How the cold affects your car battery

As winter is in full swing, car owners face the challenges posed by cold weather conditions. Among the critical components affected, the car battery takes center stage. In this technical article, we will delve into the science behind how cold weather affects car batteries. Understanding these effects can help car owners take proactive measures to preserve battery health and ensure reliable vehicle performance during harsh winter months.

30 januari 2025

Stop Killing Your Car Battery! 10 Things That Drain Your 12V Battery

Your car's battery is a critical component, providing the necessary power to start your vehicle and run its electrical systems. However, many drivers inadvertently shorten their battery's lifespan through common actions and oversights. Understanding what drains your 12V battery can help you maintain its health and ensure your car starts when you need it most. Here are ten things that can drain your car battery and how to avoid them.

30 september 2024

Why Your Alternator is Not Enough for Charging Your 12V Car Battery

When it comes to maintaining the health and longevity of your car's 12V battery, relying solely on the alternator might not be sufficient. Many drivers assume that as long as they keep their vehicle running, the alternator will take care of the battery charging needs. However, this assumption can lead to a misunderstanding of how car batteries and alternators function, potentially resulting in battery failure or reduced battery life. If you’re using a battery charger like CTEK’s CS ONE you are better prepared for the road.

26 september 2024

Optimising Workshop Efficiency with Battery Support Units

In the dynamic landscape of modern automotive workshops, Battery Support Units (BSUs) have emerged as indispensable tools, especially during software updates and Electronic Control Unit (ECU) reprogramming. These critical operations necessitate stability in battery voltage to ensure seamless data transfer, making the role of BSUs crucial in maintaining optimal performance and safeguarding against potential pitfalls.

30 juli 2024

Holiday trend: Coolcation. These holiday destinations will cool you down

The summer holidays are just around the corner: in the past, this meant "off to the south and after the sun". But record heatwaves have been dampening the desire for hot temperatures for some years now. Instead, so-called "coolcations" are the order of the day: holidays in cooler, more temperate climes. We present four destinations.

25 juni 2024

How to charge batteries at sea

18 juni 2024

CTEK's Long-Standing Partnership with Karlfeldtsgymnasiet: Insights from Jacob Göthberg

In an insightful interview, Jacob Göthberg, Industrial Design Engineer and Team Leader at CTEK, shares the journey and impact of CTEK’s decade-long collaboration with Karlfeldtsgymnasiet’s technical branch. Here, Göthberg provides a detailed look into the program’s beginnings, its evolution, and the benefits it brings to students and the industry alike.

13 juni 2024

How long do motorcycle batteries last?

A lot of people wonder, how long do motorcycle batteries last? The average lifespan of a motorcycle battery ranges from 2 to 5 years for lead-acid models and 5 to 10 years for lithium-ion types. These values depend on the battery’s quality, chemistry, construction, and other characteristics. However, it’s important to note these values are determined by manufacturers or independent research in a controlled environment. In real life, factors like driving habits, environmental conditions, and maintenance determine the actual battery’s performance and durability.

20 mei 2024

What should you do when you leave your motorcycle parked?

Whether you are parking your bike for a moment or planning to leave it in your garage during the winter, it’s important to remember some essential considerations. These practices are crucial for an enjoyable riding experience and to preserve your bike’s mechanical integrity and battery health. So, what should you do when you leave your motorcycle parked? Let’s dive into this article to see some suggestions.

07 mei 2024

The Cold Reality: How Frigid Temperatures Impact Car Batteries

As we are in the middle of the winter, car owners brace themselves for the challenges posed by cold weather conditions. Among the critical components affected, the car battery takes centre stage. In this technical article, we will delve into the science behind how cold weather affects car batteries. Understanding these effects can help car owners take proactive measures to preserve battery health and ensure reliable vehicle performance during harsh winter months.

23 januari 2024

Winter Storage Wisdom: Keeping Your Ride Ready for Spring's Return

Embarking on summer drives with your seasonal car or motorcycle is a unique joy. Yet, if the thought of stowing away your cherished vehicle for the winter has crossed your mind, CTEK offers valuable advice for intelligent winter storage. This ensures your vehicle's battery remains in optimal condition, poised for a seamless start when spring arrives.

