# Car Battery Labels Explained

> Decoding car battery labels: CCA, CA, RC, and Ah ratings explained.
- Title: Car Battery Labels Explained · Jalopnik | Shortify
- Summary: Decoding car battery labels: CCA, CA, RC, and Ah ratings explained. Car battery labels use CCA for cold starts, CA for warmer conditions, RC for backup…
- Keywords: car battery, cca, lead-acid, agm, lithium-ion, epa, sae, battery council international, nfpa, Car, Battery, Labels
- Source: Jalopnik — https://jalopnik.com/2281802/car-battery-labels-explained-letter-number-means
- Author: Beverly Braga
- Published: 2026-10-11T19:25:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: car battery, cca, ca, rc, ah, lead-acid, agm, lithium-ion, epa, sae, battery council international, nfpa
## Car Battery Labels Explained
Car batteries have labels with abbreviations like CCA, CA, RC, and Ah that indicate performance and capacity.
## Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
CCA measures amps a battery delivers at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 seconds while maintaining 7.2 volts.
## Cranking Amps (CA)
CA measures amps a battery delivers at 32 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 seconds while maintaining 7.2 volts.
## Reserve Capacity (RC)
RC shows how long a battery lasts at 25 amps before dropping below 10.5 volts, crucial for electronics.
## Amp Hours (Ah)
Ah indicates total charge storage, varying how long and how much current a battery can supply.
## Battery Standards
EPA, SAE, BCI, NFPA, ANSI, and UL set standards for car battery labels and safety requirements.
## Key takeaway

Car battery labels use CCA for cold starts, CA for warmer conditions, RC for backup power, and Ah for storage capacity.