EFB start-stop car battery introduction
As global efforts to mitigate the effects of global warming continue to take centre stage, the motor vehicle industry has not been spared. Over the last few years, there has been a need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars. In many countries, there is a new regulation that requires car manufacturer’s to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from their new cars.
Apart from global warming, the continually increasing fuel prices have necessitated the need for fuel efficient cars. Collectively, this has caused the motor industry to look for new technologies to find ways to manufacture cars with lower fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission. Of the several technologies developed, the EFB start-stop technology is already in use and effective at achieving its intended purpose.
What is the EFB start-stop car battery technology?
When a regular car is stationary at traffic lights or stuck in traffic, it will be idling due to the switched on the engine. The idling requires fuel. However, with the EFB start-stop technology, the idling is eliminated, resulting in higher fuel efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emission. With this new technology, the car automatically figures that it is stationery and switches off the engine. However, all the electrical components will still be fully functional while the car awaits its next start. When the vehicle needs to start, the vehicle’s battery management system is responsible for providing enough power to start the car.
At the heart of this technology is a strong battery fitted with Enhanced Flooded Battery (commonly known EFB) technology. This car battery is totally different from the traditional lead-acid car battery. The EFB car batteries are primarily designed to work on cars with the start-stop technology. They are made of plates thicker than those used in standard wet-cell batteries. Inside these plates are key materials that help the battery to carry out its function.
Major components and systems of the start-stop technology
Some of the most important components and systems required in a start-stop vehicle include:
Alternator – a highly efficient is required to convert the braking energy into electrical energy that the car battery can use to start the vehicle.
Improved starter motor – an ordinary motor will not fit in this kind of vehicle. Any improved motor is required to cope with a huge number of engine starts.
Energy Management System – the system (known as EMS) is responsible for controlling and managing the vehicle’s energy needs.
Wheel sensor – the wheel sensor is responsible for gauging the vehicles speed. If the vehicle is stationary, the wheel sensor sends a message to the energy management system (EMS) directing it to switch off the engine. While the engine is switched off, the battery must provide enough power to the systems that control the vehicle’s braking and steering.
Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) – this sensor constantly monitors the health of the battery and relays the information to the energy management system.
Maintenance and replacement of EFB batteries
EFB does not need any form of maintenance as they are completed. As long as they are working fine, the owner of a vehicle does not need to worry about the car batteries.
However, if the car battery stops working, it cannot be replaced like a regular lead-acid battery. Some bit of technical know-how and special equipment is required during the process. You can visit The Battery Shop, a 24hr car battery replacement service in Singapore if you want your EFB car battery to be changed.
Before the car battery can be changed, special equipment is needed to first locate the fault. The start-stop is an integrated technology and the fault could be due to the alternator, starter motor, intelligent battery sensor or the energy management system.
Before the car battery can be changed, the technician needs to pinpoint where the car battery is located. Once the car battery is located, the technician his expertise to replace the car battery with a new and compatible one. In the interest of environmental preservation, the car battery has to be disposed of properly.
Benefits of using EFB batteries
- No regular maintenance required
- Completely sealed resulting in minimum risk of leak or spill
- The car battery lasts long and does not need to be constantly replaced.
- Helps in saving fuel and reducing carbon dioxide emissions
CARS WITH START-STOP ENGINES
Most cars manufactured from 2016 onward mostly European cars come with standard start-stop technology and Japanese cars like Toyota Harrier, Honda vezel, Mazda sky-Activ, Lexus, Nissan Qashqai, Toyota Alphard, so owner please take note when you are changing the car battery. Normal sealed acid car battery doesn’t suit your car and if fitted it will not last at all due to it start-stop function.