AGM innovation from Banner Buffalo Bull
Battery specialist Banner has explained how its absorbent glass mat (AGM) technology its proving itself in the commercial vehicle sector.
CV batteries have changed beyond recognition of over recent years, says the firm, and for good reason: today, not only are they responsible for the most basic function of initiating engine starts, they also support an increasing raft of onboard electrical systems.
“It is against this backdrop that Banner introduced AGM technology into its proven Buffalo Bull product offering, a battery that has the capability to deliver optimum power for long-distance trucks,” said the company.
The result of years of research and development work, including cooperation with a well-known and leading European commercial vehicle manufacturer, the product innovation inbuilt into Buffalo Bull AGM serves to deliver a battery with the capability of providing unparalleled performance, the company says.
“With the Buffalo Bull AGM starter and on-board battery, every trucker is able to enjoy the benefits of both full starting power and in-cab comfort at the same time,” said Thomas Bawart, Banner’s technical CEO.
Serving to differentiate this latest generation Buffalo Bull from conventional SHD batteries is the AGM technology deployed, whereby the battery acid is absorbed and bound into a glass fleece.
Such technology prevents capacity loss due to acid stratification and guarantees increased cyclical stability and improved corrosion resistance, says Banner.
Another advantage highlighted by the company is the battery’s ability to withstand extreme vibration resistance, even when the battery is mounted integrally at the rear of a truck.
Furthermore, Buffalo Bull AGM delivers when it comes to optimal charge absorption, adds Banner, as it charges up within nine hours whilst driving at low voltage (14.3 V/battery). Such a design feature makes it possible for a CV driver to stay overnight in the vehicle for up to one week, whilst using many different electrical consumers.
Commenting on the impact of the Buffalo Bull AGM in the UK, country manager Lee Quinney said: “The CV sector has always been of strategic importance to Banner’s development here in the UK and the introduction of AGM technology into the proven Buffalo Bull range is already helping to deliver even greater market penetration.
“You only have to look at how different today’s CVs are in comparison to ones built in the 1980s to gain a real appreciation of the extra power requirements that are onboard.
“No longer is it simply a prerequisite to power starting, and support lighting, radios and windscreen wiping. Today it is all this and more… auxiliary heating, entertainment, fridges and microwaves, mobile transmission and evaluation of vehicle data, mobile phones, driver assistance systems, etc.
“Indeed it is with this knowledge in mind that Buffalo Bull AGM has been designed to perform above and beyond.”
Further claimed benefits of the product include three times the cycle stability compared to conventional SHD batteries due to active mass formulation and mat supports, robust design and excellent vibration resistance thanks to special set fixing, and excellent charge absorption: regulator voltage of the vehicle is optimally suited even for deeply discharged batteries.
Designed for highest energy demand due to increasing comfort functions in long-distance HGVs, additional advantages of the product are said to include calcium technology to ensure minimum water consumption, central degassing with integrated backfire protection, and add-ons to improve product safety in the form of short-circuit protection and electrostatic discharge plugs.
