WE GET THE SAME QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME WHEN IT COMES TO BATTERY TECHNOLOGY AND BUYING CHOICES. “What’s a gel battery?” “How are they better than stock?” “Do I really need one?” A valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery is a type of lead acid battery characterized by a limited amount of electrolyte absorbed in a plate separator or formed into a gel.
There are two primary types of VRLA batteries: absorbent glass mat (AGM) and gel cell. Gel cells add silica dust to the electrolyte, forming a thick putty-like gel. AGM batteries feature fiberglass mesh between the battery plates, which serves to contain the electrolyte and separate the plates. Both types of VRLA batteries offer advantages and disadvantages.