That's the warning from AA Ireland, which says simple steps could double battery life.
Every year, up to a fifth of cars on the road will require a new battery, estimates AA Rescue, but many of these could have been prevented by being fully charged more frequently.
It takes 240 miles/385 kilometres of driving with no load or eight hours of continuous driving to fully charge a battery. If you only make short stop-start journeys, it won’t have the chance to fully charge, which will considerably shorten its life.
A modern car draws around three times as much electrical current as a 1970s Morris Minor. Flat batteries are still the AA's most common call-out reason, accounting for around 30% of breakdowns.
Regular long runs in the car could double battery life. Also, particularly in cold weather, make sure everything electrical is turned off to help take some load off the starter motor and, in turn, the battery. If your car struggles to start and your battery is more than five years old, it’s on borrowed time, so get it replaced.
