Top 5 Best Car Batteries for 2023

Different Car Battery Technologies

STD (standard)

Also called “wet” or “flooded” batteries. They are very common lead-acid batteries and most affordable. 
They consist of lead/antimony plates suspended in liquid acid.

Calcium

A calcium battery is basically a modified lead-acid battery. These batteries can be lead-calcium, lead-calcium-silver or calcium-calcium alloy.
They are usually sealed and maintenance-free.

The antimony in the plates is replaced by calcium, often combined with silver. 

The calcium component gives a lead-acid battery some advantages like improved resistance to corrosion, reduced gassing, less water usage and lower self-discharge. 

Silver makes the plates more resilient to high temperatures. 

Calcium batteries require a higher charge voltage (14,6-14,8V) than conventional batteries (13,8V) to get the maximum life out of the battery.
Select AGM-mode on your battery charger if your calcium battery needs to be topped-up or trickle-charged. (check manual first)

If your vehicle’s charging system isn’t optimized for calcium batteries, this may result in a far shorter battery lifespan.

EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery)

Developed around 2008, these improved flooded lead-acid batteries have similar qualities to AGM batteries. They charge rapidly between starts and are about twice as durable as standard ‘wet’ batteries. 

Some European car makers use these as a more cost-effective alternative to an AGM and they’re a great upgrade over a calcium battery.

They perform best for cars with simple automatic start-stop systems, cars without a start-stop system but with demanding driving requirements (e.g. in urban traffic) or for cars without start-stop but with extensive equipment.

The primary benefits of EFB technology are improved charge acceptance and greater cyclic durability when operating in a reduced state of charge (typical of Stop/Start applications). 

As a general rule, EFB batteries can provide twice the number of charging cycles in comparison with conventional (STD) starter batteries.

Though they are widely accepted and rapidly growing in popularity in Europe and Asia, quality EFB batteries are hard to come by in the US.

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) 

Though more expensive than EFB batteries, Absorbed Glass Mat batteries are the most popular car batteries in the US. 

Their strong fiberglass layers in between the battery plates seal their boxes shut, reducing the chances of air pockets forming. This prevents irreversible damage to a car battery.

An AGM battery also offers better cold-cranking behavior because it is constructed to handle freezing temperatures better. Your car will start reliably even in the dead of winter.

SpiralCell AGM

A spiral cell battery is an AGM type battery with a spiral layout instead of plates. 

Contrary to traditional lead plates, these tightly rolled lead mats can’t deform under temperature or strain. That’s why the plates can be made thinner, making it a lighter construction.

This patented design has the advantage of packing more sq. ft. of lead mats in the same volume, resulting in an even more performant design. 
They are also up to 15x more vibration-resistant than classic lead-acid car batteries.

Gel-Cell 

This more expensive type of battery handles extreme heat better than other battery types and has the longest lifespan (when properly charged). 
That’s about the only upside.

They don’t perform well in freezing temperatures and they tend to lose power faster than AGM batteries.
Gel batteries also need to be charged at low current rates or they will get damaged.
Most car alternators charge at high current rates, shortening the lifespan of this type of battery dramatically.

Also, gel batteries don’t offer the same power and charge capabilities that other types of batteries provide. 
Because of this, depending on your type of car, gel batteries don’t always meet performance standards. 

Except for very specific uses, stay away! 

According to sales statistics, AGM batteries outsell gel batteries 100 to 1. That says it all I guess…

Lithium

Whatever some battery brands may promise, lithium batteries (in any form or shape) are not suited as a replacement car starting battery (yet). 
For a daily driver, that is… 

They are awesome weightsavers for a trickle charger-fed trailer queen, featherweight race car or dune buggy though.  

The main issue for use in a daily driver is that their temperature tolerance is very limited: they don’t perform well in cold nor hot temperatures. 

Also, at startup in freezing temperatures, your alternator will automatically try to charge the car battery. Charging in these conditions will damage a lithium battery. (That’s why Tesla’s main lithium battery is automatically preheated before charging in cold conditions.)
In extreme heat lithium batteries can explode or catch fire too…

They have to be recharged with a lithium battery charger or they will get damaged or even catch fire (yes, again…). 

Keep in mind that most, if not all, on-board automotive charging systems are designed for lead-acid batteries. Lithium batteries need a completely different charging regime.
This too can be a recipe for disaster… 

How about this deal-breaker: While a full battery drain (e.g. when you’ve left your lights on) may lead to some capacity loss for any lead-acid car battery, it is fatal and irreversible for a lithium battery.

Yes, they are lighter, but did we mention that they cost up to 3x more than lead-acid batteries?

Hate to burst that bubble, but at this stage in the evolution of lithium battery technology it’s a no-no as a replacement daily driver starting battery.

