Charging System

... I can only surmise that as copper wire ages it loses some of its ability to conduct current...
No, the copper itself will always conduct electricity as good as it always did. It's the corrosion caused by exposure to the elements etc. that gets between the connections or loose connections that causes resistance. If the copper wire were to remain sealed(insulated) & undisturbed it would conduct just as well day 1 as it would in a 100 years later.