s range of products, please visit www.ctek.com
* https://www.mynrma.com.au/open-road/advice-and-how-to/car-maintenance/how-does-cold-weather-affect-your-car-battery