What Is The Best Car Battery For Cold Weather?

With some states facing extreme temperatures, it’s time to find the best car battery for cold weather. Our article gives you the best options at every price point.

Cold weather advisories are popping up left and right in Northern states as temperatures will drop below zero. Extreme conditions aren’t only a hassle when putting on coats. They can be risky and even detrimental to your car. 

One of the components suffering the most in your vehicle is your battery. Knowing which is the best car battery for cold weather can be a life saver. This article dives into the best options you can buy.

Why Does The Cold Affect Car Batteries?

All car batteries rely on a chemical reaction to generate electricity. This chemical reaction depends on properties that are temperature sensitive. That’s why both hot and cold weather affect your battery’s performance. 

Cold weather slows down the chemical reaction within your battery. So, it doesn’t deliver as much current as it would in “normal” weather. This is unavoidable, but you can help reduce the impact of cold weather in your car’s performance. 

What Traits Does The Best Car Battery For Cold Weather Have? 

There are several factors contributing to a battery’s performance in cold weather. When you’re looking to buy a battery, the first aspect to consider is the Cold Cranking Amps value or CCA. This is the amount of Amps that batteries deliver in a cold start. 

The higher the CCA, the more current will flow to start the car. A higher CCA is a critical factor when looking for the best car battery for cold weather. 

How do you know which CCA to choose? The recomendation is to buy a battery that matches or exceeds the automaker’s recommendations. 

As a compliment, the reserve capacity in a battery is the battery’s capacity to provide current when the alternator is damaged. This can be critical if you’re in extreme cold. So, the higher the reserve capacity, the better. 

Finally, there are two types of batteries: the flooded battery and the AGM battery. 

Flooded battery

The flooded battery has been the standard for decades, but is an older technology. They contain the electrodes necessary for the chemical reaction inside a liquid (hence, the term flooded). 

They are not as popular in newer vehicles. 

AGM battery

The Absorbed Glass Mat battery contains a mat that helps hold the electrolyte in place, helping the reaction be more efficient. These are more popular with newer vehicles. 

You can buy an AGM for a car desgined for a flooded battery, but not the other way around. The AGM battery performs better in the cold. 

What is the best car battery for cold weather?

Knowing all these traits, we can now select the best battery for cold weather. 

Duralast Platinum AGM Battery

This battery offers a wide arrange of sizes, and comes with powerful CCA ratings. It’s more expensive, but well worth the investment. 

You can expect to pay from $175 to $330

Duracell Ultra Platinum AGM

Another excellent choice with many sizes and powerful CCA ratings. Plus, Duracell offers a sizeable 4-year free replacement warranty. 

These batteries cost around $300.

Optima 

This legendary brand is an excellent choice and it has the reputation to boot. Some research indicates that it can last up to three times longer than traditional batteries. 

These are more expensive and you can expect to pay from $300 to $400.

ACDelco Advantage

These are batteries designed for cold weather. They come with a shorter warranty, but they are reliable and can give you the peace of mind that you are using the best one in cold weather. 

They can be less expensive, with prices going from $180 to $270.

Closing thoughts

The best car battery for cold weather is critical, especially because it can be a lifesaver. No one wants to be stuck in the snow with a dead car. This article provides you the best choices you can find.