Who makes which battery?

[Carlostrece]

I copy the list below from an Xterra forum where it was posted in Aug 2019. I'm not sure how accurate the list still is 5.5 years later when I'm posting it in Dec 2024.

Autocraft: Johnson Controls
Sears- Diehard: Lead Acid- Johnson Controls, Platinum AGM- Odyssey, Gold Advanced AGM- Eastern- Penn.
Interstate- Johnson Controls.
Walmart Everstart- Johnson Controls (Exide Contract Cancelled).
Autozone Duralast- Lead Acid- Johnson Controls, AGM- East-Penn.
Pep Boys (including Bosch)- As of Aug 2012 Exide
Napa- Lead Acid- Johnson Controls; AGM- East-Penn.
Optima- Johnson Controls.
Varta AGM- Fall 2012- Johnson Controls in a new US plant.
Costco-Johnson Controls.
Northstar- Northstar and also distributed by Batteries Plus as the X2Power and Exide under the Northstar label.
Duracell- East Penn (Deka)
Rayovac (Batteries Plus)- Lead Acid- Johnson Controls; AGM- East Penn (Deka)
Deka- East Penn

I'll add to that list Oreilly Superstart is made by East Penn. I just bought a Superstart Extreme 34EXT group 34.

Johnson controls is now Clarios, but still same products AFAIK.

Someone else in another thread at this forum said that local Walmarts get their their Everstart batteries from the nearest manufacturer/supplier. Sometimes East Penn, sometimes Johnson/Clarios. If that's correct, then some Everstart are East Penn, and some are Johnson/Clarios depending on where your Walmart is located. Either way Everstart is reputed to be good as are East Penn and Johnson/Clarios.

I think East Penn and Johnson/Clarios both make good products. Who you buy from matters a lot too. Price, warranty, service all matter. Service matters most to me because I'm handicapped. I get best service from Interstate sellers and Oreilly Superstart sellers.

An important, but often overlooked thing is in store battery maintenance. Do they keep their instock batteries charged, or do they ignore them and let them deplete? Interstate sellers and Oreilly put their batteries on chargers regularly. Does Walmart do that? How about other sellers?

Let the games begin! OK, that was overly dramatic. Let discussion begin.

 

[JohnnyG]

Thanks. I always wondered when somebody would put this effort on the forum.
Now, If I only knew which one to buy next, I'd be golden.

 

[bdcardinal]

Johnson Controls is now Clarios after the battery division was sold. They make most of the Motorcraft batteries.

 

[Carlostrece]

Thanks. I always wondered when somebody would put this effort on the forum.
Now, If I only knew which one to buy next, I'd be golden.

I didn't put in the effort. Someone on an Xterra forum put in the effort 5.5 years ago and I just copy-pasted their list to this forum. I assume their list is accurate, but some of them could have changed in the last 5.5 years.

I suggest buying an EP or J/C battery from any seller that keeps it charged while on the shelf, has a price you like, a warranty you like, honors their warranty without excessive hassles, and offers a level of service that meets your needs. For me (being handicapped) service matters more than price.

Interstate and Oreilly Superstart have been ideal for me for the reasons stated in prior paragraph.

 

[RooflessVW]

I copy the list below from an Xterra forum where it was posted in Aug 2019. I'm not sure how accurate the list still is 5.5 years later when I'm posting it in Dec 2024.

Autocraft: Johnson Controls
Sears- Diehard: Lead Acid- Johnson Controls, Platinum AGM- Odyssey, Gold Advanced AGM- Eastern- Penn.
Interstate- Johnson Controls.
Walmart Everstart- Johnson Controls (Exide Contract Cancelled).
Autozone Duralast- Lead Acid- Johnson Controls, AGM- East-Penn.
Pep Boys (including Bosch)- As of Aug 2012 Exide
Napa- Lead Acid- Johnson Controls; AGM- East-Penn.
Optima- Johnson Controls.
Varta AGM- Fall 2012- Johnson Controls in a new US plant.
Costco-Johnson Controls.
Northstar- Northstar and also distributed by Batteries Plus as the X2Power and Exide under the Northstar label.
Duracell- East Penn (Deka)
Rayovac (Batteries Plus)- Lead Acid- Johnson Controls; AGM- East Penn (Deka)
Deka- East Penn

I'll add to that list Oreilly Superstart is made by East Penn. I just bought a Superstart Extreme 34EXT group 34.

Let the games begin! OK, that was overly dramatic. Let discussion begin.

I'd say it's not accurate at all any more, and IIRC, each brand may have different suppliers based on region and other factors.

 

[RitcheyRch]

I know Odyssey no longer makes the Die Hard Platinum AGM. My local Advance Auto had Die Hard Platinum AGMs made by Johnson Controls/Clarios

 

[f355spider]

I know Odyssey no longer makes the Die Hard Platinum AGM. My local Advance Auto had Die Hard Platinum AGMs made by Johnson Controls/Clarios

Correct!
Also, all AGMs for the following brands are made by Clarios, and come from multiple countries to include Germany, USA, Mexico, China and Korea. The only way to tell is read the label:
1) Walmart Maxx AGM, western united states (east coast are East Penn)
2) AC Delco
3) Interstate

 

[f355spider]

Varta branded AGMs are still manufactured in Germany.

 

[THORROMIG]

Little outdated but good effort..

