Why are lead-acid batteries still with us after all these years? How come they command a vast market despite advances in science? The answer could be because of their simple design and almost universal circular economy. The year 1881 was a milestone of many other fine inventions. We decided to travel back in time and take a peek.
Perhaps It Was Because 1881 was a Year of Innovation
The drums of war were beating loudly in 1881. However, this did not stop Camille Faure inventing the lead acid battery in France, by creating a lead lattice and pressing lead oxide paste into it. Meanwhile Thomas Edison and Graham Bell were forming their Oriental Telephone company and preparing to open up the world.
Later the same year Goldalming in England became the first town to have an electricity utility. A waterwheel in a river energized an alternator and dynamo illuminating 7 arc lights, and 34 incandescent ones. The Savoy Theatre followed suit with the first electrically-illuminated stage.
Lead-acid batteries soon became part of the electricity solution, as it dawned on scientists they were portable electricity. Battery technology saw many advances since then. However, we would not have smartphones and laptops without technology invented back in 1881.
Why Do We Still Have Lead-Acid Batteries Despite These Advances?
Lead-acid batteries are still with us because of several fundamental reasons. In the first instance, they do not use rare metals in scarce supply. In the second they assemble and dismantle quickly. This makes them simple to recycle and become part of the circular economy.
The simplest things in life are still often the best. We remind ourselves of this as we learn to downscale and reverse global warming. We’ll keep producing lead-acid batteries at UPS Battery Center as long as our customers want them. Chances are this will be for a long time to come.
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