Commercial Vehicle Battery: Things You Need to Know

Commercial vehicle batteries are galvanic cells that use solids or pastes as reactants to maximize the electrical output per unit mass. They are commonly used on trucks and industrial machinery.

Commercial vehicle batteries fall into two categories: traditional lead-acid batteries and other alternatives. Lead-acid batteries are reliable and cost-effective, making them suitable for standard applications. Flooded lead-acid batteries are one of the most common battery types for commercial vehicles. They provide a strong initial burst of energy, making them ideal for vehicles like the day cab of a semi-truck, dump trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.

Commercial truck batteries and automotive batteries both run on a 12-volt system. However, unlike a personal car, commercial trucks typically run on two, three or even four batteries. Commercial trucks contain two parallel-joined batteries for enhanced safety to protect the vehicle's electrical systems.

Distinguishing a Car Battery and a Truck Battery

The quality and efficient performance of a vehicle depend largely on selecting the right batteries for it. The power source, which determines the caliber of the vehicle, is the batteries. The main difference between a car battery and a truck battery lies in their design and how quickly they deliver current. However, under no circumstances should a car battery be used in a truck.

Differences Between a Car Battery and a Truck Battery

1. Supply current: A car battery is designed with thin plates, while a truck battery uses thicker plates. Once the truck battery starts the engine, it provides constant current for long periods.

2. Battery Ratings: Car batteries are rated for cold cranking power, while truck batteries are rated for amp hours.

3. Battery Choice: Car batteries produce more cranking power while truck batteries are more durable.

4. A car battery is designed with thin plates, while a truck battery uses thicker plates. A truck battery starts the engine and provides a steady current for extended periods. Car batteries produce more cranking power for starting while truck batteries are more durable. Both car and truck batteries are rated in CCA’s and AMP hours.

Benefits of a Truck Battery

• High performance: Trucks require more power to start than four-wheelers. A quality truck battery is designed to efficiently start large vehicles with enough power to withstand the high currents required.

• Faster recharge: A truck battery that recharges quickly is advantageous for extended usage, making them more powerful and reliable.

• Extended battery life: Truck batteries are engineered to provide a longer lifespan than regular batteries.

Truck Battery Variants

AGM: AGM batteries utilize technology with more durable and recyclable parts.

Lithium-Ion: These batteries are known for their high performance, capable of storing more energy than traditional batteries.

Lead-Acid Batteries: Lead-acid batteries, featuring a lead-acid combination, are commonly used in trucks to store electric charge. How Does It Work: This battery has four main elements—positive plate, negative plate, separator and electrolyte. A plastic container is used to hold these components together. One needs to charge the battery to enable it to produce voltage. Additionally, one needs to provide above 2.1 volts to facilitate the flow of current into a cell. After one charges a lead acid battery, it will be able to charge external circuits and operate for quite a few hours.