Rating of the best domestic car batteries in 2021

Even 15-20 years ago, Russian-made batteries were considered morally obsolete and did not correspond to the realities of the market. Today the situation has changed dramatically, and if earlier, even the domestic demand was low, now many domestic manufacturers are successfully entering foreign markets, competing with recognized European and Asian brands.

As for the domestic market, here Russian-made batteries even have certain advantages. Firstly, this is a more affordable cost, and secondly, they are adapted to the harsh northern climate. For most foreign analogues, severe frosts are a serious problem, although in the middle lane, in Moscow, for example, they feel pretty good.

One way or another, the stagnation of the car market, caused by known reasons, has affected all Russians, and now the price tag of spare parts and consumables, including the battery, is becoming a more important criterion than quality and durability. However, the best Russian batteries are quite worthy of an assessment at the average European level. Let's get acquainted with the demanded manufacturers of batteries in Russia and their products.

Battery technology

The AkTech brand has been known since the 2000s, but it is engaged in the production of batteries at the facilities of an enterprise with almost a century of history. The VostSibElement plant was built in the 1930s, supplying batteries for the emerging automotive industry. In the 90s, it was on the verge of closing, was divided into three companies, and one of them, "Battery Technologies", proved to be successful. So much so that after a few years its best battery models began to be installed on VAZ and other brands, and subsequently the plant's products were successfully certified in accordance with European standards.

Later, the company began to receive regular orders from the Ministry of Defense and began to explore the markets of neighboring countries. In the 2010s, the production of batteries that meet Asian standards was mastered. The enterprise is successfully mastering new technologies, including those of its own design. An example is the introduction of FiberGlass Composite (EFB) technology, which has significantly increased battery life due to the use of composite core reinforcement.

Currently, the AkTech production line includes equipment from the giants of the world battery industry - Exide, Wirz, Bosh, etc. Its total area, taking into account all production and technological chains, is about 22 thousand square meters. The production process is certified according to quality standards ISO 9001: 2008/2015. The company produces batteries of several lines designed for installation in passenger cars of all price categories, from budget to premium, including SUVs. There is a series of battery for trucks.

AkTech products lead the top Russian batteries for cars due to the following features:

• use of hybrid technology (Ca +, Ca / Ca) in the production of plates, which made it possible to combine the best characteristics of calcium and classic antimony batteries, making them more resistant to repeated deep discharges, reducing electrolyte losses and lowering self-discharge;
• Tetra Oxide Power technology has improved the anti-corrosion properties of electrodes, increased capacity and starting current of batteries;
• ChessPlate technology is designed to improve the resistance of the active mass to shedding, thereby increasing battery life;
• Expanded metal technology used in the manufacture of negative electrodes, which consists in stretching the metal and its special perforation, makes the plates more durable and resistant to corrosion processes;
• instead of traditional plugs, a lid is used, made by labyrinth technology, which made it possible to significantly reduce the loss of electrolyte;
• the addition of silicon dioxide to the active layer also serves to improve the characteristics of batteries: strengthening the strength of the plates, reducing their shedding, increasing the electrical conductivity of active substances, expanding the operating temperature range (from minus 40 to plus 50 degrees Celsius);
• PowerPass technology is also aimed at improving the conductivity of the active mass;
• the use of uniclemm (tapered terminal and bolted connection) improved their strength characteristics, significantly reducing the heating effect and the likelihood of contacts melting.

In the ratings of the best Russian batteries, such lines as AkTech, Orion, Zver, Solo invariably occupy the highest places.

Tyumen batteries

In the list of the best battery plants in Russia, one cannot fail to mention the Tyumen Battery Plant. TAZ is one of the oldest enterprises in the industry, the successor of the Podolsk Battery Plant, whose capacities were evacuated to Tyumen during the Great Patriotic War. Already in 1952, about a million batteries were manufactured here, and today the annual output is 75 million batteries, which are also supplied abroad. Tellingly, all components involved in the production of batteries, from separators to monoblock housings, are made from domestic materials and raw materials. The company's products are certified according to the ISO 9001-2011 standard.

In addition to batteries for cars, TAZ produces batteries for heavy equipment on tracked vehicles, for motor vehicles, electric cars, trucks, special equipment, railway rolling stock, power plants, etc.

Consider the brand's line of starter batteries for light vehicles:

It is believed that it is the Tyumen batteries that are best adapted to harsh winters and are able to work normally at temperatures down to -50 degrees.

