
When you have to replace the battery in your car, it helps to understand how to read battery specifications such as part numbers. Depending on the region, the part number may sometimes be different. For example, Japanese vehicles have batteries that use the Japanese Industrial Standard or JIS for naming the part numbers which is different to European vehicles.
(DIN) Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Industrial Standard)
Commonly used for European vehicles
Eg: 5 63 16
(JIS) Japanese Industrial Standard
Commonly used for Japanese vehicles.
Eg: 55 D 23 L
In Japan, battery specifications or part numbers are represented by numerical and alphabetical values.
Let us look at the example from before
Eg: 55 D 23 L
From left to right, the numbers represent battery performance, classified by capacity and the amount of power that can be released upon starting. The larger the number, the greater the capacity of the battery.
Eg: 55
The next alphabet represents the size classification. This symbol is classified by the width of the short side and the height of the box. (see the table below)
Eg: D (Approx)
The next number represents the width of the long side, which is the length of the battery in centimeters.
Eg: 23
The last letter of the alphabet indicates the position of the terminal terminal. The position of the positive terminal is represented as L (left) and R (right) as right.
Eg: L (Left)
When replacing a battery, increasing the performance value may increase the capacity and have a positive effect, but changing other values or symbols may make it difficult to install the battery in a car.
Symbol |
Width × box height (mm) |
Applicable type |
Conventional applicable type |
A |
Approx. 125 x 160 |
28A19、30A19 |
12N24 |
B |
Approx. 127×200 |
28B19、46B24 |
NS40、NS60 |
C |
Approx. 133×204 |
N40 |
N40 |
D |
Approx. 170×200 |
48D26、75D31 |
N50、N70 |
E |
Approx. 173×209 |
95E41、100E41 |
N100 |
F |
Approx. 180×210 |
120F51、130F51 |
N120 |
G |
Approx. 220×210 |
150G51、155G51 |
N150 |
H |
Approx. 276×216 |
190H52、210H52 |
N200 |
How to Read External Dimensions

The terminal position
+ terminal is on the right side when viewed from the short side (width) of the + terminal, and L is on the left side when viewed from the short side (width) of the left terminal.
Battery Part No. List (Domestic Cars)
Performance Ranking |
||||||||||||
30・32・34 |
40・42・44 |
50・55・58 |
60・65 |
70・75 |
80・85 |
90・95 |
100・105 |
110・115 |
120・125 |
130~ |
||
Size |
A19 |
30A19R 30A19L 34A19R 34A19L |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
B17 |
34B17R 34B17L |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
B19 |
- |
40B19R 40B19L 42B19R 42B19L 44B19R 44B19L |
55B19R 55B19L |
60B19R 60B19L |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
B20 |
S34B20R S34B20L |
44B20R 44B20L |
55B20R 55B20L |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
B24 |
- |
- |
50B24R 50B24L 55B24R 55B24L 58B24R 58B24L |
60B24R 60B24L 65B24R 65B24L |
70B24R 70B24L 75B24R 75B24L |
80B24R 80B24L |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
C24 |
32C24R |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
D20 |
- |
- |
50D20R 50D20L |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
D23 |
- |
- |
55D23R 55D23L |
60D23R 60D23L |
75D23R 75D23L |
80D23R 80D23L |
90D23R 90D23L 95D23R 95D23L |
100D23R 100D23L 105D23R 105D23L |
- |
- |
- |
|
D26 |
- |
- |
55D26R 55D26L |
- |
- |
80D26R 80D26L 85D26R 85D26L S80D26L |
90D26R 90D26L 95D26R 95D26L |
100D26R 100D26L |
115D26R 115D26L |
120D26R 120D26L 125D26R 125D26L |
- |
|
D31 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
95D31R 95D31L S95D31L |
105D31R 105D31L |
115D31R 115D31L |
125D31R 125D31L |
135D31R 135D31L 145D31R 145D31L |
|
D38 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
140D38L |
|
E41 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
120E41R 120E41L |
- |
|
F51 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
130F51 135F51 150F51 |
|
G51 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
155G51 160G51 |
|
H52 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
210H52 |
Battery Types
These are the main types of car batteries:
-
Open-cap type battery
- A battery that can be rehydrated by opening the lid. There is a risk of vehicle fire due to depletion of liquid.
-
Maintenance-free battery (sealed)
- The electrolyte runs out slowly and does not need to be replenished, so there is no risk of electrolyte overflow. The electrode plates are made of calcium alloy and the cell caps are designed to prevent evaporation.
-
Dry battery (fully sealed)
- Batteries that do not leak even when tipped on their side. Although the price is high, many of them have excellent starting performance.
※ Be careful of self-discharge!
- If a sealed battery is left uncharged for a long period of time, it may self-discharge and become unusable.
- Problems caused by this symptom are often out of the manufacturer's warranty.