As the power consumption of commercial vehicles increases year-on-year, companies have to ensure they are meeting these expanding electrical requirements. John Rawlins, Marketing Manager at VARTA Batteries, explains how the company has adapted to the changing demands.
VARTA has updated its ProMotive battery range so that, rather than a ‘good, better, best’ approach, it is technology driven depending on the application, number of electrical consumers, and type of journeys the vehicle is making. Previously, the VARTA ProMotive range was split into 3 main lines; the ProMotive Black, Promotive Blue and ProMotive Silver, all traditional flooded lead acid batteries.
In 2014, the VARTA Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) was added to the Silver ProMotive line to cater for the latest heavy goods vehicles, particularly those doing long haul journeys across the continent and those being used for overnight accommodation during those long trips. On top of this, the VARTA Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) was added to the ProMotive range in 2019. Jointly designed with several leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, it was introduced to energise the increasingly power hungry commercial vehicles of today and the future.
The cabin of many new commercial vehicles is loaded with electrical devices, infotainment screens, and comfort features that aim to make overnights bearable. In addition, commercial vehicle drivers’ habits are changing, and plugging in a phone, tablet, or laptop is not uncommon. Therefore, the AGM technology battery was needed to ensure the latest commercial vehicles remain mobile and provide the high levels of comfort expected from their drivers.
ProMotive AGM
VARTA ProMotive AGM, made for heavy commercial vehicles, features a patented PowerFrame grid for reliable starting power, fast recharge, and corrosion resistance. It is the only battery for powering demanding applications like the parking cooler/heater without the battery wearing out and causing downtime – something all fleet managers want to avoid. The battery is not only ready to cope with the challenges of today’s technology, but also once today’s innovations have become standard features.
- Six times the cycle life compared to conventional batteries
- For advanced hoteling (overnight) functions
- For vehicles with an internal air conditioning unit (parking cooler)/heater
- Designed for end-of-frame installation (EURO 5/6) due to highest vibration resistance
ProMotive EFB
The VARTA ProMotive EFB is designed for heavy commercial vehicles. It is made for high energy demands whilst coping with occasional overnight stays in vehicles with standard hoteling and comfort functions.
- Three times the cycle life compared to conventional batteries
- For hoteling functions (but without parking cooler)
- Designed for end-of-frame installation (EURO 5/6) due to highest vibration resistance
ProMotive Super Heavy Duty
The VARTA ProMotive Super Heavy Duty is made for commercial vehicles with reliable starting power demands. It is the ideal solution for commercial vehicles doing shorter journeys and those not being used for overnight accommodation. The battery is supplied as Original Equipment to many vehicle manufacturers, guaranteeing your fleet quality and reliability.
- Traditional flooded battery technology
- For commercial vehicles
- Ideal vibration resistance for urban distribution applications
ProMotive Heavy Duty
The VARTA ProMotive Heavy Duty is the perfect choice of starter battery for agricultural and construction vehicles. It delivers reliable power that can handle a high amount of dust and fertiliser particles whilst minimising downtime.
For those struggling to understand which type of technology would best suit their fleet of vehicles, VARTA’s application matrix (top right) is designed to help:
- Traditional flooded battery technology
- Ideal vibration resistance for agricultural and construction vehicles
VARTA Truck Portal
The TCO calculator will help to understand the saving potential of choosing the right battery technology. It shows the advantages of picking that technology by outlining the cost benefits of owning a VARTA ProMotive battery. The TCO calculator asks for mileage information, if your fleet experiences regular breakdowns due to battery failure, and any other likely costs for the vehicle breaking down. Based on this, it shows results of installing the correct VARTA battery versus downtime caused by the vehicle not running, so a fleet manager can easily see the benefit of installing the right battery first time.
