DELAND, Fla. – We’ve all seen the name before.
Maybe sitting on a shelf in a garage, plugged into a motorcycle during the off-season, or tucked away in someone’s emergency roadside kit. But what a lot of people may not realize is that Battery Tender isn’t just the name of a product; it’s the company itself, and its headquarters are right here in Volusia County.
On this edition of Trooper Steve on Patrol, I headed north to learn more after recently dealing with a few frustrating battery issues of my own. And let’s be honest, if your car battery dies at the wrong time, it can ruin your entire day.
Whether it’s a dead battery after leaving your lights on, a vehicle that sits too long without being driven, or a motorcycle battery drained during storage season, battery problems are something almost every driver deals with at some point.
That’s why I wanted to sit down with Battery Tender Vice President of Sales Clinton Green to better understand the world of chargers, maintainers, jump starters, and the technology behind keeping modern vehicle batteries alive.
And let me tell you... this guy knows his batteries.
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was the difference between a traditional battery charger and a battery tender or maintainer. A charger is designed to quickly replenish power to a dead or low battery. A battery tender, on the other hand, is designed for long-term maintenance, helping keep a battery at optimal levels without overcharging it.
That’s especially important for vehicles that don’t get driven every day.
We also talked about emergency jump packs, portable charging options, and how today’s battery technology has evolved far beyond what most of us grew up with. Some of the newer lithium-powered jump starters are small enough to fit in a glove box but powerful enough to jump-start a truck.
For me, this patrol was one of those reminders that some of the biggest companies and innovations are quietly operating right here in our own backyard.
And honestly? Learning how to properly maintain your battery may save you from sitting stranded in a parking lot waiting for a tow truck later.
So if your battery is showing signs of struggling, your vehicle sits for long periods of time, or you’ve never checked the age of your battery before, now might be a good time to start paying attention.
Because trust me, batteries always seem to fail at the absolute worst possible moment.