 

[Snagglefoot]

The other part is how do you feel about batteries that can be maintained vs batteries that are maintenance free and cannot readily have water added. Right now I have a Walmart Everstart Maxx battery with serviceable caps that are “ made in the USA with domestic and imported materials”, and no it does not have the initials EP.

 

[rijndael]

Thanks. I always wondered when somebody would put this effort on the forum.
Now, If I only knew which one to buy next, I'd be golden.

I keep getting my batteries at Costco. The warranty is pretty clear; under 3 years, full refund. Nothing after that.

 

[f355spider]

I keep getting my batteries at Costco. The warranty is pretty clear; under 3 years, full refund. Nothing after that.

Only in Canada, not in the USA.
Costco USA is 3 years pro-rated warranty, the weakest in the industry.

 

[f355spider]

The other part is how do you feel about batteries that can be maintained vs batteries that are maintenance free and cannot readily have water added. Right now I have a Walmart Everstart Maxx battery with serviceable caps that are “ made in the USA with domestic and imported materials”, and no it does not have the initials EP.

When I still purchased flooded batteries, yes, that is a great feature to have. I only buy AGMs now. I only have one battery that is flooded anymore. I still top it up every three or four months. I think my Tundra overcharges slightly, as it has always required topping frequently. It didn't stop the original battery from lasting 14 years though.

 

[rijndael]

Only in Canada, not in the USA.
Costco USA is 3 years pro-rated warranty, the weakest in the industry.

My USA Costco/Interstate batteries have that warranty too. Maybe it's regional.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Things have changed.

Autocraft was AAP's own brand, which they abandoned in favor of buying the DieHard brand.

Interstate used to be a JCI shop, but now buys from everyone. The high end batteries are made by EnerSys, and Exides also occupy the same shelf space as the JCIs do on the regular lines.

Walmart buys from multiple sources as well. Depending on the regional supply chain, they can have JCI, EP, or various Korean maker batteries on the rack.

The only absolute certainty is who made what sits on the rack in front of you, and that there are no loyalties in sourcing these commodities. Don't rely on the beauty shots in the ads either; they aren't updated for every instance, or time something changes.

(and yes, I'm too lazy to type Clarios instead of JCI)

My USA Costco/Interstate batteries have that warranty too. Maybe it's regional.

"Limited" in Costco-speak = prorated.
Before, "Replacement" was the term used and = free replacement. Earlier, they even explicity put "Free Replacement" on the battery.

 

[Nukeman7]

My USA Costco/Interstate batteries have that warranty too. Maybe it's regional.

COSTCO changed their warranty in the USA in July 2023 due to many fraudulent returns at 35 months. Here is a previous BITOG thread that discusses the current limited (pro-rated) warranty.

COSTCO Battery Warranty in U.S.A.

 

[f355spider]

My USA Costco/Interstate batteries have that warranty too. Maybe it's regional.

View attachment 253797

The warranty is still three years, but went from money back, to prorated. The change occurred in mid 2023
"Costco Automotive Batteries are supported by a 36 Month Limited Prorated Warranty."

 

[dogememe]

O'Relly Super Start is either Clarios/Johnson or East Penn/Deka. Your 34EXT is Deka... If the part number was 34EXTJ it would be Clarios.

Which part number a particular O'Reilly carries is regional and changes periodically. I always get annoyed when they replace a J with a non-J or vice-versa because we have to put new stickers/barcodes on them. Super annoying.

 

[Carlostrece]

Little outdated but good effort..

It was a lazy effort. I just reposted a 5.5 year old list. It'd be a huge service if someone compiled an up to date list.

 

[Carlostrece]

Who is Enersys? Is that a 3rd big player or is it JCI/Clarios or East Penn?

Does Enersys make good highend car batteries? I'm mainly concerned with highend flooded G34.

Is Exide still in business? Do they make good car batteries?

What about Crown (USA) car batteries?

Does Full River (Chinese) make car batteries?

Does Discover (Canada) make car batteries?

===

Deep Cycle AGM

I own 2 identical mobility scooters that use AGM batteries. I was a battery tester of mobility batteries for a regional battery company for a few years. I drive the bjeebers out of these scooters on trips around town. Adding to the batteries' pain is my scooters have the rpm/speed limiter removed and are 63% faster than stock.

Full River DC deep cycle AGM batteries only lasted 6 weeks in my mobility scooters.

East Penn (MK, Deka, Duracell, etc) AGM (made in Vietnam) lasted 6-12 months in my scooters. It's not a deep cycle nor a starter battery. It's a medium quality mixed use battery. It's often used in mobility scooters. MK batteries were the stock batteries in my scooters. In regard to AGM batteries for mobility scooters and E-wheelchairs... East Penn sets the standard for mediocrity that all others are measured against.

Discover deep cycle AGM (Canadian) lasted 1-2 years in my scooters. Does Discover also make car batteries?

Powersonic (Chinese) PDC deep cycle AGM last 3-5 years in my scooters.

If you want a very good deep cycle AGM then I highly recommend Powersonic PDC. I also recommend Discover EV. Crown are reputedly good, but I've never tried them. Trojan has a mixed reputation.

If you want a good deep cycle gel battery, East Penn (Deka, MK, Duracell, etc) makes the best deep cycle gel batteries. My scooter doesn't use them, but the battery store's maintenance manager uses MK gel in his wheelchair. He swears that East Penn makes the best gel batteries.