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What’s an AGM Battery?
WATCH THE EXPLANATION:
AGM Features and Benefits:
- Recharge faster than regular batteries
- Run power for hours, like deep-cycle batteries
- Resist damage from extreme temperature and vibration
- AGM batteries have more engine starts than standard batteries
AGM Batteries Are High-powered Lead-acid Batteries
The battery acid inside AGMs is absorbed into fiberglass mats instead of free-flowing liquid like a conventional car battery.
The absorbed glass-mats inside give these car batteries their power. AGMs have a low self-discharge rate, meaning they can sit unused for a month and only lose 1% of their power. (A regular car battery can lose 3%-20% a month, depending on how hot or cold it is outside.)
AGMs are classified as valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, which means they’re sealed and have a special one-way valve that protects the battery from losing water if the battery gets too hot.
They can run electronics for hours (like a deep-cycle battery) and still crank the engine (like a regular car battery.)
AGM Means Absorbed Glass-Mat. Here’s How They Work.
The acronym AGM stands for absorbed glass-mat, meaning the battery acid inside is absorbed into fiberglass mats instead of left as a free-flowing liquid, like a regular car battery.
The fiberglass mats spread more of the electrolyte in contact with the ultra-thin lead plates all while cushioning the battery against knocks, bumps and vibrations. Because of the absorbent glass-mats, battery makers can literally squeeze in more lead plates.
More lead in the battery means more available power, perfect for today’s driving experience.
AGM Batteries Can Run Power for Hours, Like Deep-cycle Batteries
Standard car batteries can’t keep up with the backup cameras, Bluetooth connections, touch screens and other electronics. That’s why you might need to jump a car if you leave your headlights on for a couple hours with the engine off.
Draining a car battery to 50% or so before recharging it is called deep cycling, and only AGM batteries can. They’re designed to deliver amps and then give a big burst of power to start the engine. And they can do it dozens of times a day.
AGM Batteries Recharge Faster Than Regular Batteries
Fiberglass mesh mats soaked in electrolyte carry current faster than liquid electrolyte. That’s how AGM batteries deliver big bursts of power.
That same speed works when they’re recharging. They have a naturally low internal resistance, meaning AGM batteries can accept more amps when they recharge.
This means AGM batteries require a special battery charger. An AGM battery charger sustains its voltage less than 14 volts to avoid ruining the battery while delivering a lot of amps. Only use AGM chargers on an AGM battery.
AGM Batteries Can Resist Damage From Extreme Temps and Vibration
The absorbed mats give AGM batteries a sponge-like resistance to vibrations. A regular car battery’s sensitive internal components can break apart if you shake it hard enough, even if you don’t break the plastic case.
What you might not expect is how the AGM battery’s fiberglass mats and special valve also protect its performance in extreme weather. In hot weather, water stays trapped in the mesh. In cold weather, the tightly packed mesh is pressed against the lead — keeping resistance from being an issue.
AGM Batteries Have More Engine Starts Than Standard Batteries
The average car battery can start an engine less than 20,000 times before it dies. On the other hand, an average AGM battery can start your engine more than 60,000 times.
That may mean an AGM can stay in service for years longer, but not always. Start-stop engines will crank the engine more often than a regular engine, tapping the battery for power more often. That means an AGM battery may last 3-5 years in a start-stop engine or last many years longer in a regular engine.
AGM Batteries Are Usually for Start-stop Engines
With a normal engine, you might start your car three or four times a day, assuming you drive to work and get a few errands done afterward.
An auto start-stop car might need three or four starts on one morning drive, depending on how many traffic lights you hit. No matter how well you keep it charged, a regular car battery cannot keep up with an auto start-stop engine.
A start-stop engine cranks the engine every time you idle, which could be 1,500 times a week. That could kill a regular battery in just 11 days, even if it stays charged.
If you drive an auto start-stop vehicle, you need those extra engine starts.
What Cars Have AGM Batteries?
These vehicles (model years 2018 to present) likely need an AGM battery:
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Ways You Can Tell If Your Car Needs an AGM Battery
- You can look up your vehicle here to see which battery we recommend.
- Look up your vehicle’s owner manual.
- Ask an auto technician to check.
Don’t just check the current battery. Someone could have installed the wrong battery type.
Choose an Interstate AGM battery for long-lasting power.
Interstate AGM batteries are available on Amazon.