As a lightweight gadget for your race car or trailer queen they’re damn hot though… in a good way that is 😉

Different Alloys

Different alloys are experimented with for lead-acid car battery plates to get an optimal balance between power, stamina, durability and price. 

It’s always a compromise, these four criteria influence one another. 
Past decades, large improvements have been achieved in general car battery performance and their weight/power ratio.

Modern improved “wet” lead-acid car batteries for example, often called “calcium batteries”, contain calcium and sometimes silver. 
So do many other types of batteries.

The result of this improvement is manifested in increased battery life and maintaining a high starting power over time. 

It has to be noted that high content “calcium” car batteries are very picky concerning charging voltage. 
If not charged correctly, their life expectancy will suffer.  

It’s a pain though that most battery brands don’t bother to specify exactly what type of alloys they’re using for their batteries. 
Antimony? Silver? Calcium? Which ratio? Purity of lead?
Exact technical specifications like optimal charging voltage are very hard or often impossible to come by. 

More often than not you’ll have to assume or guess what is actually in that sealed plastic container, based solely on the marketing terminology they throw at you. 

Which Battery Size?

Size-wise the new battery must of course match the old one it will replace although sometimes a larger size with a larger capacity would fit too.
The only way to be sure is to measure the available space in the battery tray or compartment and compare it to the new battery’s dimensions.

Make sure you measure the old battery correctly for comparison, check your car’s manual or read what’s on the old battery’s label.

A car battery label should mention the battery group number. This is usually part of the battery type number, which is brand-specific.  

E.g: “ODP-AGM35” or “35-675/ELT-AGM35” or “8020-164 35” all refer to “Group 35”. Sometimes “Group 35” is simply written on the label. 
The physical dimensions of Group 35 batteries are approximately (LxWxH) 9 1/16 x 6 7/8 x 8 7/8 inches (9.0625 x 6.875 x 8.875 inches, 23.0 x 17.5 x 22.5 cm). (See chart below)

Most Common Sizes of Car Batteries:

What Is CCA Or Cold Cranking Amps?

CCA or Cold Cranking Amps is the major international benchmark for the amount of power which a battery can produce for a period of 30 seconds at (0°F/-18°C), while still maintaining terminal voltage equal to or higher than 2.1V per cell.

Never mind if you’ll ever use your car in such extreme temperatures. That’s not what this is about. 
It’s just the easiest and most reliable value to compare car batteries across different brands because it is measured in the same way around the globe.

What Is a Starting Battery?

Starting batteries are designed to deliver short, high-current bursts to crank an engine. They frequently discharge only a small part of their capacity (max 2%-5%).

Although these specialized batteries usually outperform deep-cycle batteries when it comes to CCA, they will get damaged when they are discharged past 20% of their capacity.

A starting battery is purpose-built to sprint the 100 yards, so to speak, not to run a marathon.

When To Use a Starting Battery?

Starting batteries are ideal for most daily drivers. 
They provide a powerful starting burst and are recharged by the alternator while driving.

They are also your best choice for classic cars or any vehicle with low electric or electronic power demands.

What Is a Deep Cycle Battery? 

Although deep cycle batteries look like any other car battery to people who aren’t familiar with them, in reality they’re quite different in design internally. 

These batteries have a different internal architecture to provide sustained power over a long period of time and run reliably until they are 80% discharged or more before they have to be recharged. 

Even though deep cycle batteries can occasionally be discharged up to 80% and beyond, this is not recommended as a frequent practice. Discharging below 45% will inevitably shorten the life of even this type of battery.

Figuratively speaking, contrary to starting batteries, these batteries truly are designed to run a marathon… 

This does come with a downside however: they are not the CCA champs.
Just like a marathon runner isn’t specialized in short explosive sprints, this type of battery isn’t the sprint champion of the battery world either.

Although it has ample starting power, if you’re focused on maximum CCA, this is not the battery for you.

When To Use a Deep Cycle Battery?

Deep cycle batteries provide sustained energy, making them ideal for modern cars with lots of electronics, ATV’s with winches and lightbars etc., UTV’s, Campers,… In fact, any vehicle that is at risk of an energy deficit. 

“Energy deficit” means that when you switch on all the electrics and electronic devices that are frequently used together, your vehicle is consuming more electricity than your alternator can provide. This will of course drain your car battery. 

In this situation, a deep cycle battery will be able to provide much more power reserve without negative consequences on the battery’s longevity. 

What Is a Dual Purpose Battery?

A dual purpose battery is ideal for applications that require both strong cranking power as well as extended auxiliary power for electrical and electronic accessories. 
For this class of battery, specially designed AGM or SpiralCell AGM sealed batteries are most suited.
A dual purpose battery combines the best of both worlds…

I guess that’s about all the information you need to choose the battery that fits your needs. 
These are the car batteries we highly recommend: