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Lead Acid Batteries

About Lead-Acid Batteries:
Lead Acid Batteries are the most common type of batteries used in EVs because of their low initial cost and universal availability. There are many different sizes and designs, but the EV industry uses the deep cycle type because they can tolerate repeated deep discharges.

Deep Cycle Batteries are designed to be repeatedly discharged to 80% of capacity without serious damage. Shallower cycles will increase the life of any battery. The life expectancy is greatly shortened if the batteries are not fully recharged after each discharge cycle. Letting a battery remain discharged for any length of time will cause sulfation of the positive plates and a permanent loss of capacity.

Caring for your Lead-Acid Batteries:
Always use extreme caution when working around batteries or electrolyte. Hydrogen will explode! Wear gloves, goggles and old clothes. "Battery acid" will burn your skin and eyes, eat your clothes, do other "uncool" things if you are not careful.

The fastest way to ruin lead acid batteries is to discharge them deeply and leave them unattended for an extended period of time. When they are discharged, there is a chemical change in the positive plate material. The material changes form lead oxide (charged) to lead sulfate (discharged). If the plate remains in the lead sulfate state for a few days it will not change back to lead oxide when charged. "Sulfated" lead will not store energy. Batteries that are deeply discharged and then partially recharged on a regular basis can fail in under a year. An expensive thought.

Check your batteries on a regular basis to be sure they are being charged. Use a temperature corrected Hydrometer to check the specific gravity of the electrolyte. Check the "water" level of your batteries at least once per week, top them off with pure distilled water. DO NOT add water to discharged batteries, if you do they will overflow when you charge them.

Keep the connections and tops of the batteries clean. DO NOT work on the cables or connections while the batteries are being charged or discharged - One little spark can set off a hydrogen explosion with a cell or batteries, it will ruin your day!

You will need to equalize new batteries with a long steady charge to get peak performance. Keep an eye on your "fuel" gauge or "Dynamic Battery Monitor (available thru Nu-Kar electric Vehicles) so as not to completely discharge your batteries. With proper care, your lead-acid batteries will give you a long service life and many miles of driving convenience. Poor treatment will cause that life to be very short, costing you and the environment dearly. Recycle!

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