The importance of battery support in vehicle workshops: Understanding de-rating

As modern vehicles continue to evolve with increasingly sophisticated electronic systems, the importance of stable voltage during servicing and repairs has never been more critical. From diagnostics and ECU programming to routine repairs, maintaining a consistent power supply is essential to ensure accurate and uninterrupted operations. This is where high-performance battery support systems play a pivotal role.

18 February 2025

How the cold affects your car battery

As winter is in full swing, car owners face the challenges posed by cold weather conditions. Among the critical components affected, the car battery takes center stage. In this technical article, we will delve into the science behind how cold weather affects car batteries. Understanding these effects can help car owners take proactive measures to preserve battery health and ensure reliable vehicle performance during harsh winter months.

30 January 2025

Why Your Alternator is Not Enough for Charging Your 12V Car Battery

When it comes to maintaining the health and longevity of your car's 12V battery, relying solely on the alternator might not be sufficient. Many drivers assume that as long as they keep their vehicle running, the alternator will take care of the battery charging needs. However, this assumption can lead to a misunderstanding of how car batteries and alternators function, potentially resulting in battery failure or reduced battery life. If you’re using a battery charger like CTEK’s CS ONE you are better prepared for the road.

26 September 2024

Decoding the time equation: How long does it take to charge a 12V car battery?

Charging a 12V car battery might seem like a daunting task, but with the right knowledge and tools, it becomes a breeze. At CTEK, we're committed to making battery charging as straightforward and efficient as possible. Let’s dive into the factors that affect charging time and introduce you to a revolutionary charger that simplifies the entire process.

24 September 2024

How does heat affect the car battery?

As summer heats up, it’s not just our bodies that need extra care—your vehicle’s battery requires special attention to stay in top shape. High temperatures and long road trips can put extra strain on your battery, so understanding its unique needs during the summer is crucial. Fortunately, the CTEK CS ONE smart battery charger is here to help keep your battery healthy, no matter how hot it gets.

21 August 2024

Optimising Workshop Efficiency with Battery Support Units

In the dynamic landscape of modern automotive workshops, Battery Support Units (BSUs) have emerged as indispensable tools, especially during software updates and Electronic Control Unit (ECU) reprogramming. These critical operations necessitate stability in battery voltage to ensure seamless data transfer, making the role of BSUs crucial in maintaining optimal performance and safeguarding against potential pitfalls.

30 July 2024

How to charge batteries at sea

18 June 2024

CTEK's Long-Standing Partnership with Karlfeldtsgymnasiet: Insights from Jacob Göthberg

In an insightful interview, Jacob Göthberg, Industrial Design Engineer and Team Leader at CTEK, shares the journey and impact of CTEK’s decade-long collaboration with Karlfeldtsgymnasiet’s technical branch. Here, Göthberg provides a detailed look into the program’s beginnings, its evolution, and the benefits it brings to students and the industry alike.

13 June 2024

How long do motorcycle batteries last?

A lot of people wonder, how long do motorcycle batteries last? The average lifespan of a motorcycle battery ranges from 2 to 5 years for lead-acid models and 5 to 10 years for lithium-ion types. These values depend on the battery’s quality, chemistry, construction, and other characteristics. However, it’s important to note these values are determined by manufacturers or independent research in a controlled environment. In real life, factors like driving habits, environmental conditions, and maintenance determine the actual battery’s performance and durability.

20 May 2024

How to jumpstart a car – the safe way

Facing a dead car battery can be a frustrating experience, especially when you're in a hurry or far from help. Jumpstarting a car is a common solution, but traditional methods involving jump cables and jump starter packs can pose risks to your vehicle's electronics and battery. Enter the CTEK CS FREE Adaptive Booster and Battery Charger, a revolutionary device that not only powers up your flat battery swiftly and safely but also acts as a portable battery charger, ensuring your vehicle batteries remain in peak condition wherever you go. In this article we’ll learn how to jumpstart a car the safe way.

21 March 2024

CTEK’s Training Manager answer frequently asked body shop questions

Did you know that around 75% of vehicles stored in a workshop have a battery that needs attention? By that we mean it needs charging, conditioning and in certain cases replacing. With modern vehicles relying on sophisticated and costly electronics, lead-acid batteries are being used under more challenging conditions than ever before. As a result, battery care has become a pressing issue, particularly as inadequate maintenance leads to a rapid decrease in battery life.

