SEG Automotive expands aftermarket portfolio with POWERbattery

SEG Automotive, the expert in the field of rotating machinery, offers the ideal complement to its starter motors and alternators with the POWERbatteries.

A high-performance battery provides the energy that the conventional or start/stop starter motors need to get the engine moving. While driving, SEG Automotive's highly efficient alternators ensure that the battery is recharged.

In the aftermarket, the new 12V vehicle batteries from SEG Automotive not only stand for OE quality, maximum performance and reliability. Rather, it combines other decisive advantages for workshops and end customers:

The integrated Magic Eye charge level indicator enables quick and uncomplicated control of the battery status – without the need for an additional measuring device.

Plate separators ensure maximum operational safety by ensuring efficient current flow, withstanding vibration and preventing short circuits between plates. Thanks to the innovative labyrinth lid technology, the battery is completely maintenance-free. Safety locks, flame arresters and a central degassing system offer reliable protection against leakage.

A robust housing and a reinforced lid ensure high mechanical resilience – ideal for demanding operating conditions. An advanced lead-calcium grid complements the overall concept and ensures particularly low self-discharge, even with longer service lives, as well as high corrosion and heat resistance.

The performance package is rounded off by a warranty of 3 years or 12 months from a capacity of 110 Ah.

There is a choice of three high-performance battery technologies: the classic lead-calcium battery (SLI), the long-lasting Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) and the particularly powerful Absorbent Glass Mat battery (AGM).

With only 9 item numbers, SEG Automotive already covers 97% of all passenger cars, with 3 item numbers 95% of vans and with another 5 item numbers 90% of commercial vehicles.

The batteries are suitable for all types of drive – from classic combustion engines (ICE) to mild and full hybrids (MHEV, HEV) to plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and all-electric vehicles (BEV).

According to the ADAC ( [Opens in a new tab] ADAC Roadside Assistance Balance 2024) failure or discharge of the starter battery is the most common cause of vehicle breakdowns. Therefore, regular checks and timely replacement in the workshop are of central importance.

In workshops, the handling of car batteries today is much more safety-conscious than in the past. The modern batteries from SEG Automotive are completely sealed, leak-proof, tilt-proof and absolutely maintenance-free. This means that no more water needs to be refilled, as there is no significant degassing. This eliminates the need to work with open lead-acid batteries, so protective gloves and goggles are not required when handling car batteries.

Good after-sales vehicle service always includes checking the battery's state of charge. With POWERbatteries from SEG Automotive, the state of charge can be checked quickly and easily by the driver himself at any time – thanks to the so-called Magic Eye. This integrated indicator on the battery allows an immediate assessment of whether the charge level is sufficient or whether it should be recharged – without the need for an additional measuring device.

If the battery needs to be recharged, modern chargers automatically detect the connected battery type and control the charging process accordingly – adapted to AGM, EFB or classic lead-acid batteries.

In case the battery needs to be replaced, it is advisable to replace it professionally in the workshop. It is important to correctly connect the new battery to the vehicle using a workshop test device. The so-called BEM code (Battery Energy Management) ensures that all comfort functions – such as the time, stored radio stations or seat positions – are immediately available again after the replacement.

If a battery change is not possible in the workshop, many vehicles with an open battery management system automatically detect the new battery after some time. As a rule, all comfort functions are fully available again after a few hours.

The main task of the battery in the combustion engine is to provide electrical energy to activate the starter motor and start the engine. After starting, the battery continues to power the spark plugs in gasoline engines to maintain the combustion process. In diesel engines, this function is omitted during driving because the diesel fuel does not require spark plugs due to its compression-ignition properties. However, the glow plug installed in diesel engines also requires electricity from the vehicle battery to start the engine.

The battery in vehicles with start/stop systems is put under heavy strain because the engine has to be restarted frequently. As a rule, particularly powerful batteries, such as the EFB and AGM batteries from SEG Automotive, are used for this purpose.

In addition, however, there are now up to 100 electrical consumers that have to be supplied with energy while driving. These include vehicle lighting, a variety of control units, sensors, driver assistance systems, onboard infotainment systems and external multimedia devices such as tablets and smartphones. AI-supported voice assistants with permanent online access are also being used more and more frequently.

A classic 12-volt battery will also continue to be used in hybrid and electric vehicles. When the vehicle is at a standstill, it supplies the basic systems in standby mode and, as in vehicles with combustion engines, feeds the entire 12-volt on-board electrical system as well as all connected consumers. Depending on the vehicle architecture, the 12V battery is recharged from the high-voltage battery via a voltage converter in electric vehicles or via the generator of the hybrid combustion engine in hybrid vehicles.

A car battery, usually in the form of a lead-acid battery, consists of cells connected in series that together deliver a voltage of 12.78 volts. There are two electrodes in each cell: a positive one made of lead dioxide and a negative one made of lead. These are embedded in an electrolyte of dilute sulfuric acid, which serves as a conductive medium. There are separators between the electrodes that prevent direct contact but allow ion exchange. The whole thing is housed in a robust, acid-resistant plastic housing that protects the battery from external influences. The battery is connected to the vehicle's electrical system via two connection terminals – positive and negative terminals. When discharging, the battery converts chemical energy into electrical energy, while when charging, this process takes place in reverse.