Varta K13 · Truck battery 6V 140Ah 720A

Varta K13 ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) 140Ah 720A 6V Lorry Battery

The Varta K13 lorry battery is the 6 V, 140 Ah model delivering 720 A of cold cranking power (EN), from Varta's ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) range, designed for lorries, buses, large vans and machinery. Its 260 × 175 × 236 mm dimensions and positive terminal on the right make it the exact replacement for the 140 Ah battery fitted as standard in many lorries.

In short: the Varta K13 (140 Ah, 720 A, 260 × 175 × 236 mm, positive terminal on the right) is rated 4.9 out of 5 in 12 customer reviews.

• 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 K13 battery

This battery is listed as compatible with more than 84 vehicles from manufacturers such as International-Harvester, Case, Caterpillar, Atlas, Renault and Pel - Job. For anyone who needs to change the battery in their International-Harvester or Case, this Varta K13 reproduces the original specifications. The compatibility list also includes models from Aveling Barford, Case IH, K & L, Ingersoll, ABeko, Deutz-Fahr, Clayson and Ford.

Format and fitting of the Varta K13

Its external dimensions are 260 × 175 × 236 mm and it weighs 19.5 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 B01 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 K13 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

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.

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.

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 K13 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.