Automotive hybrid batteries

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

Hybrid batteries have been around for a long time. But due to the high cost of production, they were not mass-produced. With the development of the chemical industry, as well as the automotive industry, the situation has changed radically. Today, hybrid batteries are ubiquitous. Moreover, they have driven almost all other types of batteries out of the market. Let's look at the key features of these batteries, their advantages and disadvantages.

Innovative Hybrid Technology

Innovative hybrid battery technology combines all the best features of different types of batteries. At the same time, manufacturers have tried to eliminate all significant disadvantages. One of the most popular brands of hybrid batteries is A-Mega. If you pay attention to the density of the electrolyte, then the characteristics are close to the AGM versions, which are several times more expensive. This speaks ofefficiency and feasibility of technology.

The special design of the body and cover allows you to reduce the evaporation of water by 12 times. This makes the battery practically maintenance-free, which is so appreciated at the present time. Yes, and all international standards, these data are fully consistent. It makes sense to talk about the high starting current, which is inherent in models such as TAB and TOPLA, and high capacity. In fact, this is a cheap version of the AGM series with exactly the same or even better quality.

About insert features

The positive plate is cast from a lead alloy with a slight addition of selenium. The negative one consists of a calcium lead alloy. The peculiarity lies in the fact that during the manufacture of the plates, various high-tech alloying additives are added to them. They are needed to improve performance and allow you to achieve impressive inrush current or capacity.

Advantages of hybrid inserts

• Low self-discharge.
• Maximum plate capacity used.
• High starting current.
• Withstands an increased number of deep discharge cycles.

Based on this, we can say that a hybrid battery for a car has the advantages of calcium batteries and is free from the disadvantages of antimony ones. Therefore, this solution is optimal and most appropriate.

For experienced drivers

You can safelyto say that modern calcium batteries are ideal for drivers with little driving experience. The fact is that such batteries are maintenance-free. Therefore, throughout the entire service life, you do not need to worry about adding water, checking the density of the electrolyte, etc.

Hybrid car batteries are somewhat different. They are made according to the principle of calcium and antimony batteries and are low-maintenance. The key difference from a fully serviced battery is that the lids of the jars are sealed, and water needs to be added much less often, about once every 3-4 months. But still, it is recommended to periodically check the density of the electrolyte, because if this is not done, the battery may crumble or simply lose its capacity.

About the benefits of hybrid batteries

First of all, I would like to note that such a battery can withstand about 20 deep discharge cycles. At the same time, calcium batteries "die" almost immediately. Here much is taken from antimony batteries, which are also resistant to deep discharge. In addition, although water consumption is available, it is significantly reduced. Therefore, there is no need to check the level every month. It is certainly necessary to do this, but somewhat less frequently.

Many motorists do not use personal transport as often as the rest. And here it often happens that the battery is completely discharged, although there was no load on it. Low self-discharge is another key advantage of hybrid cellsnutrition. You can leave the car for a week without driving, and during this time they will not sit down.

Faults in brief

Despite the large number of strengths, there are also disadvantages. Firstly, the battery has a rather high cost. Compared to conventional maintenance-free batteries, hybrid ones are 20-50% more expensive, depending on the manufacturer. But if you look at the service life, then everything falls into place. Hybrid batteries last an order of magnitude longer than conventional maintenance-free batteries. They are more protected from shedding plates due to packaging. Therefore, the high price tag can be attributed not so much to their disadvantages, but to the features, because such a product cannot be cheap.

One more nuance - a large number of fakes. It really is. Counterfeit is quite common, so it is recommended not to take batteries on the market in stalls, but to go only to specialized stores. There, the risk of being deceived is minimized, and with proper skill, you can perform an express check of the battery for authenticity. This is where the shortcomings end.

How to charge the hybrid battery

There is practically nothing complicated here. Recharging is carried out in the same way as with a conventional battery, although there are a few nuances here. For example, the maximum current should not exceed 10% of the rated capacity. It turns out that a 75 A / h battery can be charged with a current of no more than 7.5 A, and preferably less. But even this figure is considered too high, and the use of a current equal to 10%from the capacity - this is an extreme measure. For example, you are late and you need to recharge a dead battery a little. In this case, this method is relevant.

If you removed the battery for maintenance, it is recommended to set the current to no more than 3-4 A. You can charge the battery overnight even at 2A. Yes, it will take quite a long time, but this approach significantly extends the life of the battery. Please note that charging hybrid batteries with high currents will be accompanied by active boiling of the electrolyte. This can lead to shedding of the active mass of the plates, therefore, the battery will lose part of its capacity.

Generator and hybrid battery

I would like to mention one more important point. It lies in the fact that the generators of many modern cars, especially if they are stuffed with various electronics, produce a voltage of 14.2-14.5 volts. At the same time, the old generators did not give a voltage of more than 14 V. All this is especially true for the summer period. At this time of the year, the hybrid car battery does not experience cold starts and charges an order of magnitude faster. If too high voltage is applied to the battery, then boiling of the electrolyte and shedding of the active mass of the plates is possible. There is little good in this, therefore it is strongly recommended to add water once a month in the summer, because the electrolyte boils most often due to its insufficient amount.

Hybrid batteries have exactly the same cells as regular batteries. Don't forget to unscrew them while charging. It is necessary,to let the gases out. In addition, in this way it is convenient to monitor the behavior of the electrolyte. If it starts to boil, you will immediately notice it.

Summarize

We talked about how to charge a hybrid battery, what advantages and disadvantages it has. As for the price tag, you will have to pay about 4,500 rubles for a 75 A / h battery. If you think about it, it's actually not that much. After all, the same Bosch or Vatra, which are unattended, cost no less, and often even more.

Average battery life is about 5 years with proper maintenance. But often hybrid batteries work for 6-7 years, but this is more an exception to the rule than some kind of pattern. Should I buy such a battery? It's pretty hard to answer here. If you do not want to deal with topping up water and periodically checking the density, then you probably should not take a hybrid battery. If this is not a problem for you, then definitely yes. After all, classic antimony serviced batteries are significantly inferior in terms of their performance properties, so a hybrid battery here is the only normal way out. There are, of course, helium batteries, but they cost a lot of money.