Varta N12 · Truck battery 6V 200Ah 950A

Varta N12 ProMotive SLI (formerly ProMotive HD) 200Ah 950A 6V Lorry Battery

The Varta N12 lorry battery is the 6 V, 200 Ah model delivering 950 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 403 × 175 × 238 mm format without any modifications: the same 200 Ah capacity and the same terminal layout (positive on the right).

• 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.

Applications of the Varta N12 battery

The Varta N12 covers the needs of lorries, buses, large vans and machinery with 200 Ah of capacity and a construction built for that use. Check that it matches your current battery in dimensions, terminals and hold-down: this reference weighs 31 kg and has a type 20 terminal and a B11 hold-down.

Size and fitting of the Varta N12

The Varta N12 is made in the 403 × 175 × 238 mm format and weighs 31 kg. The positive terminal on the right 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 B11 hold-down and a type 20 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 N12 and the ProMotive SLI range

The ProMotive SLI range is Varta's starter line for industrial vehicles — lorries, buses and machinery — which in the new portfolio unifies the former ProMotive HD (Heavy Duty) and SHD (Super Heavy Duty). It offers a high cranking current for large-capacity diesel engines and a reinforced construction.

Its reinforced grids and separators cope with the vibration and cycling of long-distance haulage and of the most severe use, aiming for maximum service life and starting reliability in fleets that work long hours.

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

Varta is an original equipment (OEM) supplier to a good share of Europe's car manufacturers: many cars leave the factory with a Varta fitted. Buying a replacement means, in most cases, refitting the original battery with the same quality and the brand's official warranty.

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.

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 N12 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.