Winter is here: Will your car battery survive?
By Club Assist
It’s the end of a long workday in the peak of winter. Frigid temperatures have drained every ounce of your energy. You see your breath waft through the air as you turn the key, ready to crank up the heat and be on your way. But just like your energy, winter has claimed another casualty: your car battery. So why is your car battery more likely to die in winter months?
During a cold spell, dead or dying batteries account for the largest influx of roadside assistance calls at CAA. Even though extreme heat is more taxing on batteries than cold weather, starting a vehicle in frigid temperatures requires more exertion.
When the temperature drops to zero degrees, a car battery loses about 60 percent of its power, but its engine needs twice the amount of current compared to normal weather conditions. And if you’re someone who always plugs an electronic device into your car outlet, expect your battery to drain even more.
Although a typical battery lifespan is three to five years, increased electronic charging within vehicles reduces the expectancy to closer to three years.