The folks at East Bay Authorized Service Center in Pleasanton, CA want you to know how your car's engine works so that you can take proper care of it. The three main components of an engine's electrical system are the starter, battery and alternator.
When you turn the car on, the starter and alternator help to generate the power needed for the engine to turn over. After the car turns over, the alternator is there to recharge the battery and to provide power for electrical components such as headlights and interior dome lights.
If you don't drive your car often, you could drain the battery because the alternator won't have enough time to recharge it before it starts again. Ideally, you'll drive your car at least once a week for several minutes at highway speeds to allow the alternator to do its job and keep your car running smoothly.