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AGM ExplainedInformationYuasa AGM• Improved active mass efficiency, through betterabsorption of the acid• Increased lifespan due to minimal active materialshedding due to battery design• Higher cold start values• Totally Maintenance Free – zero waterconsumption• Spill proof/leak proof• Designed to meet latest OEM vehicle demands• Compatible with sensitive electronic equipment• AGM technology now factory fitted to numerousluxury cars and “Stop – Start” vehicle whereincreased AGM battery features are requiredYuasa’s world leading motorcycle and industrial AGM(absorbent glass mat) technology comes to the automotivemarket. The Yuasa automotive AGM battery has beenengineered to meet the growing extreme power demands ofrecently introduced vehicles now starting to enter theEuropean aftermarket. Yuasa’s automotive AGM experiencecomes from vehicles such as the Mazda MX5 and the famousToyota Prius and has now been launched for European vehiclebattery designs.The new Yuasa AGM European 096 and 019 sized batteriesprovide reliable starting whilst coping with the extreme powerneeds of the modern vehicle. Laboratory evaluation is boasting4-5 times the cyclic durability of standard conventional floodedproduct and typically 16% higher starting power, even at lowertemperatures. Increased reaction surface area ensuresincreased energy densities for faster engine rotation duringstarting and therefore maximising fuel efficiency.The AGM batteries utilises the same absorbent glass mattechnology as used in Yuasa Motorcycle and Industrialbatteries which have been on the market for over 44 years(1965). This absorbent glass mat absorbs the battery’s acid,enabling a more efficient use of the cell’s volume without theneed for electrolyte reservoirs, as needed with conventionalflooded batteries. The absorbent glass mat gives a number ofkey benefits to the design of the lead acid battery:• Within normal operating conditions, the use of theindividual cell valve design and glass mat plateseparation ensures gas recombination occurs andensures that no water is lost therefore negating the needfor electrolyte reservoirs and freeing the user frommaintenance.• One way venting system providing partial pressure ineach cell ensuring 100% leak proof and safe handling.• The acid absorption of the glass mat means that thebattery packs can be operated under higher pressuresthan conventional flooded batteries this has benefitsincluding significantly prolonging battery cycle durabilityby minimising paste shedding.• The increased pack pressures of the AGM batteryincrease the batteries resistance to vibration.• More reaction surface area ensuring higher startingcapacity within the same footprint as conventionalflooded batteries.Frequently Asked questionsQ. What are the differences between flooded and AGMLead Acid batteries?A. See above, AGM batteries are built using a glass mat separatorwhich enable all the electrolyte required by the batteryto be stored within the glass mat, also allowing any gassesgiven off during charging to be recombined into watermeaning that the batteries are totally maintenance free.The design benefits of the glass mat over conventionalflooded batteries enable the battery pack to operate underhigher pressure without the fear of insufficient electrolytebetween the plates, leading to the step change in durabilityoffered by AGM batteries over flooded. The quality of theglass mat is a critical item in ensuring the optimum life ofthe battery versus its application. This experience has beengained by Yuasa from over 44 years experience in the fieldusing this technology. The automotive application batterydesigns are balanced with greater high rate startingperformance and cycle life for the increased service/technological requirements of modern vehicle designs.Q. What are the differences between GEL and AGM(starved) batteries?A. Both are recombinant batteries (i.e. under normaloperating conditions they recombine the gases given offduring charging to form water) and both are classified assealed valve regulated.The major difference is that in the AGM, the electrolyte isfully soaked into a special absorbed glass mat separatorwhich immobilises the acid, whereas in the GEL batteriesthe acid is mixed with Silica to form a GEL alsoimmobilising the acid. The benefits of AGM over GEL arethat with the use of absorbed glass mat, the battery packcan be operated under a greater operating pressure soimproving cyclic durability. With GEL, similar pack pressurecan not be used so durability is usually provided byincreased paste density which is good for life but not asgood for high rate startability performance as required forautomotive applications.Q. Why is charging voltage so critical to both GEL andAGM batteries?A. Charge voltage is critical with these types of batteries asboth are recombinant batteries. This means that theoxygen that is normally produced on the positive plate in alllead acid batteries recombines with hydrogen given off bythe negative plate. The recombination of the hydrogen andoxygen produces water, which recycles back to the batteryacid, therefore the battery is maintenance free and doesnot need topping up.The sealing vent used in the design ensures that a positiveinternal pressure is maintained to ensure therecombination of the gasses occur and not allow the cellto dry out and fail.528