Battery Application Guide - CARQUEST Auto Parts

Calcium Maintenance-Free vs Hybrid vs Low AntimonyWhich is Best?Many battery manufacturers are marketingeither Hybrid or Low Antimony batteries as theirMaintenance-Free line, primarily toavoid the higher costs associated withgenuine Calcium Maintenance-Free batteries.Unfortunately, this has added to buyerconfusion over the maintenance-free issue.As the following charts will show, theperformance differences are dramatic.CARQUEST’s Calcium Maintenance-Freebatteries perform better than Hybrid andLow Antimony (Low Sb) batteries in everysignificant test.Water Loss Rate on SAE J240b Life0.600.500.40Hybrid0.300.20Calcium0.100.000 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000CYCLESCHART ACCs LOSS PER CYCLETest #1 – Rate of Water LossChart A clearly shows the dramatic difference in the rate ofwater loss between the two types of batteries. CARQUEST’sCalcium Maintenance-Free uses less water as it is cycled, whilethe Hybrid uses more water. As you can see, CARQUEST’sCalcium is truly maintenance-free. Hybrid batteries cannotcompare.The reason for the dramatic increase in gassing rates for theHybrid is that as the battery cycles, antimony transfers from thepositive to the negative plate. This antimony buildup actuallydecreases the voltage which causes the battery to gas and losewater.This dramatic difference can be illustrated another way.The Hybrid gasses at a 600% higher rate than the CalciumMaintenance-Free during a typical application test. The LowAntimony gasses at a 1200% higher rate.When water loss rates are compared during the J240b life test,there is a 325% difference between Calcium Maintenance-Free andHybrid batteries at 105°F (41°C), and a 200% difference betweenCalcium Maintenance-Free and Hybrid batteries at 175°F (79°C).REFERENCE249