Have you priced a normal car battery lately? If not, it will probably be substantially higher than the last time you had to replace one, and in my experience, sooner than the one before it.
Today I priced one on a 2004 Ford Mustang. The cheapest battery that was listed was $195 with exchange, and this was from one of the big auto part retailers in town. There are cheaper options from other sources, and of course much more expensive ones as well. I replaced the same size battery in my Ford Ranger and paid a little over $100 for it in 2019. So why the huge difference?
When I started in the car business, I worked at Western Auto. For the younger generation, that was the Wal-Mart of part stores that died off in the late 90s that had anything for any car out there. When I started, our top end batteries were around $40-$50 and they had a six-year warranty. I also remember when the Optima battery came out, costing right at $100. I remember asking myself who would ever pay that much for a car battery!
One of the reasons that car batteries are so expensive is that their output must be drastically higher than in the $50 battery days. With the massive amount of electronics in modern vehicles, the battery acts as a shock absorber for the electrical system. The battery must maintain power to sensitive control modules while the car is off, keeping memory alive for adaptations, security systems, and even things like entertainment settings.
Since engines have gotten smaller, their compression ratios have also climbed, which puts a higher amperage draw on the battery from starter usage. Batteries also live a shorter life, since these things can cause damage to the plates inside them. It isn’t rare to replace the batteries in cars every two to three years, using the standard lead-acid type.
Another reason batteries are more expensive than ever, is that everything else is too. Inflation and supply chain issues are a large part of the increase. Due to their weight, most car batteries sold in the United States are made here, and the price of labor in manufacturing these batteries has increase. Plastic and lead have also skyrocketed in price, which are the two main components of car batteries.
There are other styles of batteries now that may last longer than the standard ones but will cost more. AGM batteries, which stand for absorbed glass mat, are made to a higher standard and have much more power than a standard flooded cell battery. These are also vibration proof and do not have to be mounted right side up.
AGM batteries are starting to become standard in many models of cars, especially high-end luxury cars and hybrid vehicles. Optima, which I mentioned above, is the most popular of these types of batteries on the market. Popular with the performance segment and car audio enthusiasts, these batteries also can last much longer than standard batteries and can be used when the stock battery needs to be replaced. I priced one for our 2004 Mustang, and they are around $300!
The other option to fight battery prices is to care for the one you have. Make sure the terminals and cables are cleaned and are properly tightened to the battery. Dirt on the outside of the battery case can also drain the battery when sitting, so a good cleaning of the case will help keep the discharge down.
When leaving your car parked for an extended period, think about using a battery tender, which is a low amperage battery charger that keeps the battery above 12 volts when the car is being stored. These can be bought cheaply, and they even have solar powered ones in case the extension cord isn’t an option.
Batteries are well known to fail in cold weather, but they also fail in the hotter times of the year. Routine testing, which is free at every auto parts store, can spot a failing battery before it leaves you stranded. It is my recommendation to get your battery tested as least as much as you get your oil changed, and then when the seasons change as well.
If your battery has failed, make sure you read your owner’s manual before attempting to jump start the vehicle. Newer vehicles may not jump start like how you are used to, and doing so incorrectly can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your electrical system or even injury. Your vehicle may also need to be reset with a special scan tool after battery replacement or discharge, so check your manual for that as well.
As for me, I will see you on the road!
