Eurobat is the European association for the battery industry, representing manufacturers of automotive and industrial batteries across Europe. One of Eurobat's key roles is to establish standardised guidelines for battery life, ensuring that batteries meet consistent quality and performance criteria across the industry. These guidelines provide clarity and transparency for both manufacturers and consumers, helping to ensure that batteries are fit for purpose and meet the expectations for durability and reliability.

How is battery life measured?

Battery life under Eurobat guidelines is measured based on the battery's ability to retain its capacity and deliver power over time. This is typically assessed through a series of standardised tests that simulate the battery's performance under various conditions.

These tests are rigorous and designed to reflect real-world usage, ensuring that the classifications provided by Eurobat are reliable indicators of battery longevity.

Who administers Eurobat guidelines?

The Eurobat guidelines are developed and administered by the association itself, which collaborates closely with battery manufacturers, industry experts, and regulatory bodies across Europe. Eurobat ensures that the guidelines are regularly updated to reflect advances in battery technology, as well as changes in environmental regulations and market demands.

Eurobat battery life classifications

Eurobat classifies batteries into different categories based on their expected service life. These classifications provide a clear indication of how long a battery is expected to last under normal operating conditions. The classifications are as follows:

3-5 Years – Standard Commercial: designed for applications where moderate cycling is expected. These batteries offer a balance between performance and cost, making them suitable for a wide range of uses, including, alarm panels, backup power and small uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).

6-9 Years – General Purpose: this category is employed when an improved design life compared to Standard Commercial is required.

10-12 Years – Long Life: batteries designed for high-demand applications where reliability is critical. These batteries are used in high power applications, such as telecoms, UPS and emergency lighting.

>12 Years – Very Long Life: batteries in the Very Long Life category are the most durable and designed to support long life demands.

Importance of Eurobat classification

The Eurobat classification system is a valuable tool for both manufacturers and consumers, providing a clear and standardised measure of battery life. For manufacturers, it offers a framework to design and test batteries in line with specific longevity criteria. For consumers, it provides confidence that the battery they purchase will meet their needs and expectations over its intended service life.

Group of Yuasa, GS, and GS Yuasa automotive batteries in a workshop setting

AGM batteries

Known for their exceptional Start - Stop performance, our GS and Yuasa AGM batteries provide up to 360,000 starts, with superior charge acceptance and durability.

Construction: AGM batteries feature absorbent glass mat that absorbs and contains all the electrolyte, preventing leaks.
Benefits: superior Start - Stop performance, high dynamic charge acceptance, and exceptional durability.
Applications: ideal for high-end vehicles with extensive electronic systems and regenerative braking capabilities.

EFB batteries

With up to 270,000 starts, our GS and Yuasa EFB batteries offer an excellent solution for entry-level Start - Stop vehicles, combining cost-effectiveness with performance.

Construction: EFB batteries enhance the traditional flooded design by utilising carbon and lithium additives in the negative plate and high-density active material in the positive plate to improve durability and performance.
Benefits: enhanced charge acceptance and greater cyclic durability.
Applications: perfect for entry-level Start - Stop vehicles and the recommended choice for standard ignition vehicles that make lots of regular short journeys such as taxis & delivery vehicles.

Understanding the difference between Eurobat classification & GS Yuasa design life

While Eurobat provides a standardised framework for categorising battery life across different manufacturers, GS Yuasa’s design life specifications offer a more detailed and application-specific measure of battery longevity.

GS Yuasa takes a more tailored approach, defining the design life of a battery based on its specific application, construction, and the conditions in which it will be used. GS Yuasa batteries undergo rigorous testing that simulates real-world conditions, including temperature variations, deep discharges, and high cycling demands to provide an accurate measure of how long the battery will perform in a given environment. In Europe GS Yuasa’s ISO17025 accredited test laboratory provides the business with a local facility to perform this function.

For example, while a battery may be classified under Eurobat as having a 10-12 year life, GS Yuasa’s design life specification may provide a more nuanced expectation based on the battery’s intended use. This detailed approach allows GS Yuasa to offer batteries that not only meet but often exceed the performance expectations set by Eurobat classifications.

GS Yuasa Battery Europe Ltd

GS Yuasa are one of the world’s largest global manufacturers of Lead-Acid and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. For over 30 years, GS Yuasa Battery Europe Ltd have been Europe’s leading battery supplier and the number one choice for quality, performance and reliability.

GS Yuasa Battery Europe Ltd consists of five sales companies and one battery manufacturing company.