As we come into the spring months, GS Yuasa has explained the importance of choosing an original equipment (OE) manufacturer and the potential pitfalls of low-quality batteries, when it comes to the fast expanding leisure battery market. 

The company points out that as OE manufacturers, it controls every element of a battery’s development and construction. This includes using high quality lead, case and separator materials and regularly testing to ensure that impurities are kept to an absolute minimum. GS Yuasa’s batteries are developed to deliver a specific specification and are thoroughly tested to ensure all products sold meet this.

In contrast, many importers source their batteries with limited control over their production, typically purchasing a battery from a variety of factories before labelling them. This means they can be inconsistent in quality and true performance.

GS Yuasa’s laboratory testing regularly uncovers some concerning practices used to reduce the cost of batteries sold by some competitors. This includes, reduced lead content which results in a short service life, something that some even attempt to hide by adding sand to simulate lead weight. 

Some battery makers also use over specification, inflating a battery’s performance ratings, typically to mask a reduction in lead content and therefore performance. Unfortunately, overspecification is rife amongst budget batteries. 

All GS and Yuasa batteries are produced to exacting standards and always meet the performance stated on the label. They conform to the EU’s capacity marking regulations introduced in 2010. These dictate that battery capacity labels accurately reflect a battery’s performance. To conform, all batteries must achieve at least 100% of stated label rating for CCA and 90% for Ampere-hour capacity performance. GS Yuasa target 100% of the battery’s Ah and CCA rating in both their GS and Yuasa-branded leisure batteries, ensuring they are well clear of the parameters specified in the EN standard. GS Yuasa also include the watt hour and cycle ratings alongside CCA or A (EN) and Ah capacities. Not only does this make it easier for consumers to understand the performance available, but it also makes it easier to determine the overall value.

In other cases competitors look to cut costs by removing additional features. All GS and Yuasa leisure batteries include enhanced safety features including an integrated flame arrestor, protecting against external ignition sources entering the battery and robust built-in carrying handles for safer handling.

GS Yuasa also point out that whereas a premium battery might cost slightly more than a budget equivalent to buy, it’s likely to provide a much longer service life and therefore negate any initial savings. This is why the Japanese manufacturer always advises choosing a battery from a trusted, original equipment (OE) manufacturer. For example, GS Yuasa’s Yuasa-branded batteries, which are fitted as standard by Swift, Europe’s number one brand for leisure vehicles and thousands of caravan and motorhome owners each year.

For more leisure battery-specific guidance, or to find out more about Yuasa’s range of NCC verified leisure batteries, visit www.yuasa.co.uk/leisure