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Does driving faster charge the battery faster?

I took my car in to the auto shop the other day to get it tested. While it still works, the guy at the store said it may not last much longer. I was thinking that if I drive fast, the alternator will charge the battery more quickly. Will driving faster charge the battery?

avatar
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
The idea is novel. Drive faster, the alternator works harder, and your battery charges faster. But unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Driving faster does not charge the battery faster because every car alternator has a regulator. This regulator ensures that the battery doesn’t get a sudden jolt and keeps the charging even-keel.
However, driving faster sometimes charges the battery faster if your battery is significantly discharged, but this isn’t a steadfast rule. Instead of testing this out, you may just want to spring for a new battery.
In the future, conduct
basic routine maintenance
, which includes testing your battery regularly.
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