Why are batteries suddenly so expensive?

[lman]

Maybe the same cooperate umbrella but definitely not the same battery. The low end John Deere lawn mowers are made by MTD, also not the same. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

No John Deere mowers are made by MTD.

 

[Hodado]

I have a Weize in my Polaris. It’s going on 4 years. Previous batteries all lasted about 12 months.

I just replaced the batteries in our two SUV’s with the Weize from Amazon no core charges hoping for four years of service

 

[Hodado]

The previous battery from O’Reilly auto was bought in 2019.

I recall a battery that came with my then new John Deere that lasted eight years so I went back to the dealer thinking it was worth it if it would go that long but no the J D replacement puked in ONE season,been buying the cheapos from the farm store ever since

 

[gagnon07]

I noticed this with an older car I had. Today I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery and I'm seeing $200!
Are they filling batteries with gold now?


WTH ???

If you have a battery world near you, give them a try, their batteries are 1/2 the price of everyone else with same or.better warranty

I noticed this with an older car I had. Today I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery and I'm seeing $200!
Are they filling batteries with gold now?


WTH ???

 

[MHarryE]

Over the past 20 years the price of lead has gone from an average of about $400 per ton to $2000 per ton and has been as high as $3700. And batteries are mostly lead. The lead/acid battery demand outside of automotive has rocketed due to storage requirements. Lead mining has created so many toxic areas that steps have been taken protecting miners and the environment. All have added up to the high battery costs we now see. The recycling value should be a lot more than it is but I did get $35 credit for the last tractor battery i returned, a lot better than the couple of bucks I used to get.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I have a lithium battery in my motorcycle that has been going for 10 years now. It also weighs 75% less than the lead acid that was in it

 

[Paul Thornton]

Just replaced the battery in my standby generator, $200. Seems to be the going price.

 

[boatmoter]

I noticed this with an older car I had. Today I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery and I'm seeing $200!
Are they filling batteries with gold now?


WTH ???

too many people today are trying to make their first Mill in a short time. they also want to be able to afford healthcare. that takes a lot of money today. what I do is go to a place here in Tampa Florida area that rebuild or sells Blem Batteries I pay $$38 buck s for a battery that is guaranteed for 2 yrs. they test the charging & starting system and install the battery. or you can bring your core and pick up a battery. this is all they do. I used to work for a Battery company that does this, I was the auto Electrician there,rebuilt starters and alternators. they dump the acid out in plastic barrels,wash the battery, add new acid to the barrel until it reads 12.75 on the hydrometer. then pours it back into the battery and puts it on a trickle charge with a special industrial charger for 3 days, this breaks any Sulfation loose. they load test the batteries then put them on the shelf. when I get one it usually last me 2.5 to 3 yrs. they also sell brand new batterys for $60 bucks,these last about 4 yrs. theres only like 3 batterie company's in the USA,one of them is interstate. . these companys make the batteries for all distributors and their put their labels on them.

 

[RESINC]

I noticed this with an older car I had. Today I'm trying to replace a 1979 VW Beetle battery and I'm seeing $200!
Are they filling batteries with gold now?


WTH ???

The proper thing to do with the devastating global warming crisis is to place a large solar panel on your VW and a wind mill as a hood ornament. You will no longer need to purchase batteries for at least 15 years and you will save the planet. Thank you AL GORE.

 

[boatmoter]

Long gone are the days of swinging into your local Wally and grabbing an EverStart group 51 (or whatever) for $60-70. They're 2-3x that cost now. More at car parts stores.

some vehicles today and marine app's have AGM batterys in them. these are expensive and also takes a battery charger that also charges AGM batteries to charge them. I have 2 AGM batteries in my 2016 Chevy Malibu, and lot of later GM's have them also, one in the trunk for part of the stop-start system and the other under the hood. the prices of a regular battery is way too high, were getting robbed and raped.