Optima’s RedTop delivers higher levels of performance, reliability and durability than a conventional replacement battery in street and track Corvettes and other luxury, sports and high-performance cars.
Back in the day of carburetors and distributors, replacing an OE (original equipment) battery was a no-brainer. Carmakers offered standard and high-performance replacements, as did aftermarket suppliers like Sears, Excide and others. If you were a GM guy you probably bought a Delco Energizer, GM’s captive brand. Sears built a great reputation for its DieHard line by participating in all major motorsports events.
Beyond brand loyalty, battery choices were often made based on cost, warranty range, crank amps and reserve capacity. Availability ranged from low-cost batteries branded for local auto parts stores to premium branded and priced high-capacity models. High-performance cars powered by modified, high-compression engines and competition cars obviously required increased cranking power. Choosing the right battery was not rocket science.
Fast forward to an era when even the most basic cars require “powerful” batteries. Today’s vehicles are loaded with computers, microprocessors, sensors and sophisticated sound systems and accessories that place a huge load on batteries and charging systems. Plus there is a drain when modern-day cars, especially luxury and sports cars, sit for any length of time.
Aston Martin, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Chevrolet (Corvette) dealers warn that if a car will sit for more than a week or so, it should be hooked up to a trickle-type maintenance charger (Battery Tender, C-Tek, etc.). Some automakers offer optional built-in maintenance chargers and high-end import dealers often market nameplate-branded C-Tek chargers. With modern, electronic-laden vehicles, the older the battery, the less time it can sit unattended.
When the battery in my 2007 Corvette started failing recently I checked with a number of friends who owned C5 and C6s. The response was almost unanimous: Your battery will start going in three years; check out the Optima RedTop! The primary culprit is underhood heat and, living in Florida, just magnifies the problem. Next I spoke with Wayne Pontes at Tangible Toys in Sarasota, FL. Wayne, above, left, runs a specialty shop that builds continuation Cheetahs, street and competition Cobras and builds and services high-performance street cars.
“I’ve installed Optima RedTops in many late-model Corvettes, cars that are ‘tracked’ and in Hummers. They’re compact, can be mounted in any position without fear of spilling and virtually indestructible,” said Pontes.
“I suggest a Model 35 RedTop for your C6 along with a quality maintenance/trickle charger for when your car is going to sit for more than a week.”
Optima batteries are unlike traditional lead acid batteries that have lead plates hanging in pools of acid. Since they provide their own structural support, the lead is diluted with inert stiffening metals that detract from performance. Optima batteries use long thin layers of lead wound into tight spiral cells that are supported by high-strength cylindrical cell casings.
The lead ribbons (Spiralcell) aren’t required to provide structural strength and can be manufactured from high-purity, high-performance lead. This results in dramatically lower internal resistance and higher output at extreme temperatures. Optima batteries can also sit unused for longer than a conventional battery.
The Optima RedTop battery, shown installed in my C6 Corvette, features Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) technology, a major advance in battery design. An absorbent glass mat, alternating with layers of lead, holds electrolyte in contact with the Optima’s increased lead surface area. This laminated construction translates into a far more active surface area. It also supports a thicker layer of plate paste for increased service life.
Conventional replacement batteries for C5 or C6 Corvettes range in cost from $100 to close to $200. You should not purchase a battery based on price alone. Specs and construction details are as important as is a battery brand’s reputation in the field. The Model 35 (top terminal) RedTop shown here is rated at 720 Cold Crank Amps, 910 Crank Amps and 44 amp hours with a reserve capacity of 90. It has a list price of $159 and is available at auto parts stores and a variety of sources on the Internet.
Optima is heavily involved in motorsports - drag and road racing to off-road rough terrain competition - where its batteries are put to the ultimate test. Johnson Controls, Inc, the eighth largest (Automotive News, June, 2010) global parts supplier, owns Optima. They specialize in OE lead-acid and hybrid vehicle batteries, seats, electronics and interior components.
For more information about OPTIMA high-performance batteries, please visit http://optimabatteries.com/home.php
For more information about Tangible Toys, please visit http://tangibletoys.com/