Frequently Asked
Questions

Yes — that's the whole point. Salty Cells batteries are manufactured to the same BCI (Battery Council International) group dimensions as the lead-acid battery they replace. Same case size, same terminal positions, same terminal type. You remove the old battery, drop in the Salty Cells, reconnect the cables, and you're done. No adapters, no bracket modifications, no wiring changes.

Use our fitment lookup tool on the home page to confirm the correct model for your specific vehicle, make, and year.

Yes. Salty Cells batteries handle the high cycling demands of start-stop systems exceptionally well — in fact, this is one area where sodium-ion technology is significantly better than standard lead-acid batteries. Start-stop systems cycle the battery many more times per day than a conventional vehicle, which is why they usually specify AGM batteries rather than standard lead-acid. Our sodium-ion cells handle these cycles with even more headroom.

If your vehicle originally came with an AGM battery for start-stop use, our SaltyCell Group 24 (SC-G24) or LN4/H7 (SC-H7) models are the appropriate replacements. The Salty Cells BMS ensures the charging profile is compatible.

For the primary starting battery: yes, absolutely. For the secondary (auxiliary) battery used to power camping accessories, fridges, and lights — our 12V SLI (Starting, Lighting, Ignition) range is designed primarily for engine starting applications. While they will function as auxiliary batteries, if your secondary battery runs deep-discharge cycles regularly (e.g. a 12V camping fridge running overnight), contact us to discuss whether a purpose-built deep-cycle sodium-ion model would be a better fit for your setup.

Yes. Salty Cells batteries are designed to charge within the same voltage window as standard lead-acid batteries: 13.8V–14.4V from your alternator. Your vehicle's charging system does not need any modification. The battery includes an integrated battery management system (BMS) that regulates charging internally.

If you charge your battery externally (when the car is parked for extended periods), a standard 12V charger set to "AGM" or "normal lead-acid" mode works perfectly. No special sodium-ion charger is needed.

Salty Cells batteries perform well in cold conditions, including the overnight frosts experienced in alpine areas of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. Our CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) ratings are measured at −18°C in accordance with the BCI standard — so the cranking power you see listed is what you get in genuinely cold conditions.

Sodium-ion chemistry does experience a moderate reduction in capacity at very low temperatures (below 0°C), similar to lithium-ion. However, for the purposes of starting a vehicle, the CCA rating is what matters most, and ours is competitive with or superior to comparable lead-acid batteries.

For customers in Alpine NSW, the Victorian High Country, or Tasmania: our SC-G24 and SC-H7 models have CCA ratings (800 and 960 respectively) that are well within safe margins for cold starts in those regions.

Our batteries are rated for 5,000+ charge-discharge cycles before capacity drops below 80%. In normal driving conditions, where the battery is cycled once per day (or less), this equates to well over 6 years of service life — compared to the 2–4 years typical of a quality lead-acid battery in Australian conditions.

Real-world longevity also depends on factors like operating temperature and how long the battery sits without being charged. In practice, based on comparable sodium-ion technology deployed in similar applications, customers in temperate Australian climates can reasonably expect 7–10 years of service life. We back that with a 3-year warranty and will provide data as our real-world fleet grows.

The upfront price is higher — typically 2–3× a comparable lead-acid battery. But this comparison is misleading. A $100–150 lead-acid battery for an average Australian vehicle might last 3 years, meaning you'll spend $400–600 over a decade. A $469 SaltyCell Group 24 should last 7–10 years, meaning you spend no more over the life of your vehicle — and you never deal with a flat battery surprise on a hot day.

Add in the environmental cost of repeatedly manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of lead-acid batteries, and the value case becomes even clearer. This isn't a premium product that costs more for cosmetic reasons — it costs more because it's made from more advanced materials that genuinely last longer.

Comparable quality AGM batteries (Optima, VARTA, Exide EFB) are typically A$200–$450 for popular sizes — similar to or slightly less than Salty Cells. However, AGM batteries still contain lead and acid, have a cycle life of 500–700 cycles (vs our 5,000+), and degrade significantly in high heat. On a total cost of ownership basis, Salty Cells delivers better value than premium AGM in most Australian scenarios.

Yes — we ship to all Australian states and territories, including WA, NT, and Tasmania. Sodium-ion batteries are classified as non-hazardous for freight purposes (unlike lithium-ion batteries, which have special transport requirements), so we can ship via standard road freight with no dangerous goods surcharge.

Freight is calculated and displayed at checkout based on your delivery address. Estimated delivery: 3–5 business days for most metro and regional addresses, up to 10 business days for remote areas.

We offer a 30-day change-of-mind return policy. If the battery is unused and in its original packaging, we'll issue a full refund (minus return shipping costs).

If the battery has been installed and you experience a fault within the 3-year warranty period, we will replace it at no cost. Proof of purchase and a brief description of the fault are all that's required to initiate a warranty claim. We do not require the battery to be uninstalled for initial assessment — a photo and description is sufficient for most claims.

Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply in addition to this policy. If a Salty Cells product fails to meet a consumer guarantee under the ACL, you are entitled to a remedy regardless of our stated policy.

Our 3-year warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, including: premature capacity loss (below 70% of rated capacity within the warranty period under normal use), failure to hold charge, internal BMS faults, terminal defects, and case defects.

The warranty does not cover: physical damage from accidents, incorrect installation, use in applications outside the battery's specified ratings, or damage caused by third-party equipment. Contact us to initiate any warranty claim — we aim to resolve all claims within 5 business days.