16 november 2023

Don’t let the summer fool you - Charge your 12V battery!

As the summer heat intensifies, it's not just our bodies that need extra care and attention; our 12V vehicles also require special consideration to ensure optimal performance and reliability. With scorching temperatures and extended road trips on the horizon, it's essential to understand the unique charging needs of your vehicle during the summer season.

04 juli 2023

How to charge a mild hybrid

Mild hybrids are vehicles equipped with both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and a small electric generator / motor, which assists the engine during starting, cruising or hard acceleration. The 48V battery which powers the hybrid system is recharged using the vehicles kinetic energy through regenerative braking. The generator captures the energy during coasting and braking to be stored and used for restarting the engine and acceleration. Even though the electrical system is recharged by generative breaking, you still need to charge the 12V battery. You need the 12V system for almost all of the functions in your car such as air conditioning, lights, opening of the doors, the radio, windows etc.

18 april 2023

How to prevent a dead battery in the middle of the lake

It’s the perfect sunny day to go boating. You’re out all day enjoying the warm weather and the beautiful water. You are about to head home but when you try to start the engine, the engine won’t start. The battery is dead and you don’t have a battery charger with you. Action needs to be taken to arrange for a service call which is both time-consuming and expensive. However, if you had CTEK’s CS FREE with you, a dead battery would not be a problem.

14 maart 2023

Charging your battery for a smooth spring start up

Preparing your vehicle for the upcoming spring is a must for every vehicle owner. If your vehicle has been stored all winter, it needs some maintenance to make sure that it’s ready to go as soon as spring comes around. So how can you best prepare your vehicle for a smooth transition into spring and protect against that frustrating dead battery on the first sunny day of the season?

21 februari 2023

CTEK’s guide to avoid ghost faults in the workshop

When a vehicle arrives for fault-finding or repair, the first thing you will do in most cases is connect it to a diagnostic tool, to find out where the fault is. But if the battery is not supported and has low voltage, an incorrect error code may be reported by the diagnostic tool – this is known as a ‘ghost fault’. It happens because the vehicle is trying to protect the unsupported battery, which it does in many cases by shutting down the systems it does not really need, like the radio, the air conditioning, or the start/stop function – and that is recorded as a fault.

27 december 2022

Don’t get stuck out in the cold this winter

With the first flakes of snow appearing in the sky and temperatures set to plummet, urgent action is needed to make sure your car battery is fully charged, so you don’t get stranded out in the cold and dark with a flat battery this winter.

12 december 2022

Embracing the drive-through culture

With today’s busy lifestyles, time has become an even more valuable asset. We want to make the most of our days and we usually stop for quick errands throughout the day. We are getting more and more used to click and collect, drive-throughs and even quick stops at the gas station to get our coffee. Although this may be efficient, it can have a severe damage on your vehicle’s battery.

28 oktober 2022

No power at your storage location? No problem

Batteries which are standing for an extended period will inevitably slowly discharge over time and, if left long enough, will go flat. And that’s something commonly experienced with occasional use vehicles that spend lots of time in storage or sitting on the driveway. The answer is, of course, to hook it up to a battery charger and maintainer – but what happens if you park your vehicle somewhere that doesn’t have a power outlet?

05 augustus 2022

Shmee150 takes delivery of ‘CTEK READY’ Zenvo Hypercar

Luxury car collector and social media phenomenon, Tim Burton, Shmee150 recently unveiled his first hypercar at the recent UK-based Goodwood Festival of Speed - a bespoke 1,360 bhp Zenvo TSR-S in Lilla Perlemore (Mother of Pearl Purple).

29 juli 2022

Don’t let summer be one big breakdown

Today’s motorist knows the importance of proper maintenance procedures on their vehicle in preparation for the winter months, but are placing their car at risk of breakdown during the summer months due to lack of vehicle maintenance that’s according to CTEK the leading global brand in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries.

27 juli 2022

Drivers are Keeping their Cars for 12+ Years

With rising new and used car prices and a shortage of cars at dealerships, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has recently reported that EU cars are now on average 11.8 years old, whilst research firm S&P Global Mobility recently reported that the average age of vehicles on U.S. roadways hit a record high of 12.2 years in 2021, increasing for the fifth straight year in a row.

22 juli 2022