Varta H17 · Truck battery 12V 105Ah 800A

Varta H17 ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) 105Ah 800A 12V Lorry Battery

The Varta H17 lorry battery is the 12 V, 105 Ah model delivering 800 A of cold cranking power (EN), from Varta's ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) range, designed for lorries, buses, large vans and machinery. Its 330 × 172 × 240 mm dimensions make it the exact replacement for the 105 Ah battery fitted as standard in many lorries.

• High cranking current for large-capacity diesel engines.
• Withstands the vibration of thousands of kilometres on the road.
• Reinforced grids and casing for the severe demands of haulage.
• Dependable through repeated starts and while powering cab equipment.

Vehicles compatible with the Varta H17 battery

According to our database, the Varta H17 is fitted to more than 168 vehicles from makes such as J C Bamford (jcb), John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, Massey Ferguson and JCB, among others. If you are looking for a battery for a J C Bamford (jcb) or a John Deere with these dimensions, the H17 is one of the usual replacement references. Added to that list are models from Claas, Hyster, Kubota, Challenger and Agco.

Format and fitting of the Varta H17

The Varta H17 is made in the 330 × 172 × 240 mm format and weighs 24.42 kg. It takes a B01 hold-down and terminal 1, the system that anchors it to the vehicle's battery tray. Before replacing it, measure the space your current battery occupies: if it matches on all three dimensions and on terminal position, the swap is direct and needs no adapters.

The Varta H17 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-capacity diesel engines and to take the daily punishment of the lorry, the bus and site machinery.

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

Commercial vehicles demand high cranking current and endurance against the vibration of thousands of kilometres. This series uses reinforced grids and a robust construction to cope with repeated starts of large diesel engines and with the draw of the cab's auxiliary equipment. This battery used to belong to Varta's ProMotive HD or ProMotive SHD range; following the brand's commercial renaming (2025), it now 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 been supplying the assembly lines of the major car groups for decades. Replacing with a Varta means, in practice, giving the vehicle back the battery its manufacturer had specified.

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 is Europe's leading manufacturer of starter batteries: its production volume and quality controls guarantee consistent reliability batch after batch, something own-brand makes cannot always promise.

Manufacturer's warranty

The Varta H17 battery comes with the official manufacturer warranty. An important warning for commercial vehicles: most lorries run 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 — and that imbalance means one overcharges while the other falls short, shortens the life of the new unit and may be treated by the manufacturer as improper use, voiding the warranty. That is why it is always advisable to change both batteries at the same time.

Care and maintenance

In professional use, checking the state of charge and the battery hold-down regularly prevents breakdowns on the road. Vibration and the high temperatures of the engine bay are what shortens a battery's 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 downtime caused by a battery that will not start the engine.