Maintaining Batteries During Extended Storage

The best way to keep the batteries at full charge is by putting miles on the vehicle and allowing its charging system to work as it was designed. It’s certainly the most enjoyable way to keep each of those cells topped off, but not always feasible. Right now, a large portion of the nation is covered in the white fluffy stuff and many of our beloved rides are safely stored inside. During this extended storage, maintaining batteries is still vitally important, even if they are not being used regularly. This keeps the battery fully charged, which greatly enhances the performance and life expectancy of the battery.

We spoke with Optima Battery’s Jim McIlvaine about why keeping a full charge in those batteries is so important. He also shared with us how properly maintaining batteries is more important now than ever before. This is important, not only during extended storage, such as during the winter months, but even if our vehicles are used sporadically or started only occasionally.

Why Do Batteries Need Maintaining?

The importance of properly maintaining batteries can be attributed to several factors. One of the most common reasons to put a battery on a maintainer during storage is that batteries can simply lose their charge over time. It doesn’t matter if they are connected to a vehicle or not, batteries self-discharge. The rate of self-discharge can vary depending on the type of battery, as well as other factors, such as the age of the battery and the environment where it is being stored.

If a battery is being stored in a vehicle, that only exacerbates the issue by adding what is known as a parasitic draw, or “key-off loads.” Even during extended storage, many vehicles still draw a minute amount of energy from a battery. You’ll see this more pronounced as you include niceties such as radio presets, car alarms, Wi-Fi, and even key fob transponders or other forms of communication. All of these modern amenities constantly draw energy from the batteries in our rides, even if they are safely stored under a cover during the winter months.

Modern vehicles are far more demanding from an electrical perspective than vehicles from even the early-2000s. – Jim McIlvaine, Optima Batteries

Even if the vehicle is driven sporadically and for short distances, its charging system may not have enough time to fully charge the battery. When you couple a parasitic draw with the additional task of starting the vehicle (especially vehicles with…