Be ready. Be charged. Be winter smart.

2022 is expected to be the busiest travel season since 2019 and cold weather can often affect travel plans, especially if one is driving. While winter storms are starting to hit all over the United States, now is the time to get vehicles ready for the winter including ensuring car batteries are in top condition.

"We may think about checking the car's oil, brakes, washer fluid and heater, but the humble car battery is often overlooked in our winter preparations," says Bobbie DuMelle, Executive Vice President of CTEK North America. "But a few simple checks and a regular maintenance regime is all that's needed to give you peace of mind that your battery is fit and ready to keep you safely out on the road this season."

Vehicle charging specialists CTEK says an inactive car battery will lose 0.1V of energy every month and, if your parked car is also running an alarm system, onboard computer, remote locking etc., the continual drain on the battery will be much more than that. Taking a lot of short journeys, particularly in urban areas, also drains the battery, as it takes 150-350A of battery power just to start the car, and on short trips the alternator won't have the time or capability to replace this charge. This is especially true if your car has a 'stop/start' function. In fact, if you've noticed your 'stop/start' hasn't been kicking in lately, this may be because your battery isn't sufficiently charged, as your car will gradually turn off 'non-essential' functions to focus the remaining battery charge on keeping the engine turning.

But there's no need to worry about being left out in the cold this winter, just follow CTEK's expert tips and you'll be all set for carefree driving, wherever you want to go.

Be ready. Don't leave it too late. Get your car battery into shape before the temperatures start to drop, as it's much harder to start your car in colder temperatures. It can take as much as 2.5 times more power to start a cold engine, so while you're thinking about getting those winter coats out of the closet, check your car battery too and give it some pre-winter TLC. That way, there'll be no surprises when you take to the road.

Drivers also need to be aware that cold weather conditions can have an adverse effect on car batteries. A battery can lose as much as 35% in performance when temperatures hit freezing, and up to 50% if temperatures sink below that. Drivers should look out for any signs of change – like the way the car starts, or the operation of the electrical system in general – as these can be indications of a weak battery.

Be charged. There is a very fine line between a fully charged battery and a dead one, and even a small drop in charge can compromise battery health. A car battery is fully charged at 12.72V. Below 12.4V, sulphate crystals can build up, degrading the battery and reducing battery capacity. And below 10.4V, the battery may not even start the car at all. Not only that, driving around in your car will only ever charge your battery to 80% capacity so, to top it up to 100%, you'll always need a battery charger.

A smart battery charger like the CTEK MXS 5.0 offers a unique approach to battery care. It is a fully automatic charger and maintainer with a built-in automatic temperature sensor that can help to extend battery life and protect against a dead battery. The MXS 5.0 also has a special reconditioning function that restores deeply discharged batteries, unique maintenance charging, and the charging of demanding AGM RV batteries.

Be winter smart. Charging your car battery at least once a month prolongs its life by up to three times, so buying a reliable battery charger, and getting yourself into a regular battery maintenance routine, makes perfect sense, year-round. Regular charging is even more important in the winter though, as things like heated screens and seats, headlights, and an increase in short journeys put additional strain on your battery. And, as battery failure can damage or compromise a vehicle's electronics, a charger is most certainly a worthwhile investment.

Investing in a charger like the MXS 5.0, with built-in functionality for both maintenance and troubleshooting, is the smart choice for drivers. The MXS 5.0 is the fastest, most effective, and versatile consumer charger CTEK has ever made. The MXS 5.0 does the thinking for you, using adaptive charging to measure your battery's health then delivering the right level of power to get it working at optimum capacity, with a built-in temperature sensor that automatically adjusts the output voltage for cold conditions. With the MXS 5.0's patented technology, you can even recondition your battery to restore battery health.

"Winter driving can be fun, and it can be beautiful," says DuMelle. "And if you take that little bit of time to get yourself and your battery well prepared in advance, then you're all set to make the most of it."

For added peace of mind while you're out on the road, CTEK offers a portable battery charger, the CS FREE, that you can take with you on your journey. Charge it up, store it in your glove box and, wherever your travels take you, you never need to worry about being stranded with a flat battery again. The CS FREE uses revolutionary 'adaptive boost technology' to gently and safely give a flat battery enough charge to get you going in around 15 minutes. This is completely safe for the vehicle's electronics, unlike most boosters or jump starters that deliver a sharp burst of power to effectively shock the battery into life. The CS FREE even has USB-A and USB-C ports to charge your mobile phone, PC, tablet, and other devices.