As we hit the peak of summer, the Battery Experts at VARTA are urging garages to test the battery of every car coming into the workshop.
Trips to the coast or to visit family in other locations within the UK are expected to be popular this year, and thus many of these cars that have been sat unused for much of 2020 and early 2021, will now be relied upon as the main mode of transport during the holiday season.
But, are Britain’s cars and in particular the battery that powers them ready for the daily commute or longer holiday trips?
With roadside assistance callouts recently reporting record numbers due to battery-related breakdowns, the figures suggest not. One leading roadside assistance company has said 55% of all home callouts in the last year have been due to battery problems.
VARTA is therefore advising that technicians should use a battery tester to determine if the battery is in a good state of health, or needs attention. With over a third of vehicles now having a start-stop system, it’s vital that a workshop has an up-to-date tester, that can also accurately test Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) and Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB). If it’s an older tester that doesn’t have the capabilities to test AGM or EFB batteries, then it’s worth upgrading the tester; otherwise the test results will likely be inaccurate.
Andy Cook, Technical Representative at VARTA, explained, “It shouldn’t take long to complete a battery test, not much longer than five minutes, but by explaining the results to the customer, you are giving them peace of mind that the battery is in working order, or advising that it might be time for a replacement. By doing this you’re ensuring they have a functioning battery and will be ready for summer getaways.”
Batteries face greater demands than ever before, as they have to serve increasingly complex and power-hungry car electronics. Whereas digital dashboards, inbuilt screens and parking cameras used to be limited to high-end vehicles, they are now commonplace on even entry-level models, all placing additional strain on the battery.
Andy commented “Many drivers are also plugging in their mobile devices to charge them whilst on-the-move, again drawing power from the vehicle. This is why it’s paramount to ensure the battery is in a condition to support all the comfort and safety features; it’s the heart of the car.”
VARTA has been highlighting as part of its ‘Back To Better’ campaign that now is the time for a workshop to implement a test-every-battery process if they haven’t before. It’s been a challenging year for batteries, there is no better time for garages to generate revenue by ensuring batteries that need replacing are done so, whilst also keeping customers happy the service they received was thorough and keeps them on the road.
Andy added, “Testing batteries isn’t all about profiteering, it’s about offering great customer satisfaction and ensuring that their car will start when they most need it to.”
Tech tips on tap
The VARTA Partner Portal is an online platform that provides assistance to technicians and uses Original Equipment information to help identify the correct battery for every vehicle, and also includes step-by-step fitting instructions. To sign up, click here.
