Varta I9 · Truck battery 12V 120Ah 780A

Varta I9 ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) 120Ah 780A 12V Lorry Battery

The Varta I9 lorry battery is the 12 V, 120 Ah model delivering 780 A of cold cranking power (EN), from Varta's ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) range, designed for lorries, buses, large vans and machinery. Its 347 × 173 × 234 mm dimensions and positive terminal on the right make it the exact replacement for the 120 Ah battery fitted as standard in many lorries.

In short: the Varta I9 (120 Ah, 780 A, 349 × 175 × 236 mm, positive terminal on the right). Verified equivalent alternatives: Tudor TF1202 and Exide EF1202.

• 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 I9 battery

This battery is listed as compatible with more than 869 vehicles from manufacturers such as Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Case International, New Holland, Volvo and Bührer. If you are looking for a battery for a Massey Ferguson or a Fendt with these dimensions, the I9 is one of the usual replacement references. It also appears as a replacement in vehicles from Case, JCB, Atlas, John Deere, Ford, Timberjack, Holman and Renault, among other manufacturers.

Format and fitting of the Varta I9

Its external dimensions are 347 × 173 × 234 mm and it weighs 30.91 kg. The positive terminal on the right 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. For the swap to be direct, the space left by the current battery must respect those three dimensions and the same terminal layout; otherwise adapters will be needed or the hold-down would have to change.

The Varta I9 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.

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

Choosing Varta means sticking with the reference the vehicle manufacturer itself signed off in the first place. Against own-brand batteries, the difference is not the purchase price but how many winters the battery lasts before it leaves you stranded.

Behind Varta is Clarios, one of the largest manufacturers of starter batteries in the world and a supplier to the assembly lines of numerous car brands. That German engineering heritage translates into reliable starting year after year.

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 I9 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.