Demands on Low-Voltage Truck Batteries Continue To Increase
Vehicle load demands have significantly increased over the last several years and will continue to grow as vehicle technology improves. In today’s vehicles, batteries are powering essential safety technology, electronic control units that control the engine and transmission, lighting systems and more, making battery performance critical.
“To handle the heavier electrical demands, Penske started spec'ing 300-amp alternators in all our tractors and straight trucks to help handle the additional loads,” said Chris Hough, vice president of maintenance design and engineering for Penske Truck Leasing.
Penske utilizes a quality advanced glass mat (AGM) battery — a type of lead-acid battery that uses a mat of fine glass fibers between the battery plates, which absorbs and holds the acid solution. Hough said AGM batteries provide better performance, durability and efficiency when compared to conventional flooded lead-acid batteries.
AGM batteries handle high cycle counts well and dissipate heat better than a standard battery case. They are also resistant to vibration and shocks while providing high cranking power, meaning they can quickly deliver a large amount of current.
Penske also specifies an additional battery in medium-duty trucks and heavy-duty tractors to help handle the demands of today’s tractors and straight trucks. “Our research has found that the extra battery and larger alternators provide additional reliability for our customers' day-to-day operations,” Hough said.
He added that implementing a battery/electrical system maintenance program, periodically testing batteries, and cleaning and treating battery and electrical connections is vital to reducing unscheduled downtime.
Driver convenience features, such as microwaves or televisions, also increase the demand for electrical systems and batteries. They can draw power even when they're not on. The so-called "parasitic draw” can slowly deplete the battery, potentially causing the vehicle not to start.
“These systems most negatively affect the system when the unit is not in use. For this reason, having the electrical system set up with the correct low-voltage-disconnect (LVD) settings and electrical system shed points greatly increases battery life and improves the odds that the vehicle will start when the driver is ready to head out," Hough said.
Quality batteries and a good preventive maintenance program ensure batteries have the capacity and stability to support energy-intensive systems without compromising performance or leading to power failures. “Ultimately, we want to provide our customers with uptime and reliability; simply put, we want the truck to start every time a driver is ready to start their day,” Hough said.