Many people do not know much about batteries, and there has recently been talk of traction batteries and starting batteries. My understanding is that a traction battery has somewhat higher internal resistance but better stability and strong sustained-current capability, while a starting battery, needless to say, requires strong instantaneous high-current discharge and lower internal resistance. So what exactly is the difference between a traction battery and a starting battery? Let us introduce it below:

In terms of charging: a traction battery is charged with a dedicated charger, usually after work is finished; generally it must be recharged whenever it discharges between 20% and 100%. A starting battery, on the other hand, is charged continuously while the machine runs and is kept at a stable voltage.

In terms of discharging: a traction battery is suited to continuous discharge over a longer period and allows a certain degree of deep discharge. Manufacturers usually advise not to discharge beyond 80%, but in practice, full deep discharge affects the performance and life of this kind of battery far less than it affects other types. A starting battery must not be deeply discharged; generally, once the discharge exceeds 20% it should be recharged. A starting battery is suited to high-current discharge over a short time. For example, when starting a vehicle in winter, it may need to deliver a current above 500 A continuously for three seconds, for a 100 AH battery.

In terms of manufacturing, the positive plate of a traction battery is usually a tubular plate, while that of a starting battery is a paste-type plate. The plates of a traction battery are thicker, while those of a starting battery are thinner.

A starting battery cannot replace a traction battery.

An electric vehicle battery is a lead-acid battery. Its discharge is sustained, but its instantaneous discharge is not high; its electrolyte is not 1.28 sulfuric acid but chemical solutions that generate voltage and current together with the plates. The separators inside absorb water, so the electrolyte does not dry out easily and does not need to be checked often. A car battery is a type of starting battery whose instantaneous discharge can reach several hundred amperes. Its electrolyte is 1.28 sulfuric acid that generates voltage and current together with the plates. The electrolyte level of a car battery must be 10-15 mm above the plates; if it falls below the plates the battery is seriously damaged, so the level must be checked often. If you replace an electric vehicle battery with a car battery, then for a 20 AH electric vehicle battery you would need a 60 AH car battery to achieve the same discharge time.

From the introduction above, we hope you now have some understanding of the difference between traction batteries and starting batteries, and that this has been helpful.