CTEK celebrates Charge Your Car Day

There’s nothing more frustrating than hearing the click-click-nothing when your car has a flat battery.

And, as more of us have been working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and using our cars less regularly, that’s an inconvenience which is more likely to happen. Especially so if you don’t look after the health of your vehicle’s battery.

This week, those in the know celebrated ‘Charge Your Car Day’.

And, the world’s leading battery charger company, CTEK, wants you to mark October 5 in your diary every year and join those who know the role the humble car battery has in the everyday performance and reliability of your vehicle.

No matter whether you drive a conventional petrol or diesel-powered car, or a high-tech hybrid vehicle, the 12-volt battery is a critical element in ensuring your vehicle remains mobile and functioning at its best. Even most fully electric cars use a conventional battery!

As modern cars more heavily rely on electronically-controlled components – including essential safety systems and conveniences such as high-resolution touch screens, digital dashboards and interior lighting – the battery is working harder than ever before. So keeping your car’s battery in good health ensures the rest of the car operates effectively, and, most importantly, remains safe for its occupants and other road users.

“The humble car battery has been working hard for us for the past 100 years,” said CTEK’s Asia Pacific Director of Sales, Robert Briggs.

“Back in the ‘good old days’, all a car battery had to do was start the car. Today, the battery not only gets a car moving, but also powers all of the technology within your vehicle – from keyless entry, alarms and immobilisers, onboard computers and the air conditioning.

“And that’s just fuel-powered vehicles! When it comes to electric vehicles, the car battery is critical for every facet of the vehicle functioning.

“It’s easy to forget how much hard work your car battery has to do day-in, day-out, so ‘Charge Your Car Day’ is a terrific opportunity to remind us all that we’ve got to look after it.

“Making sure your battery is charged and giving it a bit of additional TLC can extend its life, saving motorists time and money.”

Ensuring your battery is in tip-top shape can easily be integrated into your regular routine, no matter how often you drive your vehicle.

Purchasing a portable battery charger like the CTEK MXS 5.0 -- available from automotive retailers such as Repco for just $148.00 – will save you money in the long run, ensuring your battery remains in peak condition and lasts longer. And a healthy battery prevents any time wasted – and the associated costs like call-out fees, repairs and towing.

It’s even better for the environment with fewer batteries being discarded or recycled.

To make sure your car’s battery is always charged to its maximum capacity, set a monthly reminder to use the battery charger when your car is parked in the garage for a day.

If you have an electric vehicle, CTEK recommends following its simple ABC rule of ‘Always Be Charging’ as even the highest quality battery packs will lose power when not in use.

Caring for your battery even when it is fully charged is just as important, says CTEK, as its range of high-quality chargers have inbuilt monitoring and automatic troubleshooting programs that keep the battery in prime condition, or alert the vehicle’s owner of any potential issues before they may occur.

CTEK also says that owners should be aware that batteries operate at their most efficient in an optimal temperature range, and that extreme heat is the number one killer of car batteries. With warmer weather approaching drivers should, therefore, be aware of any changes to the way their vehicle starts or operates in hot weather, as this could be an early indication of a weak battery.

And remember, if in the event that your car does have a flat battery, CTEK advises that using jumper leads or bump-starting your vehicle, then going for a short drive or leaving it idling in the driveway will not fully recharge your battery and could lead to long-term damage.

The most reliable solution is to use a charger that will completely top-up the battery at the correct rate.

“We hope Charge Your Car Day helps motorists kick start a healthy car maintenance routine every year,” added CTEK’s Briggs.

“When your battery is properly charged and running at peak performance, you can be confident that it won’t let you or your vehicle down, and you’ll have great peace of mind.”

Review the CTEK battery charger range online at Repco