21 September 2023

CTEK reveals - Astonishing numbers of vehicles are entering the workshop with discharged batteries

As the owner of a workshop, it is crucial to consider various factors when vehicles come in for service or diagnostics. These factors become even more important when taking into account a recent European survey carried out by battery management specialist CTEK, where over 700 workshop employees participated. Almost 20% of the technicians surveyed said that out of 10 vehicles arriving at their workshop, 3-5 have a battery problem – so up to 50%.

01 August 2023

Find my car battery – A CTEK guide

You are probably visiting this page because you don’t know what battery type (or chemistry) you have in your vehicle. You are not alone! We are often asked how to find this out, and as we told you when we returned the results on our charger selector tool, if you know what battery type you have, our charger selector tool can help you identify a product that exactly matches your vehicle, battery type and budget.

18 July 2023

How to prevent a dead battery in the middle of the lake

It’s the perfect sunny day to go boating. You’re out all day enjoying the warm weather and the beautiful water. You are about to head home but when you try to start the engine, the engine won’t start. The battery is dead and you don’t have a battery charger with you. Action needs to be taken to arrange for a service call which is both time-consuming and expensive. However, if you had CTEK’s CS FREE with you, a dead battery would not be a problem.

14 March 2023

Charging your battery for a smooth spring start up

Preparing your vehicle for the upcoming spring is a must for every vehicle owner. If your vehicle has been stored all winter, it needs some maintenance to make sure that it’s ready to go as soon as spring comes around. So how can you best prepare your vehicle for a smooth transition into spring and protect against that frustrating dead battery on the first sunny day of the season?

21 February 2023

How much does it cost to charge your battery?

13 February 2023

CTEK’s advice for worry free motoring

CTEK, the leading global brand in vehicle charging solutions, has some great advice on how to keep your battery healthy, so that you can enjoy worry free motoring this winter.

11 November 2022

Wise winter storage for smooth spring start ups

There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road in your classic or sports car, motorbike or boat during the summer months. But with autumn just around the corner, if you’re thinking about putting your treasured vehicle away for the winter, CTEK, the leading global brand in battery charging solutions, has some useful advice for wise winter storage that will keep your vehicle battery in tip top condition, ready for a smooth spring start.

20 October 2022

How regular battery maintenance can save you money

With fuel prices and the general cost of living increasing rapidly, many drivers are looking at ways to save money and make their budgets stretch further.

23 September 2022

Getting your head round battery support in the workshop

Today’s automotive workshops are facing up to a number of challenges. The current economic climate doesn’t help but even so, a lot of the issues that workshops frequently come up against have been around for a while.

31 August 2022

No power at your storage location? No problem

Batteries which are standing for an extended period will inevitably slowly discharge over time and, if left long enough, will go flat. And that’s something commonly experienced with occasional use vehicles that spend lots of time in storage or sitting on the driveway. The answer is, of course, to hook it up to a battery charger and maintainer – but what happens if you park your vehicle somewhere that doesn’t have a power outlet?

05 August 2022

Shmee150 takes delivery of ‘CTEK READY’ Zenvo Hypercar

Luxury car collector and social media phenomenon, Tim Burton, Shmee150 recently unveiled his first hypercar at the recent UK-based Goodwood Festival of Speed - a bespoke 1,360 bhp Zenvo TSR-S in Lilla Perlemore (Mother of Pearl Purple).

29 July 2022

Don’t let summer be one big breakdown

Today’s motorist knows the importance of proper maintenance procedures on their vehicle in preparation for the winter months, but are placing their car at risk of breakdown during the summer months due to lack of vehicle maintenance that’s according to CTEK the leading global brand in the care and maintenance of vehicle batteries.

27 July 2022

Drivers are Keeping their Cars for 12+ Years

With rising new and used car prices and a shortage of cars at dealerships, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has recently reported that EU cars are now on average 11.8 years old, whilst research firm S&P Global Mobility recently reported that the average age of vehicles on U.S. roadways hit a record high of 12.2 years in 2021, increasing for the fifth straight year in a row.

22 July 2022