March 07th, 2025

Battery Life and Expense

Posting about vehicle batteries because this winter we have been answering 2 very frequently asked questions. First question is: How long do batteries last? The second question is how much and why is it so expensive? 

To set the stage for these questions we must understand that the 2024/2025 winter has been longer and colder than the previous handful of years.  Batteries fail in extreme cold and extreme heat. Because of the prolonged colder temperatures, we have seen an increase in battery failures. AAA has even stated that they have seen a dramatic surge in the number of battery related calls and services this past winter.

Onto answering the first question of "how long do batteries last?" In our climate they typically last 4 to 6 years. Why the range? Climate, size of battery, how many computers(modules) are in the car and driving habits. Someone who drives just around town and only maybe an hour a day will have a battery that is discharging and not staying fully charged. This type of driver will have a battery replacement sooner than someone who drives an hour commute to and from every day. That longer commute will have a battery that is getting more time being charged by the alternator and will likely last longer. Another important note is that some vehicles have by design a smaller battery to fit a confined space. Other vehicles may have a larger battery in a more open space such as the trunk. Why does size matter? It matters because a smaller battery usually does not have the same storing capacity as a larger one. The storing capacity is important due to modern cars having 20 to 30 computers(modules) all drawing from the battery. So ultimately driving habits and factory battery size play a role in that longevity. 

The second question, "Why are batteries so expensive?" There are several factors in the cost of batteries. The first factor is type of battery, the second factor is size, and the third factor is battery location. There are 3 types of batteries, regular acid, AGM (glass mat) and lithium ion. Regular acid batteries are the most inexpensive and have long been the standard until the past several years. The new standard is an AGM (glass mat) battery. An AGM battery retails from $275 to $310 currently in comparison to an acid battery of about $200. (These prices are pulled from Interstate, a long-time operating vehicle battery manufacturer). The AGM battery has better electrical storage capacity to handle all the computers(modules) in modern cars that are demanding more power out of the battery. More features in a car equates to more electrical demand. If you're wondering why not use an acid battery? Well, indeed you can put an acid battery in a car that came with an AGM; however, it will failure very prematurely. The last type of battery, Lithium Ion, that we used to see in just Hybrid vehicles are in high end gasoline cars as well. I recently had to quote a battery for a 6-year-old BMW M series. The battery was only available from BMW and cost a whopping $2500 for just the battery. It would then also require an hour to install due to its placement and reprogramming to tell the ECM and BCM that the battery was replaced. The total cost on that battery with sales tax was reaching $3,000. (When asking BMW about the cost of it, their response was that the car cost $100k new so a $3000 repair bill should not be an issue for the owner). 

Unfortunately, the cost of batteries is only going to go up. Some batteries are made in the USA. Most are made in Mexico and other countries. With upcoming tariffs, it is very likely to see an increase in battery prices from 10% to 25% depending upon where the battery is coming from. 

My final bit on this post is about installation cost for batteries. Installation prices will vary from .4 of an hour to a full hour of time. Some batteries are easy to install under the hood and can be done in 20 minutes. Other batteries can require much more time. For example, many Ford vehicles have the battery under the hood, but buried halfway under the windshield. In order to replace those batteries, the air box, intake tubing and multiple shields need to be removed in order to do the job. We do not get to decide where a manufacturer and engineer decide to place batteries.

If you have questions about batteries, please call us and reach out. We test batteries as a courtesy as well if you want yours tested. I hope you found this post informative!