Many people assume that with new EVs featuring sophisticated lithium-ion batteries, the days of traditional 12 volt batteries in cars are limited. OE Battery manufacturer VARTA, says this is far from the truth and that in fact, 12 volt batteries have a very bright future. 

The reason for this is that if a lithium-ion battery in a modern electric or hybrid electric vehicle stops working, the vehicles systems require a failsafe back-up. This generally means that as well as a high voltage lithium-ion traction battery, most EVs will also feature a 12 Volt battery. This acts as a second power source to ensure the uninterrupted function of safety critical systems, in case of a traction battery failure, but also key off-loads like the central locking system.

Car drivers today find that more and more comfort and safety features like lane assist, front assist or the proactive occupant protection are handled by onboard smart systems. The same goes for the majority of the car’s monitoring functions which are also operated by automatic control systems. This in turn increases the need for a reliable, high-performance power supply. VARTA says its AGM and EFB batteries, have proven their reliability in this regard for years, making them the perfect companion in supporting the 12 Volt electrical system, of electric or hybrid electric vehicles.

Lithium-ion batteries are considered the successor for lead-acid technology, when it comes to the drivetrain of electric or hybrid electric vehicles. However, they are not as inherently robust as other rechargeable technologies and require continuous monitoring. Lithium-ion cells need protection from being overcharged and deep discharge. Additionally, they need to have the voltage maintained within safe limits, making a special protection circuitry mandatory. A further aspect of the protection circuitry is that the cell temperature needs to be monitored to detect and avoid critical malfunctions.

This is where already proven solutions like AGM and EFB come in. They operate when the high voltage battery fails or switches off, to lock and unlock the car and also serve as an additional power supply to buffer the electrical system. They ensure that important safety functions such as ABS and ESP are working at all times. 

This means 12 volt AGM and EFB batteries are far from being obsolete. VARTA says its 12 Volt battery portfolio is ready to support both today’s, as well as future electric vehicles.