Why are batteries suddenly so expensive?

[ultrarunner]

Today's $200 battery is equal cost to $105 battery in year 2000 due to inflation.

Time to readjust thinking.

But my 1976 calculator that cost $100 has been a buck at the dollar stores for decades.

 

[logcabin]

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 ???

 

[logcabin]

Is it a common size, or is it rare size today?

If item was $105 year 2000 it's about same as $200 in today's money.

Inflation calculator is here...

Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value From 1913-2025

Easily calculate how the buying power of the U.S. dollar has changed from 1913 to 2025. Get inflation rates and U.S. inflation news.

www.usinflationcalculator.com

Gasoline for $3 - 3.50 a gallon today is actually a bargain!


If in doubt, ask Europeans or Canadians

According to the orange moron gasoline is under 2 bucks with his big beautiful bill.

 

[JTKub]

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.

Same here! I think my 2016 Malibu (older body style) uses an H8 AGM. For a 2.5L 4cyl basic car, it's the physically largest battery I've ever had in a car. I actually mail-ordered a Walmart Everstart Platinum replacement for that car last year. It came packaged/boxed really well. I can't find a good way to defeat the auto stop/start on that car. Those cheap hood switch bypass harnesses just set the check engine light on it. On the other hand, the hood switch bypass works perfectly to defeat auto stop/start on our 2021 Traverse. I have yet to replace the factory AGM in that baby yet.

For the little aux battery in the trunk of my 2016 Malibu, a previous owner hacked the OEM style out and replaced it with a riding mower sized battery. It's worked the 2-3yrs we've owned it.

 

[logcabin]

So what are the reasons they are so expensive?

I don’t really know, but my guess would be batteries are very heavy, and shipping costs have gone up a lot with the prices of diesel fuel and crazy high trucking maintenance and insurance costs.

Tariffs! Look at the family in NC, 4th generation that run a saw mill with 50 employees. Just closed, came right out and said it’s tariffs

 

[ultrarunner]

Does the mill import timber to mill?

 

[ultrarunner]

The sea-going freighters filled with logs continue sailing from the port of Olympia…

Now… California Almond growers are having a difficult time as China was a huge market…

 

[Alan46]

According to the orange moron gasoline is under 2 bucks with his big beautiful bill.

If you believe that I’ll sell you a watch for 600.00$

 

[ultrarunner]

I'd sure like to find out whose batteries Kubota was installing on their tractors around 2009. Mine lasted nearly 23 years with occasional trickle charging during early winter months. Longest lasting in-service battery I've ever owned.

Me too with my BX23… best service ever for me… Deka is what I was told.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

A LiFePo4 battery for my bike was about $200 in 2014 when I bought it. Today they are under $100.