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Exide.com a global leader in stored electrical-energy solutions, recently announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with theU.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) and the University of Idaho to develop and commercialize improvements on lead-acid battery technology.
SRNL is the applied research and development laboratory at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site. This project is part of SRNL’s diverse portfolio ofresearch and development programs in support of the nation’s energy security, which includes energy storage, hydrogen, nuclear energy, and renewables like wind and biofuels. The laboratory’s scientists have recently developed unique glass microsphere technology now being considered and developed for a variety of commercial uses,including battery additives to enhance performance.
The chemical engineering team at the University of Idaho, led by Dean Edwards, Ph.D., P.E., Professor in Chemical Engineering, has more than 20 years of experience in academic research and development on enhancing lead-acid battery technology, particularly concerning additives to improve utilization of the active material in the battery.
With Exide Technologies as the industrial partner, these two research institutions can collaborate on their unique strengths, with Exide providing the resources to commercialize the technologies to improve lead-acid battery performance. Exide anticipates the alliance to expedite development of advancements in lead-acid chemistry for use in enhanced product development and broaden opportunities in new markets for hybrid electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement will be directed by the Global Research, Development and Engineering organization at Exide Technologies, ledby Dr. Paul Cheeseman, Vice President, Global Engineering and Research. Exide expects the alliance to reinforce its multi-dimensional structure of expertise, fueling the Company’s ability to improve both the efficiency and competitiveness of its product portfolio and expediting the development of advanced lead-acid batteries. The new agreement is another example of Exide’s commitment to future lead-acid battery technologies and follows recent collaborations with Axion Power International, Inc. (a developer of advanced batteries and energy storage products that incorporate patented lead carbon battery PbC Technology™), and Nano-Terra (a leading surface engineering and nanotechnology co-development company).
Dr. David Newell, who is leading SRNL’s participation in this collaborative research and development had this to say,
We expect our partnership with Exide to help drive development of improved battery materials, such as cathode plates, to enhance lead-acid battery performance in terms of charging capacity and charging cycle times while lowering material costs and weight. Lead-acid batteries, which are used for transportation and stand-by applications, account for half of the rechargeable battery market. Although alternative battery chemistries are growing in popularity, such chemistries are not expected to diminish the demand for lead-acid.
“The advantage to our newest R&D partnership is that we are not planning to explore untested technologies that can take years of testing and evaluation to determine whether they are economically and functionally viable for the commercial market,” said Dr. Cheeseman. “Rather, our collaboration is intended to advance the proven and reliable lead-acid battery chemistry. Lead-acid batteries are being manufactured, utilized in countless installations, and, equally important, recycled at a rate of 98 percent in the United States.”
Increasing the performance of batteries, including extending battery life and/or increasing charging capacity will support the DOE-Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy mission of providing improved, reliable energy sources.
Dr. Edwards of the University of Idaho added,
Lead-acid batteries are expected to be increasingly viable for supporting the nation’s electric grid as well as supporting stand-alone backup power to alternative energy systems (solar and wind). This is because lead-acid batteries are used in a variety of applications where improved battery erformance could translate into energy savings.
About Exide Technologies
Exide Technologies, with operations in more than 80 countries, is one of the world’s largest producers and recyclers of lead-acid batteries. The Company’s four global business groups — Transportation Americas, Transportation Europe and Rest of World, Industrial Energy Americas and Industrial Energy Europe and Rest of World — provide a comprehensive range of stored electrical energy products and services for industrial and transportation applications.
Transportation markets include original-equipment and aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty truck, agricultural and marine applications, and new technologies for hybrid vehicles and automotive applications.
Industrial markets include network power applications such as telecommunications systems, electric utilities, railroads, photovoltaic (solar-power related) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and motivepower applications including lift trucks, mining and other commercial vehicles.
Further information about Exide, including its financial results, are available at www.exide.com.
About Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL)
SRNL is the U.S. Department of Energy’s applied research and development national laboratory at the Savannah River Site, near Aiken, S.C. SRNL puts science to work to support DOE and the nation in the areas of environmental management, national and homeland security, and energy security. Themanagement and operating contractor for SRS and SRNL is Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC.
SRNL has more than three decades of experience developing, processing and deploying special ceramics, including various porous materials, for a variety of purposes. That expertise led to the development of patented new materials and systems, which have the potential for application in a variety of uses, including storage and handling of gases, sensor technologies, global warming applications, new medical drug delivery systems, and battery improvements.
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