Embracing the drive-through culture

With today’s busy lifestyles, time has become an even more valuable asset. We want to make the most of our days and we usually stop for quick errands throughout the day. We are getting more and more used to click and collect, drive-throughs and even quick stops at the gas station to get our coffee. Although this may be efficient, it can have a severe damage on your vehicle’s battery.  

Especially during the covid-pandemic, the demand for services that did not involve any social contact were increasing. With the higher rates of people working remotely from home, these errands for coffee or shopping became more common.  

There are also new types of drive-through stores than ever before, such as pharmacies or restaurants. Restaurants that offer smartphone apps that allow you to get your meal delivered to your car. However, we are mostly unaware of the strain this have on our car’s battery. 

It takes 150-350A of battery power just to start your car, shorter journeys drain the battery because the alternator won’t have the time or capability to replace this charge. If you notice that your start/stop function seems to be off, this might be because the battery is not sufficiently charged.  

Even a small drop in charge can compromise battery health, reducing its life span and making replacement necessary. Battery failure can also damage or compromise a vehicle’s electronics, which could be even more costly. 

Even though this can cause you a lot of trouble, there is a solution. Charging your car on a regular basis, at least once a month, can extend your car’s battery life up to three times. Regular battery maintenance is the key for keeping your battery in the best of health.  

A smart battery charger like the CTEK MXS 5.0 includes a patented automatic desulphation program, to break up the sulphate crystals that can build up when a battery’s charge falls below 12.4V. There is an AGM option that maximises the performance of most stop/start batteries and a special Recond mode for reconditioning and reviving deeply discharged batteries. It is never too late to start looking after your battery!