How Much Does a Car Battery Weigh?

Ammara_Sial · August 22, 2022, 10:23am

How Much Does a Car Battery Weigh? A 12-volt car battery weighs about 40 pounds. However, depending on their voltage, fluid level, and the make and model of the vehicle, battery weights can vary from 25 to 60 pounds. A lead-based battery also has the disadvantage of being heavier than a lithium-ion one.

If you’ve ever had to remove or replace your automobile battery, you know how cumbersome this seemingly insignificant part can be. Many variables affect how much a car battery weighs.

Vehicle batteries can range in weight from roughly 25 to 50 pounds. However, the spread here is relatively wide. This page will provide simple methods to determine the battery’s weight.

By opening the box, you can see how much the car battery weighs. The weight of a storm is often listed on the box.
Rather than wasting time and energy guessing, check the packaging for the correct response.
However, not all batteries are the same. Research is required in such predicaments.
Remember that a fully charged battery will be heavier than a completely discharged one.
But in batteries, it’s not the casing that weighs so much as the stuff inside.

For example, a lead-acid battery’s heft is primarily attributable to the fluid that provides the electricity. If this fluid is employed, the battery’s weight might be reduced from around 40 to 15 pounds.

Note: It’s safe to assume that a car battery, on average, weighs around 40 pounds. This weight, however, may shift depending on the battery’s dimensions and components.

Types of Batteries Weight

Lightweight batteries

These batteries work well in compact automobiles that prioritize fuel economy and performance. Take notice that there is such a thing as automobile batteries that are too light for your vehicle. This is something that will be elaborated upon later in the text. A lightweight battery weighing 10–20 pounds is ideal for electric cars.

Standard Batteries

Typically, the size of the battery is decided by the brand and model of the car and the charging requirements.

Empty Batteries

These batteries are empty, as the name suggests. They are not made using lithium-ion or lead-acid materials. In general, conventional or heavy versions weigh roughly 15 pounds, whereas empty lightweight variants are closer to 7 pounds.

Why Size Matters?

The most important aspect determining how much a battery weighs is the battery’s size. The larger the storm, the more components it will have, and thus the heavier it will be compared to its smaller counterpart.

Keep in mind: If you have a large and powerful engine, you’ll need a more extensive and heavier battery to keep your automobile running. These situations might call for batteries that weigh as much as 50 pounds!

Types of Car Batteries

Flooded Lead Acid

This variety of “Wet-Cell” batteries has been around the longest and is currently the most popular. It’s the least expensive choice, comprising six cells typically dissolved in an electrolyte solution. If at all practicable, it should be mounted vertically to prevent solution spillage.

For reasons beyond my comprehension, this is identical to a Flooded Lead Acid, yet it is entirely sealed and uses a different solution that does not require constant refilling.Some Ph.D. scientists supposedly figured out how to make batteries that didn’t need water and patented the idea before the Lead firms did.

Enhanced Flooded Battery

The enhanced flooded battery is essentially a high-performance variant of the traditional wet cell battery, with a thinner grid and more plates per cell to improve the battery’s total reactive surface area. A conventional battery from NAPA or Autozone often has half the “Cold Cranking Amps” (essentially how hard your car starts) that this one does.

Absorbent Glass Mat

The AGM battery is yet another widespread type of battery. Absorptive fiberglass is used to contain the electrolyte solution in this battery, making it spill-proof and increasing the battery’s efficiency, making it ideal for start-stop devices.

Generally speaking, AGM batteries weigh less than conventional lead-acid batteries. Still, they have a longer lifespan (by a factor of two to three) and are more dependable than their wet-cell counterparts.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

Finding the lightest, most efficient, and most costly batteries require narrowing your search criteria to just weight. Optima’s lightweight (just 10 pounds) and lack of a solution that will slosh around as you commit to each corner makes it a compelling option for those looking for batteries for their race vehicles.

Weight Distribution

If you’re familiar with German high-performance automobiles, you know that the battery isn’t always situated beneath the hood but in the trunk. For what reason is that? Many auto enthusiasts believe that more excellent weight distribution may be achieved by shifting the vehicle’s 40-pound battery from the front of the car.

Most of the heavy components that carry you where you’re going are located up front, so that’s where the bulk of your automobile will always be distributed. This includes the motor, transmission, cooling system, intake, steering rack, and more.

Because of this, most vehicles’ turning, braking, and accelerating forces will be concentrated at the front of the car. You can’t take on the Nürburgring or even have fun at your local racing track day if your car isn’t balanced, including having too much weight in the front and not enough over the back wheels.

Summary

When this happens, you’ll need to use a counter steer to bring the rear end back in line. Moving the battery from the front to the back of the automobile is one way to improve the vehicle’s handling by shifting the center of gravity.

Car Battery Weight Chart (For 20 Popular Vehicles

Take a look at these samples of battery weights seen in several of the best-selling vehicles. We tried to utilize OEM (original equipment manufacturer) battery weights whenever feasible.

Common aftermarket parts brands were selected for the rest. Interestingly, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) batteries tend to be significantly heavier than the aftermarket types commonly used as replacements.

