Varta M12 · Truck battery 12V 180Ah 1400A

Varta M12 ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) 180Ah 1400A 12V Lorry Battery

The Varta M12 lorry battery is the 12 V, 180 Ah model delivering 1400 A of cold cranking power (EN) from Varta's ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) range, designed for lorries, buses, large vans and machinery. Measuring 513 × 223 × 223 mm and with the positive terminal on the left, it is the direct replacement for lorries that leave the factory with a 180 Ah battery in this format.

In short: the Varta M12 (180 Ah, 1400 A, 513 × 223 × 223 mm, positive terminal on the left). Verified equivalent alternatives: Varta M18 and Exide EG1803.

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

Vehicles compatible with the Varta M12 battery

According to our database, the Varta M12 is fitted to more than 424 vehicles from brands such as Fiat, New Holland, Case IH, Carraro, Valmet and Case, among others. If you are looking for a Fiat battery or a New Holland one in these dimensions, the M12 is one of the usual replacement references. It also appears as a replacement in vehicles from Valtra, Steyr, Same, Case International, Hurlimann, Lamborghini, Zetor and Komatsu, among other manufacturers. It is cross-referenced against 34 original equipment references from various manufacturers.

Size and fitting of the Varta M12

The Varta M12 is made in the 513 × 223 × 223 mm format and weighs 46,42 kg. The positive terminal on the left determines which side the cables run to: it is the detail that causes the most buying mistakes, so it is worth checking before ordering. It uses a B00 hold-down and a type 1 terminal, the system that anchors it to the vehicle's battery tray. For the swap to be direct, the space your current battery occupies must respect those three dimensions and the same terminal layout; otherwise adapters will be needed or the hold-down will have to change.

The Varta M12 and the ProMotive SLI range

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

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

Compared with a passenger-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 putting in long days. 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

When a workshop recommends Varta it is not down to marketing: it is one of the brands with the lowest return rates in the sector, with an application coverage spanning practically the whole European vehicle parc, from the city car to the industrial vehicle.

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 makers cannot always assure.

Manufacturer's warranty

The Varta M12 battery comes with the official manufacturer warranty. One important warning for industrial vehicles: most lorries carry two batteries wired 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 leaves one overcharged and the other short, 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, 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 the factors that shorten its life the 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 no-start.