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How does a car battery charge?
I’m trying to learn more about my car in case I get stranded or need a quick fix. I don't know much about car batteries. How does charging a car battery work?
Hana Sabah · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s great that you’re taking the time to learn more about your car! But the way in which a car battery charges is not as straightforward as you might imagine.
Car batteries are unique in the fact that they can recharge themselves in conjunction with a charging system already available in your car—that being the engine.
Your vehicle uses tons of energy to start the ignition and power other accessories like the lights, radio, and more. It requires so much energy, in fact, that a normal battery wouldn’t suffice—which is why car batteries exist!
Every battery has a pair of lead plates within its core, which are essential to delivering electric jolts to your car. The initial jolt of electricity when you start your car causes a chain reaction within the battery that starts the engine.
To keep this running, the car uses an alternator, which acts as a generator for your battery. The alternator uses a belt that connects to the engine. This in turn produces a continuous stream of power and is constantly charging the battery while the car is running.
As your battery ages, it will have trouble holding a charge. Luckily, the solution is simply replacing it.
But if you have an older vehicle and are worried about more serious car issues, consider a roadside assistance membership through
Jerry
. Jerry’s roadside assistance protects you with its nationwide network of 55,000-plus service providers for under $5 a month.View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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