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

The 12V battery in an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car plays a crucial role in powering various electrical components, such as lights, radio, and the vehicle's computer system. Charging a 12V battery in an ICE car is a straightforward process that can be accomplished with a compatible battery charger. Regularly maintaining your vehicle's battery can extend its lifespan and help prevent unexpected starting issues. So, how do you charge a car battery? In this guide, we will discuss the steps to charge a 12V battery in an ICE car effectively.

4 March 2024

CTEK, a leader in innovative battery management solutions, is thrilled to announce the launch of our most advanced E-Mobility product to date: the CHARGESTORM® CONNECTED 3 (CC3). This significant advancement in EV charging technology marks the beginning of a new chapter in EV charging infrastructure across Sweden and EU countries.

2 February 2024

As we are in the middle of the winter, car owners brace themselves for the challenges posed by cold weather conditions. Among the critical components affected, the car battery takes centre 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.

23 January 2024

As autumn's chill envelops the UK, many adventurous souls seek out the thrill of visiting haunted locations, with ghostly tales of mysterious apparitions and eerie occurrences. While these tales add an extra layer of excitement to the journey, one thing no one wants is a vehicle breakdown on the UK's most haunted roads. Fortunately, the CS FREE is here to save the day, as an adaptive booster that can safely resurrect your vehicle's battery, ensuring your ghost-hunting expedition goes smoothly.

24 October 2023

In Sweden, all car owners must transition to winter tires by December 1st. What many overlook is the impact of cold weather on the car battery. The colder it gets, the more crucial maintenance charging becomes, especially for vehicles covering shorter distances. While the switch to winter tires is routine for most, it's time to include another seasonal activity — basic battery maintenance. Car owners can ensure trouble-free journeys and a longer-lasting vehicle by taking a few simple steps

9 October 2023

CTEK is now joining the Swedish “2030-sekretariatet”, to become part of the movement that’s working to ensure that Sweden reaches its climate goals for the transport sector - to achieve a 70 percent reduction in climate impact by 2030 compared to 2010. 

3 October 2023

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

As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain popularity, it's important for owners and prospective buyers to understand the various charging modes available. Among these, Charging Modes 2, 3, and 4 play significant roles in defining the charging capabilities, safety standards, and infrastructure requirements for EV owners. In this article, we will explore the three primary charging modes: Mode 2, Mode 3, and Mode 4. We'll also discuss the associated standards and provide tips on charging and safety considerations. Get ready for an enlightening journey into the world of electric car charging!

11 July 2023

As the summer heat intensifies, it's not just our bodies that need extra care and attention; our vehicle batteries also require special consideration to ensure optimal performance and reliability. With scorching temperatures and extended road trips on the horizon, it's important to understand the unique charging needs of your vehicle battery during the summer season.  

4 July 2023

Mild hybrids are vehicles equipped with both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and a small electric generator / motor, which assists the engine during starting, cruising or hard acceleration. The 48V battery which powers the hybrid system is recharged using the vehicles kinetic energy through regenerative braking. The generator captures the energy during coasting and braking to be stored and used for restarting the engine and acceleration. Even though the electrical system is recharged by generative breaking, you still need to charge the 12V battery. You need the 12V system for almost all of the functions in your car such as air conditioning, lights, opening of the doors, the radio, windows etc.

18 April 2023

The German outlet Auto Zeitung has done a comparison of the best battery chargers for motorcycles. They tested a lot of chargers and CTEK’s MXS 5.0 were their favorite. 

28 March 2023

When you’re driving an electric vehicle (EV) there are many ways that you can maximise its range. One of these is how fast you drive your EV. CTEK has some useful tips on how you optimise your electric car driving, to increase efficiency and maximise range. 

16 February 2023

With the rising cost of electricity and the increasing cost of living, one of the most shared questions we’re being inquired these days is “how much does it cost to charge my car battery?

13 February 2023

The winter season has arrived with cold weather and icy roads. However, this can affect your electric vehicle (EV) in a negative way. It is even more important during the winter season to maintain your vehicle, if you want your car and batteries in top condition for high performance winter driving.

5 December 2022

The German outlet Autobild is testing new products every year, bicycle racks, child seats and chargers is just a few of the 28 products they have tested this year. The twelve editors have picked their favorite and the editor in chief Max Bitter, has chosen the CTEK CS FREE. 

1 December 2022

With a global shortage of new cars and ongoing concerns over the increased cost of living, we are seeing motorists hanging onto their vehicles for longer. For these older vehicles, additional care needs to be taken to keep the vehicle’s battery in peak condition.

24 October 2022

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? 

8 August 2022

A flat car battery can be annoying, but it can also be avoided. Today’s modern vehicles are packed with lots of power hungry technology and, if you couple this with a change to driving habits post-COVID, a flat battery is becoming more common than you think. Here CTEK, the leading global brand in vehicle charging solutions, lists the Top 10 things that could be draining and/or affecting the performance of your vehicle battery.  

22 June 2022

With fuel prices and the general cost of living increasing rapidly, many drivers are starting to think twice before hopping in the car, are maybe going out less often and, when they do, are taking shorter journeys. But did you know that taking fewer, shorter journeys could be causing lasting damage to your car battery?

27 May 2022

A PHEV has two batteries - the main lithium-ion battery, and a reduced size 12V battery that starts the car and looks keeps accessories like heating, air conditioning and computerised systems functioning efficiently. 

14 March 2022

If your car’s turned off, you might assume your battery’s off as well. That’s not the case. The battery is affected by a parasitic drain, in which small amounts of current are used.

28 January 2022

During COVID-19 times, when many of us were forced into quarantine, and our towns and cities were in lock-down, our vehicles were not always top of our minds. And so as we move out of lock-down and start using our cars on a regular basis, it’s important to know what has been happening to your car battery whilst it has been standing still, and what you need to do to protect against battery failure when you do start driving it again.

18 June 2021

We've all been there: you go to leave the house or end your workday and your car won't start. Most drivers don't notice the warning signs until they get the dreaded click click click of a dead battery.

25 February 2021