Vehicle	Battery Weight	Brand	CCA
Audi A5	57.3 lbs	Varta (OEM)	520
BMW 3-Series	45.3 lbs	Duralast	680
Chevy Silverado 1500	42.1 lbs	ACDelco	800
Dodge Charger	42.9 lbs	DieHard	800
Dodge Durango	53.6 lbs	Mopar (OEM)	700
Ford Explorer	47.3 lbs	Motorcraft (OEM)	760
Ford F-150	47.3 lbs	Motorcraft (OEM)	760
Ford Mustang	32.0 lbs	Motorcraft (OEM)	590
Honda Accord	27.7 lbs	Interstate	500
Honda CR-V	39.0 lbs	NAPA	600
Honda Pilot	38.9 lbs	Interstate	730
Jeep Wrangler	53.6 lbs	Mopar (OEM)	700
Mazda CX-5	32.3 lbs	Interstate	550
Nissan Rogue	45.6 lbs	ACDelco	760
Ram 1500	58.0 lbs	Mopar (OEM)	850
Subaru Forester	31.7 lbs	Optima	720
Toyota Corolla	33.5 lbs	Interstate	650
Toyota Highlander	37.6 lbs	Interstate	615
Toyota RAV4	33.5 lbs	Interstate	650
Toyota Tacoma	35.8 lbs	Interstate	600

Keep in mind: The most excellent voltage that these batteries can produce is typically 12.6V. However, this value may change based on several circumstances. Conventionally, this battery functions best when periodically refilled with an electrolyte solution. This is because, during regular operation, the battery will eat up the solution’s water supply.

Why Are Car Batteries So Heavy?

Most car batteries are made of thick lead battery cells, contributing to their high weight. In a typical automobile, there are typically six of these cells, each comprised of one of the denser elements on the periodic table. Now picture a 12 by eight by 5-inch box loaded with lead and electrolyte solution, and you’ll get some idea of how heavy it is.

This isn’t to suggest that improvements in battery weight haven’t been made, either. Even though they cost more, AGM, Gel, and Lithium-Ion batteries are at least 40% lighter than standard batteries.

Thus, a more lightweight battery comes with a more significant price tag. However, if you don’t have to change your battery every other year, you may go with a better-end one that lasts longer.

Are Heavier Batteries Better?

No, that’s not always the case. It’s possible that a heavier battery of the same size would be both more affordable and more widely accessible in your area. However, the lighter batteries will serve you better in terms of runtime, cold-cranking amps, and overall power.

You could remove the battery and weigh it with a home scale; however, I wouldn’t recommend doing it inside due to the lead, corrosion, and solution that would inevitably spill. Reading the battery’s label is a quicker and easier option.

In most cases, the manufacturer weight of such a battery will be shown. Remember that this weight will change somewhat when the water in your wet cell battery’s electrolyte solution evaporates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some related questions are given below:

1 - How Much Does a Tesla Battery Weigh?

A big battery is necessary for the Tesla Model S’s extensive driving range… A total of 1,183 lb is contributed by the lithium-ion batteries included in the Model X. Model Y’s lithium-ion batteries add 2003 kg to the vehicle’s total mass (4,416 lbs).

2 - How Heavy Is a Hybrid Car Battery?

Hybrid car battery weighs around 53.5 kilograms (about 118 pounds).

3 - How Big Is a Battery in an Electric Car?

Current electric vehicle batteries range in size from 28.9 kWh (found in the Mini Cooper SE, good for 110 miles on a charge) to over 200 kWh, which should allow the vehicle to go 350 miles on a single charge. However, not all battery specifications are created equal, and not all manufacturers clarify their capacity ratings.

4 - What Is a Group 24 Battery?

Group 24 batteries are commonly used in automobiles, emergency generators, and medical equipment. Group 24 batteries are primarily used for deep cycling rather than beginning applications like engine cranking. Its typical dimensions are 10.5" in length, 6.1875" in width, and 8.875" in height.

5 - Can Electric Car Batteries Be Recycled?

Most used batteries still have a small amount of power when they are sent to recycling centers. Many recyclers then use effort and resources to neutralize them before extracting their components safely.

6 - What Is a Car Battery Made Of?

Lithium-ion batteries, the most popular type used in EVs, are made up of carbon or graphite, metal oxide, and a lithium salt.

7 - How Many Volts Is a Car Battery?

Every EV has a 12-volt battery, much like a gas-powered automobile, to keep the electrical system and accessories like lights and power door locks functioning when the vehicle is turned off.

8 - Which Acid Is in the Car Battery?

Sulfuric acid makes up between 30 and 50 percent of the acid in most car battery acids, which are otherwise made up of water. The acid has a density of around 1.25 g/mL and a pH of about 0.8. For this reason, an automobile battery uses a dilute solution of sulphuric acid (H2SO4).

9 - What Is the Ph Value of a Car Battery?

Car batteries contain sulfuric acid with a concentration of around 5 mol H2SO4 dm-3 and a pH of about -0.7.

10 - What Gas Do Batteries Give Off When Charging?

At specific atmospheric pressures, the hydrogen gas released during battery charging can be very flammable (explosive limits are 4.1 to 72 percent hydrogen in air). The quantity of batteries being charged is not a problem for the ventilation system.

Conclusion

There is an extensive range of possible battery weights for your vehicle. They come in three weight classes: lightweight, standard, and heavy. Due to the absence of lead-acid or lithium-ion, an empty battery will be lighter than a full one. It’s essential to pick a storm whose weight won’t negatively impact your vehicle’s handling and acceleration.

How Much Does a Car Battery Weigh?