AGM Batteries: What You Need to Know

What’s an AGM Battery?

Cars today need extra power.

AGM Batteries: More Power to You

When you look at an AGM battery next to a regular car battery, it may look pretty much the same on the outside, but don’t let that fool you. AGM (or “absorbed glass-mat”) batteries function very differently — and for good reason.

With twice the capacity of standard flooded car batteries, AGM batteries charge faster and are created specifically for vehicles with higher power requirements, such as cars with fuel-saving start-stop features, or possibly even some cars with high-tech features such as dash cameras and remote starting systems.

Cars today need that extra power to be able to start and stop more often. For example, imagine making a trip to the grocery store across town. In a standard car, you might turn the car on and off just a few times: once when you leave the house, again when you stop for gas, and a third time when at the store. If you make that same trip with a car that has a fuel-saving start-stop feature, the car could power on and off 30 times or more, depending on traffic, lights and stop signs. Many cars will actually turn off every time they come to a stop and then turn back on as soon as they start moving again — that’s the technology of the AGM battery at work.

So if you have an AGM battery in a more-high-tech car, every time your vehicle is serviced, you should talk to your mechanic about checking battery health to ensure your ride continues running smoothly. It’s better to know in advance when your battery might give out rather than have it give out in the middle of a trip—and even better if you can avoid that situation altogether by getting it replaced before it fails.

When it’s time to replace your car’s AGM battery, keep in mind that not all AGM batteries are the same. If you’re not sure exactly what type of AGM battery your car needs, simply refer to the owners manual. Think of your owners manual like a cheat sheet for all information pertaining to your car. If you study up a little, your mechanic may even be impressed.