lead-acid

US military extends deal with Enersys

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The contract is for supply of the 12V batteries until February 2017.

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Industrial battery giant EnerSys has won two contracts from the US military to supply VRLA batteries to the US Army and Marine Corps.

The deal is for Hawker Armasafe Plus batteries that feature Enersys’ thin plate pure lead technology— this uses a greater number of thinner lead plates rather than fewer thick lead plates within the battery. This increases the power density of the batteries and allows them to be charged at a higher rate. The Armasafe Plus batteries can be charged in a quarter of the time of conventional batteries.

ECOBAT increases battery collection in Germany

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Ecobat Technologies, provider of closed-loop recycling of lead-acid batteries, has purchased a German battery collection division called Must GmbH. The acquisition of Must, based in Vienenburg, Lower Saxony, increases Ecobat’s presence across Germany.

Chinese e-bikes look to lithium

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Chinese e-bike production tipped 35m in 2013, including 2.6m lithium-ion battery powered bikes, an increase of 80% compared to 1.67m in 2012.

The cost of a lithium-ion e-bike battery is 1000RMB ($160), which is double the price of a lead-acid battery. This has been an obstacle for sales in the past, however the crackdown on lead producers has given momentum to lithium-ion.

For 2014 lithium-ion demand is expected to increase to 90% and gradually replace lead in e-bikes in the coming years.

Atraverda is back with uprated bipolar battery

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Bipolar batteries also use the entire surface area between each cell to transfer current and cause less stress, improving lifetime and performance.

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advanced lead-acid batteries

British bipolar battery maker Atraverda is launching a new 24V lead-acid battery in the second quarter of 2014.

The new battery is an uprated version of its first 24V, 15Ah bipolar battery, hundreds of which have been trialled, mostly for electric wheelchairs and golf carts. Following feedback from its clients wanting a product with higher volumetric energy density, Atraverda is to launch a 24V, 18Ah battery by summer 2014.

Enersys swallows all of Energy Leader

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Stored energy solutions provider EnerSys has acquired the remaining 49.5% stake in its Indian JV company Energy Leader Batteries India.

90% of car batteries in Shanghai disposed of illegally

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The Shanghai Environmental Protection Industry Association and Shanghai Service Federation have announced they are seeking ways to regulate the disposal of automotive batteries, according to the Shanghai Daily. The batteries, which include those used in cars and electric bikes, are generally lead-acid storage batteries.

JCI expands in South America

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Johnson Controls has acquired a 90% share of Colombian battery supplier MAC. JCI has been working with MAC since 2011 when they began a joint venture to produce and sell lead-acid batteries for the Central and South American markets.

Details of the financial terms have not been disclosed but will further strengthen JCI’s position in the continent.

India tightens battery disposal rules

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The Indian central pollution control board (CPCB) has told lead-acid battery manufacturers to set up collection points, individually or jointly, for used batteries from consumers or dealers.

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Lead prices rise in US as auto-industry recovers

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The US auto-industry is recovering and shipments of new and replacement automotive batteries are rising accordingly. Vehicle sales for August 2013 were 17% higher than a previous year, at 16.1 million.

Reports from auto-makers of strong car and truck sales in August indicate the market is recovering, which has lead to a rise in the price of lead.

Shipments of new and replacement batteries in the US rose to 10.5 million units over 12 months, up 2.2% on the previous year. Battery Council International (BCI) cites new car sales as the driving force behind increased sales. Total year-to-date sales show the continuing growth, with replacement battery sales up 7% on the previous year.

Increased demand is raising the premium on the price of lead in the US to up to US$0.15 above the London Metal Exchange rate, twice the figure of a year ago.

Tool from EnerSys gives insight into battery performance history

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Battery giant EnerSys has introduced a service-reporting tool called the Service Activity Report Management (SARM) system, which allows the company to maintain a full service profile and audit trail for its complete range of Hawker batteries and chargers for motive power applications.

Information logged on to the system during installation and service visits can be analysed to prepare detailed reports and identify maintenance trends. The SARM system gives EnerSys insight into the maintenance of its Hawker batteries and chargers in the material handling and motive power markets. It collects and records service-related information that can be made available to customers who require verification of compliance with procedures and maintenance for key performance indicator reports.

Data relating to a battery or charger is entered into SARM at commissioning and at maintenance or service sessions using unique product details to provide a complete profile of the product’s service history. The system can be accessed online to allow field engineers to update information form any location.

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