Varta I8 · Truck battery 12V 120Ah 680A

Varta I8 ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) 120Ah 680A 12V Lorry Battery

The Varta I8 lorry battery is the 12 V, 120 Ah model delivering 680 A of cold cranking power (EN), from Varta's ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) range, designed for lorries, buses, large vans and machinery. It replaces the original battery in lorries with the 513 × 189 × 223 mm format without any modifications: the same 120 Ah capacity and the same terminal layout (positive on the left).

In short: the Varta I8 (120 Ah, 680 A, 513 × 189 × 223 mm, positive terminal on the left). Verified equivalent alternatives: Exide EG1203 and Tudor TG1203.

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

Vehicles compatible with the Varta I8 battery

The Varta I8 is compatible with more than 720 vehicles: it is fitted as standard or as a replacement by makes such as Fiat, Volvo, Deutz-Fahr, John Deere, Fendt and Komatsu. It is a benchmark choice when you need a battery for a Fiat, a Volvo or other models built around this same format. It also appears as a replacement in vehicles from Claas, Khd, Gueldner, Case, Bührer, Caterpillar, Bourgoin and Stavostroj, among other manufacturers. It has been cross-checked against 1 original equipment reference.

Format and fitting of the Varta I8

The Varta I8 is made in the 513 × 189 × 223 mm format and weighs 33.64 kg. The positive terminal on the left determines which side the cables end up on: this is the detail behind more wrong purchases than any other, so it is worth checking before you order. It takes a B00 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 I8 and the ProMotive SLI range

The ProMotive SLI is Varta's starter battery range for commercial and industrial vehicles; it consolidates the former ProMotive HD and SHD names into a single series organised by technology. It delivers high cold cranking current and a construction designed for the severe demands of heavy haulage.

It is the reliable replacement for lorries, buses, tractor units and machinery working long shifts: resistance to road vibration, tolerance of cycling and guaranteed starting even after weeks standing idle.

Compared with a car battery, this range is calibrated for severe, continuous use: greater mechanical strength and more tolerance of cycling and of the knocks of the road. It is the correct replacement for a lorry, bus or machine working long shifts. 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

Varta is a byword for reliability: original equipment in a great many European vehicles and one of the most proven brands on the market. Replacing your battery with a Varta restores OEM quality — the same performance as the factory-fitted unit — with the manufacturer's backing behind it.

Varta combines more than a century of experience with Clarios's industrial production: it is the battery many manufacturers choose as standard and one of the most recommended by workshops. Like any lead-acid battery, it is 100% recyclable.

More than 100 manufacturing parameters are checked on every Varta battery before it leaves the plant, a level of rigour that explains why so many workshops and manufacturers trust the brand as their first-choice replacement.

Manufacturer's warranty

The Varta I8 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.