Cheap Vs Expensive Car Batteries – What Is The DIfference?

by Phil Borges // in Car

Cheap and expensive car batteries generally differ based on quality, cost, maintenance, durability, capacity, and regulatory compliance. It might be easy to distinguish between expensive and cheap batteries by looking at their price. However, this doesn’t only stop there as other factors and conditions influence it. If you want to learn more, continue reading.

Cheap Car Batteries vs. Expensive

Here are the common differences between cheap and expensive car batteries:

1. Quality

  • Expensive car batteries use quality materials like rubber and cables. They use better resources to deliver superb current performance and ions to flow easily between the terminals, so your car can function well.
  • Cheaper batteries typically use plastic that may not be very effective and could end up causing more harm and damage to your electrical devices.

2. Durability

  • Expensive car batteries have a longer lifespan due to the better quality of their components discussed above.
  • Cheap batteries usually tend to reduce battery efficiency in a short period due to frequent usage and recharging.

3. Maintenance

  • Expensive car batteries are highly secured, keeping them in good condition for a long time and from regular servicing and cleaning.
  • Cheaper car batteries don’t have sufficient capacity to function and require regular care and repair to keep them working. Also, they need to be replaced a lot more.

4. Regulations

  • Expensive car batteries comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, requiring your vehicles or batteries to meet specific standards such as anti-pollution and air quality indices and the regulation of toxic gases in the battery.
  • Cheap batteries typically comprise the absence of any regulations that can be dangerous for your health, legal terms, and safety. You may not even be covered by assistance if something wrong goes happen.

5. Warranty

  • Expensive car batteries have a more extended warranty period between 3-5 years, covering repairs or replacements. This ensures that it will keep you protected from their terms of service
  • Cheap car batteries typically have shorter and limited warranty policies that could lead you to spend a lot more on replacements if something goes wrong with the battery.

6. Capacity

  • Expensive car batteries enable a higher delivery of amperes to get your car to work effectively. They can also keep your car running reliably to a certain extent in case the battery runs out of charge while you are driving
  • Cheap car batteries have low watt-hours that result in slower performance and malfunctioning of your device from time to time. They also tend to

Why Are Expensive Batteries Better?

The most common query from people is, “are more expensive car batteries better?” Yes, because expensive car batteries have better quality, could last a long time, and with excellent warranty policies or regulations. This saves you considerable costs, repairs, maintenance, or replacements. Another essential factor is that expensive car batteries can withstand harsher weather conditions than cheaper ones. Thus, you can rely on your car battery to function well if you live in cold climates. This is why are some car batteries more expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are car batteries so expensive?

One reason is that they are heavy and bulky, so they require a lot of materials and manufacturing processes to produce. They also need to be able to store a great deal of energy, which means they require expensive materials like lead and lithium.

Do more expensive car batteries last longer?

Yes, expensive car batteries last longer since the components used to support these batteries are higher in quality, offering protection against several conditions such as climate, leakages, cracks, and fluctuations in the current.

How much should you spend on a car battery?

You should expect to spend around $200-$300 on a reliable car battery. However, this depends on the model and brand of the car battery you’ll purchase. More high-end cars will require you to spend $1,000 or more.

Is there a way to save money?

You can save money on your car battery by thoroughly researching the most suitable battery types for your car with honest reviews from previous customers. Thus, you can reduce the long-term costs of cleaning, maintaining, or replacing your car battery by purchasing the wrong and cheap ones.

Where can you buy a good car battery?

You can buy a good car battery online or in physical stores that sell automobile parts. Ensure it’s reputable and with legitimacy proofs when purchasing online.

Conclusion

Choosing expensive car batteries over cheap ones is an excellent option if you opt for fewer maintenance and replacements. Although these batteries are pricey, you can guarantee they will last longer and perform efficiently. Aside from that, you’re safeguarded from its long-term warranty.

About the author, Phil Borges

Phil Borges is a battery aficionado. He's written extensively about batteries, and he loves nothing more than discussing the latest innovations in the industry. He has a deep understanding of how batteries work, and he's always on the lookout for new ways to improve their performance.