IML - DIGEST POSTING

[ImpSvcs@xxxxxxx]

Good Morning All,
       Like Arran, I don't wish to start a major brew-ha-ha, but wanted to share this information about battery quality.

       My last assignment was at Ford Research in a group called TH!NK Technologies.  TH!NK is Ford's "Center of Excellence" for electric vehicles and electric drive systems. 

       To make a very long story short, I had the opportunity to work with the leading experts in the world on battery technology.  Lead Acid battery technology has changed very little since the late 1800's.  Most battery plates are made by a couple of suppliers, and populate the vast majority of LA batteries in North America.  The plates, whether expanded or the latest cast technology, are essentially identical, as are the oxides and remaining internal components.  In testing, even "whiz-bang" batteries like the Optima didn't offer much that the garden variety auto parts store battery didn't.  Unless you really need to mount your battery on it's side or upside down...

       IMHO (here we go again!) go for high cold cranking amps, and save your money. 

       I have some more detailed information about the batteries if you're interested... contact me off-list.

Steve Charette

      


In a message dated 7/8/02 6:07:20 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Hello Gang;
I don't really want to start a big debate over this but this is what one
dealer told me. If you buy a name brand lead acid battery, of a given
amperage, the only difference between the more expensive ones and the
cheaper ones is the type of warrantee, the quality is no different. The more
expensive ones don't last any longer but they have a longer free replacement
period and a larger credit on a new battery after five years. So pick a good
name brand, like Interstate, get the one with the largest number of cold
cranking amps, and buy the battery with the basic warrantee. Then again you
could find a place like where Kenyon buys his.
Best Regards
Arran Foster
1954 Imperial Newport
Needing A Left Side Taillight bezel and other trim parts.