Alcor

A feature of this brand of Russian batteries is the fact that CJSC MPKF Alkor is also a company from Tyumen. The date of its formation is 1990, but the batteries began to be produced here later, when the company became the property of the Born company. In 2000, the construction of its own water treatment facilities, necessary for the manufacture of electrolyte, was completed, and from that time the countdown of the production time for the full cycle began. True, at first, most of the components were supplied by TAZ, and already in 2009, the production of hybrid batteries was launched here for the first time. In 2014, the Punch technology was introduced to create lead grids. Currently, the production line of the enterprise includes equipment supplied by renowned North American, Italian and Chinese companies.

Features of Alkor batteries:

• the use of Italian technology for water purification for electrolyte;
• high-quality soldering and the most accurate connection of battery parts thanks to the use of Italian equipment and standards;
• lead paste facilitates fast battery charging regardless of the selected mode;
• the addition of calcium makes the plates more durable, vibration-resistant, reducing their self-discharge.

All batteries are tested for full functionality before being sent to stores. The brand's lineup includes the Medved, Yamal, Buran, Salut, Space, BatBear and others lines.

Acom

Among Russian battery manufacturers, Akom can boast of a considerable number of contracts with domestic car manufacturers - GM-AvtoVAZ, IzhAvto, Lada-Tul and others.And although the Akom battery plant is quite young (it has been operating since 2001), in a couple of years it managed to enter a full cycle of car battery production, which was facilitated by the patronage of Johnson Controls. Initially, the batteries came out under the Varta brand, little by little the company mastered the latest technologies, and in 2006 it managed to establish the production of lead doped with calcium, thanks to which the plates became more durable and resistant to corrosion.

Akom batteries are characterized by the ability to operate at extreme temperatures, having passed a number of successful tests in the harsh Arctic and no less extreme Sahara.

Popular lines of batteries for passenger cars - Acom, Ultimatum, Bravo, Reactor. There are series designed for installation in commercial vehicles.

Saratov battery plant "Elektroistochnik"

This is the oldest enterprise in Russia specializing in the production of batteries, mainly for special purposes. Founded in 1929, the plant currently manufactures plastic components supplied to you abroad, as well as ready-made batteries for motor vehicles, cars / trucks, agricultural and construction equipment, for aviation and military batteries.

Among the customers of the company's products are such reputable structures as Roskosmos, VKS, Navy (batteries of the silver-zinc type).

Kursk battery plant "Accumulator"

The production of lead-acid batteries was established here back in 1952, two years later the enterprise mastered the production of alkaline batteries, after reconstruction in 1995 the plant switched to the manufacture of modern batteries of various form factors and types:

• lead acid, used in heavy industry;
• alkaline traction batteries, as power sources for electric cars and similar equipment;
• nickel-iron - to provide traction for electric locomotives used in quarries and mines;
• Nickel-cadmium batteries are actively used in public transport - metro, trams, trolleybuses, electric / diesel locomotives;
• Nickel-cadmium sealed batteries provide power supply to alarm systems, communication facilities, and automated control systems.

Tungstone

One of the youngest domestic enterprises, the Ryazan battery plant "Tangstone" was launched in 2004 by the joint efforts of Russian and British specialists. The plant's specialization is quite extensive - these are starter batteries and traction batteries, as well as lithium-ion batteries and industrial power supplies.

The full production cycle of the enterprise is 12,700 square meters of space, not counting its own treatment facilities, the plant employs about 450 people. It has its own physical and chemical laboratory, where research is carried out and the quality of finished products is checked. In 2019, the Ryazan plant mastered the Con-Cast technology of continuous casting of electrodes using a calcium-doped alloy.

The enterprise's capacities allow producing about a million batteries annually (16 automobile lines and 7 industrial ones), including batteries for MAZ and KAMAZ trucks. In terms of annual sales (in 2019 - 2.7 billion rubles), the company moved up to 4th place in the country.

Among the most demanded series of batteries are Gladiator, Sputnik, Attack, Contact, Tungstone, Fora, SilverStar.

Conclusion

We will leave the answer to the questions of which Russian manufacturer is better and which battery to choose. We only note that all battery brands have drawbacks, including the German Varta or Bosh. Yes, in terms of the total introduction of modern technologies into production, Russian batteries for cars are still inferior to the best Western manufacturers, but they are much cheaper and have an optimal ratio of quality to cost. The service life of 3-5 years is a perfectly acceptable indicator for an inexpensive battery installed in a regular passenger car without a heavy load on the on-board network.