A New Life Ahead for Lead Battery Storage

Lead acid batteries established the principles for all other battery types a century ago. They are one of the oldest, and most successful electrical technologies because they are simple, reliable and recyclable. Many have wondered whether there is a new life ahead for lead battery storage for renewable energy. Progress has been slow but there are signs of success.

Lead Acid Batteries Already In Use for Bulk Storage

Lead acid batteries powered electric starters in gasoline vehicles for most of the previous century, There was a brief period in the early decades when they propelled electric vehicles too, until mass production by Henry Ford and Karl Benz with his motorwagen squeezed them out.

In the 1950’s they began to power golf carts. Stair lifts, mobility scooters, and other consumer items followed. They have had some success with bulk electric storage, however their power output-to-weight ratio lets down.

There are only two ways to improve a power-to-weight ratio. The first is boost the output, while the second is to reduce the weight. Some 90% of lead battery weight comes from the plates. When we reduce that, the weight comes down so Catch 22!

Fresh Thinking Signals a New Life Ahead for Lead Battery Storage

A team from Warwick and Loughborough Universities is studying ways to improve the power output side of the equation. However, they are not adding more lead. They are improving the productivity of the metal by tweaking several factors under carefully controlled conditions.

Their experimental variables include using artificial computer intelligence to optimize control systems. And decrease individual cell wear-out, leading to failure. We don’t yet know the extent to which their work will lead to a new life ahead for lead battery storage though.

However, we would be letting our readers down if we did not advise against experimenting with lead acid batteries. Please remember lead batteries pack a punch in more ways than one. And if a battery were to crack from overcharging, this could release harmful acid and fearsome fumes. Our batteries are sealed for life. Let’s keep it that way!