The life expectancy for your car battery is typically between four to six years. Several factors determine how long your battery will last, for example weather conditions, vehicle type and driving habits.

There are, however, several key pointers you can utilise to help increase the life expectancy of your car battery.

WHY IS MY BATTERY FLAT?

Make sure to check all of the electrical connections and ensure the battery is kept clean and dry. If corrosion has built up over time, baking soda in a water solution and an old toothbrush is ideal to clean the battery terminals. Just make sure to remove the negative terminal first. When reapplying the terminals, connect the positive terminal first.

Frequent, short car trips contribute to an earlier lifespan for car batteries. It takes roughly eight hours of continuous driving for the alternator to fully charge the battery.

If the battery infrequently receives a full charge, strong crystalline deposits can form on the negative plates and consequently prevents the battery from charging properly – this is called sulphation. If short car trips are a part of your daily routine, avoid using electric auxiliary controls unnecessarily – this will prolong the lifespan of the battery and also save on fuel.

If your car isn’t in use for long periods of time, removing the negative battery connection during periods of non-use assists in the longevity of your battery.

Just make sure to reconnect the terminal before attempting to start the car.

The electrolyte (acid/water) solution levels may be low. If your battery is not maintenance-free, you may need to adjust the solution levels. If the levels are low, be sure to use the necessary safety precautions when you are handling battery acid. Only use distilled water, or you will damage the battery.