Lucas & Numax Supreme CV Batteries

Although workshops that deal with the service and repair of passenger cars will be becoming more familiar with micro hybrid vehicles (those fitted with a stop-start system), to date the technology has not really been relevant in the heavy duty sector.

Granted, some light commercial vehicles (LCV), such as the Mercedes Sprinter and the Ford’s Transit ECOnetic, incorporate a stop-start system, but beyond these and similar LCV examples, the typical CV workshop has had little exposure to the technology. However, with the launch of Cummins’ new stop-start system for its ISB engines, things could be about to change.

To ensure the reliability of its new engine, Cummins has subjected the stop-start system to rigorous testing during a validation programme that has included in excess of four million stop-start cycles. Bearing in mind that it anticipates an engine used in a vehicle driving in London could stop and start between 60 to 80 times an hour, clearly the vehicle’s batteries need to possess huge cyclic capacity.

The Supreme CV, which is available to UAN members under both the Lucas and Numax brands, is supplied by Manbat Ltd and incorporates the high quality internal components necessary to deliver this level of performance.

High output capacity and cyclic performance are linked, both through the design of the lead plates and their number. The Supreme CV features multiple plates that have been punched out of solid lead sheet to provide the most efficient method of power transfer.

Although other manufacturers boast about plates with a grid-like formation, many ‘roll’ these plates, which can weaken the joints and means they are prone to corrosion, with the subsequent loss of performance.

There are however, no such fears with Supreme CV, which means that workshops can fit replacement batteries with confidence.