From the humble entry-level hatch to the most sophisticated luxury SUV, digitisation and power demands are increasing across every vehicle segment. And that means an increasingly important role, for starter and auxiliary batteries.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Advanced chemistries
From the humble entry-level hatch to the most sophisticated luxury SUV, digitisation and power demands are increasing across every vehicle segment. And that means an increasingly important role, for starter and auxiliary batteries.
The conventional 12V starter car battery remains a crucial power component for most South African new-car buyers and vehicle owners.
From the cheapest budget cars to the most sophisticated luxury vehicles, electronic content has increased hugely over the last decade. Even entry-level cars now have deep-contrast, high-definition touchscreen infotainment displays. The integration of advanced in-car digital technology and sensors that support safety systepms has created much greater power-draw demands on battery systems.
If kids want to consume infotainment or charge their devices while waiting in the car for their parents, the battery system supports that. This created the need for newer, better battery systems. From the surge of power to start your petrol- or dieselpowered vehicle, to balancing the power needs of large infotainment screens, door locks, and an assortment of deep-sensor-powered safety systems, most cars sold in South Africa still operate on 12V electrical architectures.
A staggering amount of R & D investment over the last decade, mostly driven by Chinese automotive companies and their vision to dominate the global electric vehicle supply chain, has created battery chemistries that are way beyond the performance of the humble legacy lead-acid battery. And those benefits aren’ t only for EVs, hybrids or vehicles with 48V architectures; they apply to 12V battery systems, too.
Lighter, better, batteries
The benefits of these new powertrain battery chemistries, developed to offer excellent power density, lower weight, and cycle endurance, are significant for starter and auxiliary batteries. Lithium-ion and sodiumion starter or auxiliary batteries offer much higher power density, resulting in lighter batteries, more stable performance, and the ability to handle high-frequency duty cycles without issue.
A lead-acid replacement lithium-ion starter or auxiliary battery is often half the weight and delivers twice the power. Why does that matter? Because lightweighting has become everything for automotive engineers.
WORDS IN ACTION 14 JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2026