Question re having my battery changed next week

Thanks for the info guys. Managed to get a pic of the battery. I've never heard of this make before.

I hadn't but it appears that the Ducellier brand name (originally a French automotive parts maker) as applied to batteries was a brand or label manufactured by Central African Batteries of Harare. The company was placed into Judicial Administration in 2018, and at the time was seeking a capital injection of $2.6 million to keep trading, with a total cash injection requirement of $8 million over the following 5 years.


What happened regarding that I have no idea, but Battery King Investments of Zambia now appear to be the sole distributor of Ducellier batteries.


Unfortunately, I doubt you will find anyone on this forum who has heard of them or has an opinion, unless you are lucky enough to find another contributor from your area. Are there any car clubs etc. or more generalised local automotive forums whose members might be able to give an opinion.

I am guessing, but might be wrong, that the name Ducellier was bought as a brand name form its original owner or their liquidators, in this case with a right to place it on car batteries manufactured by the acquiring company. Thye same happens in the UK with a plethora of brand names, one rather well known name being Lucas. Whilst the Lucas name continues to be used by several companies who obtained the right to use it in relation to various products, Lucas batteries are a label attached to batteries manufactured by an Asian battery manufacturer, who also sell the same identical batteries under several other label names, all designed to give the British consumer a false impression of choice and diversification.

Something similar happened to the Karrimor outdoor clothing brand many years ago - originally a British manufacturer held in reasonably high regard, but following financial difficulties and its failure, the name was bought by several entities to be used on their own cheaper mass-market products, Karrimor trainers being one example that was owned by one of the High Street "pack 'em high" discount sports shoe retailers.

Ducellier may of course be a decent brand, but I've never seen or even heard of it being sold here. So all I can suggest is trying to find a forum or club local to you, whose members may be able to give an opinion. But if the "big" battery brands previously mentioned are sold in your country, personally I'd still be pushing for one of their products in preference. A quick google of British online battery suppliers hasn't thrown up anything obvious with a similar case moulding, which might indicate the underlying manufacturer.

Some of the battery case mouldings seem fairly unique, from the pictures on the site of the distributor.

They also distribute tyres under the Doublestar brand, made in China. I hadn't heard of them either, but it appears that their tyres are sold in the UK as a budget brand.

WGA said:

Ducellier distributers were used by Volvo in the 300 series, and I think in Renaults, but I wasn't aware they made batteries. A fairly well known brand though in the 70's/80's.

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Yes, Ducellier was originally a French company who manufactured vehicle electrical components, similar to Lucas in the UK.

Also similarly to Lucas, they disappeared into a merger or buy-out by Paris-Rhone and then Valeo.

And again, as has happened to the Lucas brand name, it appears that the Ducellier brand name has been sold off to various manufacturers who can license it to use on their own parts, such as Central African Batteries in Zimbabwe. Lucas, as applied to batteries, is now one of a number of brand names licensed to Ecobat Batteries, who I think are supplied bare case batteries by Atlas BX Batteries of Korea, who are themselves part of the Hankook company.

Complicated, and of course intended by the companies purchasing or licensing brands such as Lucas or Ducellier to hoodwink the public and attract purchases from customers who think they are buying a product from a well known OEM manufacturer, and who wouldn't choose to buy a Hankook or Central African battery

Not that there's anything particularly wrong with the Atlas BX company - they are one of the world's largest battery manufacturers and do produce some premium products.

But I know absolutely nothing about Central African Batteries of Harare, other than what I put in my previous post, which was relatively easily uncovered via Google.

Well after speaking to the chap in charge at the garage, he was happy to request another make of battery. So he got me a Varta. Hope this is a good choice.

EFB - Enhanced Flooded Battery. A wet cell battery designed to cope with being predominantly in a partially charged state as required by start/stop technology. They are a hybrid with starter battery and deep cycle battery capability.

Volvo were specifying EFB batteries for start/stop vehicles with manual gearboxes and AGM for vehicles with auto boxes. They may have changed to EFB across the board. I don't know, but EFB battery technology has increased to the point where it can rival the benefits of AGM with none of the disadvantages. There would be no problem fitting a suitable AGM battery on a car with a manual box though, just that it exceeds Volvo's requirements.

I use identical Varta EFB batteries as both starter and leisure batteries in my motorhome.

I was just a little sceptical about the Ducellier brand, as it appears to be a modern relabelling exercise for what might be a generic mass market battery flogged to multiple suppliers.

I would be perfectly happy with a Varta AGM with their powerframe grid technology though. Definitely a premium battery made by Johnson Controls, one of the world's largest battery manufacturers, who also manufacture Bosch batteries amongst other good brands. I think that is a good result.