Exide battery solutions from Ecobat
As a key strategic partner for Exide in the UK & Ireland, Ecobat Battery Technologies has highlighted the commercial vehicle solutions the original equipment (OE) brand has to offer to the independent sector.
With efficient supply logistics are more important than ever, and customers expecting faster and more predictable deliveries, fleet owners should be focused on the total cost of ownership, Ecobat contends; any time a CV is off the road due to breakdown, it not only leads to customer dissatisfaction, but also extra overheads for its recovery and repair, as well as potential fines or penalties.
Exide has designed its CV battery range to reduce the risk of breakdowns, says Ecobat, giving customers and the workshops and fleets they supply a competitive advantage in terms of high performance, lower total cost of ownership and battery options for a wide range of CV fleet requirements.
It is vital to make the right choice for the conditions of use, the firm adds: the three most important considerations when selecting the most appropriate solution are vibration resistance, cyclic endurance and cranking power.
“For CVs with rear chassis mounted battery installations (e.g. Euro 5/ Euro 6 vehicles), robust and high-vibration-resistant batteries are required to avoid breakdowns. Vibration resistance is also required for any vehicle operating on poor quality road surfaces or rough terrain,” said Ecobat.
“High cyclic endurance (charge, discharge, charge) is particularly important for batteries in long-distance vehicles where drivers live on-board for days at a time or for those doing intensive urban deliveries or with extensive energy requirements. A high level of cyclic endurance maximises lifespan on the battery and ensures it is able to deliver multiple engine starts.
“High cranking power allows for dependable engine starts in cold climates and is a requirement for many power-intensive vehicles, especially in the agricultural and construction environments.”
The new Exide StrongPro features a next-generation high vibration resistant design, and comes with Carbon Boost, the company’s solution for reduced acid stratification and faster recharge.
Since AdBlue (diesel exhaust fluid) systems were introduced with Euro 5/6 engines, CV manufacturers have moved the battery to the rear of the chassis, where increased vibrations can cause early battery failures. Exide’s unique HVR technology prevents this, says Ecobat, and enables StrongPro to pass the extreme vibration tests under the new European V4 standard (EN 50342-1:2015).
“Using StrongPro therefore means less risk of breakdowns, greater starting reliability and a longer lifespan, thus providing fleets the lowest total cost of ownership for their vehicles,” said the company.
“As a leading OE manufacturer, working with truck manufacturers including Isuzu, Iveco, MAN, Nissan, Renault Volvo Trucks, and Scania and agricultural brands such as Case, Claas, John Deere and New Holland, Exide brings this latest technology straight to the aftermarket.”
The firm points out that early CV battery failure, caused by exposure to deep discharge conditions, is common with vehicles having to cope with challenges such as frequent starting and stopping for the urban delivery environment, as well as having to deal with the demands of overnight heating and lighting required for long-distance logistics providers.
This strain can lead to sulphation and acid stratification, affecting battery lifespan.
“With Carbon Boost, Exide’s smart electrochemical solution for longer battery life, unique carbon additives on the surface of the negative plates increase the speed at which sulphate particles dissolve,” Ecobat continued.
“This leads to faster recharging, as well as protection from sulphation, and less acid stratification.
“Sulphation occurs as sulphate particles progressively cover the negative plates, which makes recharging less efficient because energy is used to dissolve it. However, acid stratification arises when the sulphate particles turn into sulphuric acid during charging.
“This is heavier than the electrolyte, so sinks to the bottom, which has an adverse effect on the battery’s ability to charge, as it can’t charge in concentrated acid and is less efficient in the dilute.
“In addition, the concentration of acid will cause the lead plates to sulphate from the bottom, commonly known as bottom plate sulphation, and become brittle, which left unchecked, will result in the battery losing a third of its capacity in as little as six months, contributing significantly to its premature end of life.”
The carbon additives in the Carbon Boost design also promote controlled gassing during recharging, says the firm, which keeps the electrolyte mixed as it forces the acid concentrated electrolyte to mix with the diluted electrolyte and results in its effective homogenisation – meaning its ability to charge, as well as its overall performance is enhanced, further reducing the risk of stratification.
StrongPro is complemented in the range by PowerPro, said to offer superior cranking power and to be ideal for applications that do not need such extreme cyclic endurance, like buses; and StartPro, Exide’s standard battery, said to deliver virtually 100 per cent CV coverage. It features robust and reliable hot melt plate group fixations and is designed for CVs without special requirements, says Ecobat.
“As a well-established player, distributing prominent brands such as Exide, Varta, Lucas and Numax to wholesalers across the independent aftermarket, Ecobat has built its reputation by providing its customers with a level of service that reaches far beyond mere battery sales,” said the firm.
“Underpinning the Ecobat sales team is a 13-stong national branch network across the UK and Ireland, which means that as well as outstanding knowledge and service, the company’s customers also benefit from excellent availability of the industry’s most prominent brands.”
