Everything you ever wanted to know about batteries can be found at: http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/ Conventional wisdom says batteries have to be regularly used in order to get maximum life. Like your C, my old car batteries don't see much use. I buy economy batteries for $35/each, expect them to last three years and at 3 years replace them whether they are still good or not -- to me the expense of $12/year is a bargain to avoid battery problems. RRrrCM > Winter has been so mild this year in the Wisconsin northwoods I delayed removing the battery from my C until today. I normally charge it at this time and store it on wood blocks in the basement until spring. Is that good procedure for prolonging battery life? Should it be recharged in the spring? I don't get to drive my C much and only put on a few hundred miles a year. >