23.1 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

The lead-acid battery has been a successful article of commerce for over a century. Its production and use continue to grow because of new applications for battery power in energy storage, emergency power, and electric and hybrid vehicles (including off-road vehicles) and because of the increased number of vehicles for which it provides the energy for engine starting, vehicle lighting, and engine ignition (SLI). Its sales represent approximately 40 to 45% of the sales value of all batteries in the world, or a market value, in 1999, of about $15 billion at manufacturers levels and 2 to 3 times this value at retail levels. (These values do not include some countries such as Russia and China, for which complete market data are not available.) This battery system is also used extensively in telephone systems, power tools, communication devices, emergency lighting systems, and as the power source for mining and material-handling equipment. The wide use of the lead-acid battery in many designs, sizes, and system voltages is accounted for by the low price and the ease of manufacture on a local geographic basis of this battery system. The lead-acid battery is almost always the least expensive storage battery for any application, while still providing good performance and life characteristics.

New uses, designs, and fabrication processes are still being introduced at significant rates. Some of the new designs are for modern electric-vehicle, energy-storage, and electronics applications. There have been...