Varta C20 · Truck battery 12V 55Ah 420A

Varta C20 ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) 55Ah 420A 12V Lorry Battery

The Varta C20 lorry battery is the 12 V, 55 Ah model with 420 A of cold cranking power (EN) from Varta's ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) range, intended for lorries, buses, large vans and machinery. Its 242 × 175 × 190 mm dimensions and positive terminal on the right make it the exact replacement for the 55 Ah battery fitted as standard in many lorries.

• Tolerance of the vibration of thousands of kilometres on the road.
• High cranking current for large-displacement diesel engines.
• Reliability through repeated starts and while powering cab equipment.
• Reinforced grids and casing for the harsh demands of haulage.

Vehicles compatible with the Varta C20 battery

This battery is listed as compatible with more than 18 vehicles from manufacturers such as John Deere, Holder, Wacker, Imt, Toyota and Bobcat. For anyone who needs to change the battery in their John Deere or Holder, this Varta C20 reproduces the original specifications.

Format and fitting of the Varta C20

The Varta C20 is made in the 242 × 175 × 190 mm format and weighs 14,2 kg. The positive terminal on the right determines which side the cables end up on: it is the detail that causes the most buying mistakes, so it is worth checking before you order. It uses a B13 hold-down and terminal 1, the system that anchors it to the vehicle's battery tray. For the swap to be direct, the space taken by your current battery must respect those three dimensions and the same terminal layout; otherwise adapters would be needed or the hold-down would change.

The Varta C20 and the ProMotive SLI range

The ProMotive SLI series is Varta's starter line for professional transport, bringing the former ProMotive HD and SHD together under a single name. It is built to crank large-displacement diesel engines and to take the daily punishment of the lorry, the bus and construction machinery.

The key to this range is sheer sturdiness: reinforced plates and fixings that stand up to thousands of kilometres of vibration and to deep discharge cycles, keeping fleet downtime from starting failures to a minimum.

A commercial vehicle demands a high cranking current and endurance against the vibration of thousands of kilometres. This series uses reinforced grids and rugged construction to cope with repeated starts of large diesel engines and with the draw of auxiliary cab equipment. This battery used to belong to Varta's ProMotive HD or ProMotive SHD range; following the brand's commercial renaming (2025), it forms part of the new ProMotive SLI series.

Why choose a Varta battery

A good share of the vehicles on Europe's roads left the factory with a Varta fitted: the brand has spent decades supplying the assembly lines of the leading car groups. Replacing with Varta means, in practice, giving the vehicle back the battery the manufacturer had in mind.

Varta batteries are made under the Clarios group with German technology and quality controls that make them one of the best-selling choices in Europe. As a lead battery, it is 100% recyclable through any collection point.

Varta's production combines automated lines with verification of more than 100 parameters per unit; that traceability is what underpins its reputation for reliable starting throughout the battery's life.

Manufacturer's warranty

The Varta C20 battery comes with the official manufacturer warranty. One important warning for commercial vehicles: most lorries carry two batteries connected in series (a 24 V installation). If you replace only one, the new battery ends up working alongside the old one — which has already lost capacity and has higher internal resistance; that imbalance means one is overcharged while the other falls short, it shortens the life of the new unit, and the manufacturer may treat it as misuse and void the warranty. That is why it is always advisable to change both batteries at the same time.

Care and maintenance

In professional use, periodically checking the state of charge and the battery hold-down prevents breakdowns out on the road. Vibration and the high temperatures of the engine bay are the factors that shorten its life most, so secure mounting is key. Keeping the terminals clean and tight and checking the charging system extends battery life in vehicles that clock up long hours. A well-maintained battery reduces the risk of stoppages caused by a failure to start.