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Superior Battery Technology for Modern Day Vehicles

With rising global pressures for companies to take action on climate change and reduce CO2 emissions, vehicle manufacturers have been investing heavily on research and development of battery monitoring systems, Idle Stop Start, Hybrid, Electric and Hydrogen vehicle technologies – so knowing what changes are happening in the industry is crucial for future-proofing any business.

Battery technology is constantly developing and changing at an astounding rate and the stop start technology is no different, with a large number of vehicle manufacturers adopting stop start technology to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions to satisfy global carbon emission targets. According to Andrew Bottoms, Century’s Australasia’s Marketing Manager, “Vehicles fitted with Idle Stop Start systems place unique demands on the battery and conventional batteries should not be used. In a conventional system the battery operates in a close to full state of charge, and starts the vehicle only a few times a day.

“In contrast Idle Stop Start batteries are often in a partial state of charge due to the multiple starts the vehicle endures during a journey and the charging duration in between engine on off modes. As such stop start batteries are designed to handle increased cycling and recharge faster and more efficiently.

“With a conventional system, the engine starts approximately 750 times a year. In comparison a vehicle with an ISS system, the engine may have to start every one to two kilometres or roughly 17,500 times a year, so you can see the importance of using a battery that has been designed to handle these requirements. Fitting a conventional battery in an ISS vehicle could potentially damage the electrical system and lead to early battery failure. With this in mind when replacing a battery in an ISS vehicle it is vital that you use a like for like replacement. Only replace an Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) with an EFB and Absorbed Glass Mat Battery (AGM) with an AGM Stop Start Battery.

“The number of vehicles being introduced into the market place with ISS technology is still growing rapidly and we don’t foresee this trend to slow down anytime soon.”

Century’s ISS Active and Hybrid battery range represent the latest in performance for vehicles with stop Start or Micro Hybrid technology. They are specially designed to meet or exceed the requirement of vehicles fitted with Idle Stop Start systems, providing fuel saving and reduced emission benefits.

Century ISS Active AGM and EFB batteries incorporate innovative design features and are built from the finest raw materials to deliver superior cycling performance, rapid recharging between repeated engine starts, and the extra power required to run your vehicle’s on-board electrics whilst the engine is stopped. The Century Hybrid Auxiliary battery range is also available for hybrid vehicles – providing superior cycling performance and dependable auxiliary power to run the vehicle’s on-board electrics and computer management systems. They’ve been designed from the ground up with an improved micro-cycling ability to enable the battery to recharge faster.

CONFIGURING BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
With the introduction of CO2 production control systems including Idle Stop Start, it is essential that vehicles have a battery of the correct type and specification installed. More importantly, several automotive manufacturers have introduced active energy management systems that require the replacement battery to be correctly configured to the vehicle following installation.

This configuration is required because a brand-new replacement battery requires a very different charging strategy compared to the battery which has reached the end of its serviceable life. Applying the old charging strategy to a new battery could result in a loss of Stop Start system functionality, loss of vehicle system functionality, plus increased fuel usage and CO2 emissions.

Luckily, the configuration of these vehicle energy management systems can now be carried out simply and easily using the Century Yu-Fit battery configurator tool.

The Yu-Fit tool can be used to configure the replacement battery to the vehicle’s active energy management system – informing the vehicle that a new battery of the correct type and performance has been installed. It will also inform the charging system of the new battery characteristics and ensure the correct charging strategy is applied right from the start.

Configuring a vehicle with the Yu-Fit tool following battery replacement will ensure the vehicle’s charging, energy management and system functionalities will perform as intended, and ensure that your customer will receive the best possible performance from their battery purchase.

The Century Yu-Fit tool comes preloaded with profiles for all common vehicle manufacturer make and models and receives regular updates to help keep pace with the latest changes to the Australian new car market – all by simply connecting the tool to your PC.

DON’T LEAVE YOUR CUSTOMERS STRANDED – TEST EVERY BATTERY!
Research has proven the correlation between the more batteries you test, the more you sell. In Australia, approximately 750,000 vehicles per year require a roadside battery replacement – and over 70 per cent of these vehicles would have been in a service bay or retail outlet within the last 6 months.

Proactive battery testing using a handheld tester like the DHC BT521A from Century Yuasa provides an accurate on the spot test result in minutes. It can help identify suspect batteries before they fail and highlight problems with the vehicle’s starting and charging system. But more importantly, it helps your customers avoid the financial and emotional costs associated with a flat or faulty battery.

For more information on Century’s ISS Active and Hybrid battery range, Yu-Fit tool or battery testers contact your Century representative on 1300 362 287 or visit centurybatteries.com.au

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